Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Wishlist => Topic started by: caldera on February 28, 2018, 03:55:32 PM
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Better climb and maneuverability than the F4F-4, due to less weight from a 4 gun (450 rpg) setup and lack of folding wings. Served in squadron strength in the Battle of Coral Sea but was later phased out for the -4, despite Wildcat pilot preference for the earlier model.
F4F-3 empty/loaded weight: 4,907/7,423 lbs
F4F-4 empty/loaded weight: 5,895/7,975 lbs
AH F4F-4 6 guns loaded weight: 7,975 lbs
4 guns loaded weight: 7,932 lbs
The F4F-3 would be 509 lbs lighter, which would make a measurable difference in climb and turn performance.
A super easy addition as a separate model and even easier still: give the current Wildcat 4 gun option 450 rpg and the actual 7,423 lb weight of the F4F-3.
F4F-3 just sounds cooler though, because certain numbers and letters are cooler than others. I'm weird like that. :D
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+1 :aok
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Was reading Hamilton McWhorter's book, The First Hellcat Ace and he claimed the -4 was 900 lbs. heavier than the -3. If true, that would be really significant.
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Haven't read the book, but according to your earlier figures, the empty weight of the -4 is more than 900 pounds heavier than the -3 Indeed, it is nearly 1,000 pounds heavier in that case.
Mike
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Also strange that when going from empty to loaded weight, the -3 added 436 lbs. more than the -4. :headscratch:
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+1 should be an easy addition
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Also strange that when going from empty to loaded weight, the -3 added 436 lbs. more than the -4. :headscratch:
I'd imagine that is at least in part due to the 1,800 rounds of ammo the F4F-3 carried compared to the 1,440 rounds the F4F-4 carried.
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Was reading Hamilton McWhorter's book, The First Hellcat Ace and he claimed the -4 was 900 lbs. heavier than the -3. If true, that would be really significant.
Folding wings, extra guns, more armor, etc. adds up.
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I'd imagine that is at least in part due to the 1,800 rounds of ammo the F4F-3 carried compared to the 1,440 rounds the F4F-4 carried.
Probably a difference in fuel capacity also factors in here... I do not know this for certain though.
Edit in: Or perhaps not.
http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/f4f/f4f.html
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...or maybe, maybe just fly with 50% fuel?
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...or maybe, maybe just fly with 50% fuel?
That was the directive sent out in real life. And leave the extra guns empty. :eek: