Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: Citabria on April 08, 2012, 05:14:26 AM

Title: whats up with the P40's?
Post by: Citabria on April 08, 2012, 05:14:26 AM
whats up? they were always bad but this new FM they have after they were updated... what gives? p47 turns better.

everyones all kosher with this? any fact finding turn rate nerds validate its suckitude?

combined with a gunsight and guns that are aimed below the nose so every shot is a blind one this is the worst plane set in the game. not to mention you cant get closer than 2 feet from the gunsight chin rest.

/rant

I feel safer flying an il2 than this piece of garbage in the MA as IL2 turns circles around a p40 not to mention hase better zoom capability.
Title: Re: whats up with the P40's?
Post by: Widewing on April 08, 2012, 07:41:26 AM
P-40s are generally slow, with miserable rate of climb. The flaps are basically useless for dogfighting. Yeah, the gun sight is low and takes some adjustment to get used to it.

However, the have very good instantaneous turn and excellent ailerons. Sustained turn is unimpressive due to a lack of power and terrible flaps. Still, I do very well in the P-40N, maintaining a 34 to 1 kill to loss rate over several tours. Like any other aircraft, you identify its strengths and weaknesses and fly to the former and avoid the latter. The N model is an effective tank buster, if you can tolerate the pathetic climb rate when loaded with three bombs.

The P-40C is better than the poorly modeled P-40B it replaced. The P-40E no longer has WEP (which is correct), while the P-40F is the best P-40 above 15k. Down low, the P-40N is the best of the bunch with the best climb rate and acceleration below 10k.

They are what they are... I know you're a good enough pilot to make them work for you.
Title: Re: whats up with the P40's?
Post by: Slade on April 08, 2012, 08:14:45 AM
At first I felt the same about the remolded P-40s.  I really like them now.  The P-40F to me has enough of everything to beat most planes if you fly smart.

I did not know the N was better down low.  I'll have to give it more time.  :aok
Title: Re: whats up with the P40's?
Post by: LilMak on April 08, 2012, 08:51:00 AM
The thing that bugs me most is the tiny gunsight too low in the canopy. Ive had my head in the real thing and the gunsight wasnt nearly that small. Feel it's a little under modeled for a plane that supposedly could out turn/roll a 51. Sure miss the flaps. Made it competitive in the MA. Now my favorite warbird is an AH hangar queen. I miss the old one.
Title: Re: whats up with the P40's?
Post by: Widewing on April 08, 2012, 10:10:04 AM
A few more things relative to the P-40N.

I did a quick turn radius/rate test with 25% fuel and the standard 6 gun load-out.

Clean, the turn radius is 618 feet at 20.3 degrees/sec. For comparison, the Bf 109G-6  has a turn radius of 648 feet at the same 20.3 degrees/sec rate. This means that the P-40N can gain angles if the 109 pilot doesn't start dumping flaps. So, the P-40N needs to get the kill quickly.

Corner speed for the P-40N is 226 mph, and the 109G-6 comes in at 232 mph.

With full flaps, turn radius is around 545 feet at 15 degrees/sec. For comparison, the Bf 109G-6 has a turn radius of 481 feet at 19.5 degrees/sec, which give it a big advantage in a stall fight.

The old P-40E (prior to flight model update) managed 650 feet clean and about 500 feet with full flaps.

The current P-40N is competitive with many fighters in terms of radius and rate, and you can strip another 200 to 300 lbs out by going with one of the 4 gun package options. That will reduce turn radius some and adds about 100 fpm to steady climb rate. Flaps are of little use. The gain in turn radius is more than offset by the big drop in turn rate. Climb rate with the 4 gun/big clip load is 3,120 fpm at 5k with 25% fuel. That's pretty good considering we're talking about a P-40.

Title: Re: whats up with the P40's?
Post by: MAINER on April 08, 2012, 12:58:09 PM
P-40s are generally slow, with miserable rate of climb. The flaps are basically useless for dogfighting. Yeah, the gun sight is low and takes some adjustment to get used to it.

However, the have very good instantaneous turn and excellent ailerons. Sustained turn is unimpressive due to a lack of power and terrible flaps. Still, I do very well in the P-40N, maintaining a 34 to 1 kill to loss rate over several tours. Like any other aircraft, you identify its strengths and weaknesses and fly to the former and avoid the latter. The N model is an effective tank buster, if you can tolerate the pathetic climb rate when loaded with three bombs.

The P-40C is better than the poorly modeled P-40B it replaced. The P-40E no longer has WEP (which is correct), while the P-40F is the best P-40 above 15k. Down low, the P-40N is the best of the bunch with the best climb rate and acceleration below 10k.

