Looking for F4U-1 advice

[najdorf]

Do you use combat trim or manual?  How much do you use your flaps?  Convergence settings.

[brady]

It works best for me if I leave it in the hanger, and take A Japanese plane:)

[Arlo]

Trim is trim as far as I'm concerned. HT pretty much said it's inconsequential in spite of how some swear by it *ShruG*. Using combat trim merely gives all axis an equal footing. Using manual gives one axis less stick pressure in whatever trim setting you select.

I tried using flaps to gain an advantage in slow flight in the F4U when I first tried AH. It was a viable tactic in AW. I don't find it one in AH. Best to stay above 250 ... and speeds that high are "unflappable."

My current convergience is 375(inner)/350(middle)/325(outer) ... I brought them all in by 50 yds. But now that I'm gaining more stability in the stick (right now - knock on wood) ... I may set them out a bit more again.

[Puck]

Convergence 500.  Take 100% fuel, no DT.  Burn the left wing during climb; once it's empty set for auto fuel (it'll burn the right wing to 25%, then switch to main).  If your left wing tank isn't empty before you engage you probably didn't get enough altitude; most of the time I'm on the main just as I get to the fight.

I'm generally too fast for flaps if I'm serious about living.

Climb higher than everyone else.  Drop down behind your target to his low six, and kill him on the way up.

Don't try to turn more than a few degrees with a con (if you're serious about living).

Learn to hit things with your guns at any attitude, any angle on tail, etc.  As one might expect, gunnery is the most important thing.  If you can't hit them, it doesn't matter how good your position was.


The F4U-1 is my favorite Dark Blue plane.  It climbs like a cow and accelerates like a dead fish, but once you have it up to altitude and speed it rolls faster than a Suzuki Samurai and it's quicker than most people think.

[F4UDOA]

Don't listen to Brady najdorf. If you have ever seen his work in the CA you know he is a NIK2 dweeb.

Once your testicals drop undoubtably you will want to fly the F4U-1.

It is fast, rolls excetionally well and turns well despite popular myth. Just don't stay engaged for to long.

Key is keep your fuel load light and your ammo load. You have over 700lbs of bullets on board so don't be afraid to use them. One notch of flap is optimal and works up to 250mph IAS. Once your speed gets to about 175MPH suck up the flaps and beat it.

When dogfighting use short convergance, when flying against Runstangs use long convergance.

But most of all stay out of Brady's CA setups. He wants you to loose and does everything possible to keep it that way.

Cya

[Puke]

I like the F4U-1 and rarely flew any of the other Corsairs.  What worked for me was to just keep fast and in a furball situation, do not turn more than say 90-180 degrees before extending for altitude or speed.  It can turn, a little better than other hogs supposedly, but once you get slow in any Corsair, she flies like she's wallowing in mud.  At this point, other Corsairs have a slight advantage in acceleration which has a direct impact in regaining speed for available G and the F4U-1 is the worst of them all here.  However, all Corsairs once slow are death traps when you have an arena full of Spitfires, Georges and LA7s.  Basically, keep fast.  You aren't a turnfighter like a Zeke.  1v1 where it's safe to get slow over the top, try and take the fight in the vertical and use your roll.  Again though, in my opinion compared to other fighters in here, she's low on the totem pole at dogfighting.

[AcId]

I've flown the -1 a lot and have used both trim settings. I have noticed no adverse effects in using Combat trim and prefer it so that I don't have to constantly trim the plane. I occasionaly use manual to get a little extra elevator authority but thats usually in extreme situations.

Generaly speaking I only use flaps in 3 situations and put them away as quickly as possible in an attempt maintain as much E as possible.
1. If I need a little extra angle to pull lead for a shot.
2. If I'm at the top of a loop and about to stall a notch or 2 will help keep it under control.
3. If I'm low, slow and avoiding a bogey a notch will help keep controled flight in a slow tight turn. In rare instances an inexperienced enemy may stall and auger trying to follow for a shot. Mostly it just prolongs the inevitable.

My convergence is set to 375 for all guns. I started out at 500 for a while then I stagered them for a bit from 400-450 (like arlo) but IMHO when all 6 hit at convergence it seems more lethal. At any rate I think convergence is more of a personal preference and dependant on ones style. I don't think there is one correct setting.