They are what they are... I know you're a good enough pilot to make them work for you.

source for the 34-1 kill ratio? I have always read and been told the Hellcat had the highest K/D ratio with 19:1
Title: Re: whats up with the P40's?
Post by: mtnman on April 08, 2012, 01:21:25 PM
source for the 34-1 kill ratio? I have always read and been told the Hellcat had the highest K/D ratio with 19:1

That's his own kill ratio with that plane.  Not the historical record.
Title: Re: whats up with the P40's?
Post by: Oldman731 on April 08, 2012, 09:12:11 PM
you can strip another 200 to 300 lbs out by going with one of the 4 gun package options. That will reduce turn radius some and adds about 100 fpm to steady climb rate. Flaps are of little use.


The P-40N, in the configuration described above, with as little ammo and as little fuel as possible, is about the closest you can get to our old P-40E.

While I miss the old P-40E, I think the current versions of the P-40 are more faithful to the real planes.  The US survived with them; it needed better planes to dominate.

- oldman
Title: Re: whats up with the P40's?
Post by: SmokinLoon on April 10, 2012, 02:21:02 PM
Remember that the P40's best time in the war was early on when they have the speed and dive advantage over the Japanese planes, in particular against the Oscar and slow Japanese bombers.  Also, much of the P40's kill/death ratio involved the shooting down of bombers in the early part of the war.  The P40 is a tough bird, it is built like a tank.  But those characteristics made gave it 2 distinct Achilles heels: climb and acceleration.

I suggest for people to study the charts, while they do not show turn radius or acceleration rates, the charts paint a decent picture of their ability.

The F is the heaviest, but faster at all alts on MIL power.
The C climbs the best on MIL power at low alt.
The N is a beast at less than 12k on WEP (speed and climb), and its 3/500lb bomb load is impressive.
The E is a stable platform not really "best" at anything, but it is tried and true.

I REALLY hope Skuzzy gets the numerous P40 skins approved QUICKLY!!!!!!  it has been tooooo long!   :aok
Title: Re: whats up with the P40's?
Post by: Shane on April 10, 2012, 05:37:02 PM
That's his own kill ratio with that plane.  Not the historical record.

guess who shot him down?

 :noid
Title: Re: whats up with the P40's?
Post by: Widewing on April 10, 2012, 07:59:33 PM
guess who shot him down?

 :noid

Indeed, my only P-40N loss was to Shane.

I saw an La-7 very near a friendly field, engaged with 1 or 2 Rooks. I was very low on fuel, and checked E6B. 2 minutes left. I saw one of the Rooks go down. Since I was within easy gliding distance from the field, I headed towards the fight. We maneuvered for a while, mostly in the vertical. I had a snap shot, but little or no damage. Shane went vertical, and I followed, suit. Then, the engine quit... There I was, hanging and Shane didn't miss the opportunity. The Bastage! LOL He earned the kill, running me out of gas and not giving me a decent shot, despite the fact that another Rook was engaging him.

If I hear that Shane is nearby, I head straight for the nearest La-7. I know that I'll get a great fight. The problem is keeping others out. Can't get a decent 1v1 fight without a bunch of green icons converging on the fight. Shane is usually deep in unfriendly territory and often out-numbered. Several times in recent months, I'll be engaged with Shane only to have one or more Rooks pick him. It annoys me, so I'm sure it irritates Shane even more. If I know it's Shane in a fight, I stay out until his fight is resolved. No need to dog-pile...

Shane, over the past year, I think I'm up 3 or 4 to 1, right? Got ya with a P-39Q, P-38L and A-20 that I recall... In fairness, the P-38 kill was a perfect bounce.. He never saw me until too late. The A-20 kill was the result of Shane being low and slow, having just beat an F4U down in the weeds. P-39 kill doesn't register much in my memory, except that I got him with a 37mm on a snapshot. We'll have to go the DA some evening to avoid the pickers. 109G-2 vs La-7 is always a fun match-up...
Title: Re: whats up with the P40's?
Post by: W7LPNRICK on April 10, 2012, 08:06:38 PM
There was a bunch of dingle-berries de-acking a field with P-40's this afternoon. Can you say auger? IMO not a good idea, as they all bit dirt hard.  :old:  :ahand
Title: Re: whats up with the P40's?
Post by: PFactorDave on April 10, 2012, 09:46:59 PM
I flew a P40N this evening.  For some reason I attracted an unusually large number of HOing Spits, LAs, and a stray HOing P38.  I never realized that the P40N is so feared that everybody feels like they need to HO it like they would a 262...  Did I forget to fire the RATOs or something?
Title: Re: whats up with the P40's?
Post by: Karnak on April 11, 2012, 08:47:49 AM
what I have noticed is that any rare aircraft attracts a crowd.  I think it is a mix of "easy kill, get it!" and "I want that rare scalp!" going on.
Title: Re: whats up with the P40's?
Post by: Butcher on April 11, 2012, 09:06:08 AM
what I have noticed is that any rare aircraft attracts a crowd.  I think it is a mix of "easy kill, get it!" and "I want that rare scalp!" going on.

Its not because its rare, its because of 2 things: A) either its flown by a veteran player who will handle it like a spitfire, or B) a total noob which would be an easy kill.
Generally speaking its around 20% and 80%.

For example If you see a P38G, you think of A) Guppy or B) noob :)
Title: Re: whats up with the P40's?
Post by: Wofat on April 11, 2012, 09:48:01 AM
>> For example If you see a P38G, you think of A) Guppy or B) noob

or TwinBoom.  He master of P-38!
Title: Re: whats up with the P40's?
Post by: Squire on April 11, 2012, 06:22:49 PM
The P-40s handle reasonably well and the P-40N and P-40F can give some LWA a/c a real ride for the money if flown to their strengths. Like any other fighter in the game don't take it into a fight overloaded with fuel or ord is all and remember its a 1943 era bird not an LA-7 or a P-47M. The P-40N specifically below 10k on WEP is not a fighter to be underestimated.

That said you see guys flying the uber rides that seriously suck all the time the fancy rides guarantee nothing.

Quote
I attracted an unusually large number of HOing Spits, LAs, and a stray HOing P38

This struck you as unusual in what way?  ;)
Title: Re: whats up with the P40's?
Post by: Rich52 on April 11, 2012, 06:32:10 PM
I Like the P-40. Flying the early and mid war planes is challenging in the LWA. I wish we had more missions with P40s, P39s, B25s, Yaks, KIs, A20s, JUs, 205s and the like.
Title: Re: whats up with the P40's?
Post by: SmokinLoon on April 12, 2012, 04:12:53 PM
Indeed, my only P-40N loss was to Shane.

I saw an La-7 very near a friendly field, engaged with 1 or 2 Rooks. I was very low on fuel, and checked E6B. 2 minutes left. I saw one of the Rooks go down. Since I was within easy gliding distance from the field, I headed towards the fight. We maneuvered for a while, mostly in the vertical. I had a snap shot, but little or no damage. Shane went vertical, and I followed, suit. Then, the engine quit... There I was, hanging and Shane didn't miss the opportunity. The Bastage! LOL He earned the kill, running me out of gas and not giving me a decent shot, despite the fact that another Rook was engaging him.

If I hear that Shane is nearby, I head straight for the nearest La-7. I know that I'll get a great fight. The problem is keeping others out. Can't get a decent 1v1 fight without a bunch of green icons converging on the fight. Shane is usually deep in unfriendly territory and often out-numbered. Several times in recent months, I'll be engaged with Shane only to have one or more Rooks pick him. It annoys me, so I'm sure it irritates Shane even more. If I know it's Shane in a fight, I stay out until his fight is resolved. No need to dog-pile...

Shane, over the past year, I think I'm up 3 or 4 to 1, right? Got ya with a P-39Q, P-38L and A-20 that I recall... In fairness, the P-38 kill was a perfect bounce.. He never saw me until too late. The A-20 kill was the result of Shane being low and slow, having just beat an F4U down in the weeds. P-39 kill doesn't register much in my memory, except that I got him with a 37mm on a snapshot. We'll have to go the DA some evening to avoid the pickers. 109G-2 vs La-7 is always a fun match-up...

Shame is the typical crutch plane flyer.  He has to compensate.   :aok
Title: Re: whats up with the P40's?
Post by: lyric1 on April 14, 2012, 03:42:54 AM
Back to the books for answers maybe?

http://www.scribd.com/haraoi_conal/d/44379469-Pilot-s-Manual-for-Curtis-P-40-Warhawk
Title: Re: whats up with the P40's?
Post by: Chalenge on April 14, 2012, 05:22:03 AM
Shame is the typical crutch plane flyer.  He has to compensate.   :aok

There are no crutch planes. All planes are good in some areas and not so good in others. If the pilot knows the difference then that makes all the difference. If he doesnt know then it doesnt matter.
Title: Re: whats up with the P40's?
Post by: LCADolby on April 14, 2012, 05:30:14 AM
I miss the P40B and the flaps that worked at speed  :(

You need to be Ben Affleck now to make the P40's work well in a fighter on fighter fight  ;)
Title: Re: whats up with the P40's?
Post by: DMVIAGRA on April 14, 2012, 09:16:42 AM
I don't know anything that's wrong with them, they're just fine. Probably the best at immediate turns, or going into turns, not very good at keeping it's E. However it the model best for jabo is the E, either that or the highly awkward N. For some reason for me though the P-40 doesn't seem very stable, it's too jerky for some reason. Everytime I try to get a bead on something I only make about 3/10 of the shot, due to trying to correct it. I think even the F4 Wildcat is a bit more steady honestly, but not as quick or anything else. However you go and try to shoot something with it and tweak it to be correct, it's very arduous.