Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: JimmyD3 on December 13, 2025, 04:46:27 PM
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What are the top 6 accelerating aircraft in the game?
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ChatGPT weighed in. This is taking out the 163 and 262 which would be 1/2 on the list.
1. Bf 109K-4
This is the benchmark.
In AHIII nothing with a prop gets off the line and keeps pulling like the K-4. Light airframe, brutal MW-50 power, and very low drag. From ~200 IAS upward it just keeps adding speed while others taper.
Why it’s #1: best power-to-weight and best drag profile combined.
⸻
2. Fw 190D-9
The Dora accelerates like a freight train once it’s rolling.
Slightly heavier than the K-4, but the Jumo engine delivers smooth, sustained push. In level flight or a shallow dive it closes gaps fast and recovers energy better than almost anything else.
Why it’s #2: relentless mid-speed acceleration and excellent energy recovery.
⸻
3. Tempest Mk V
This airplane is violence at low altitude.
The Sabre engine gives instant torque, and the Tempest’s aerodynamics stay clean at speed. From ~250–400 IAS it accelerates harder than most pilots expect and dominates deck-level extensions.
Why it’s #3: unmatched low-alt acceleration among Allied props.
⸻
4. P-47M
Heavy, yes. Slow to start, no.
Once power is on, the P-47M builds speed faster than almost any Allied fighter, especially above 300 IAS. Turbo + water + clean high-speed design matters a lot in AHIII.
Why it’s here: enormous horsepower that actually converts into speed.
⸻
5. Spitfire Mk XIV
This one surprises people.
The Griffon Spit accelerates brutally from low-to-mid speeds, especially right after a maneuver. It doesn’t hold acceleration as long as the Tempest or K-4, but the initial shove is excellent.
Why it ranks here: explosive burst acceleration, especially post-turn.
⸻
6. Ta 152H
This is altitude-biased but still earns the slot.
Below its optimal band it’s merely good; in its band it accelerates extremely well for a long-wing aircraft. In AHIII, above ~20k it out-pulls most props in level acceleration.
Why it makes the list: sustained high-alt acceleration others can’t match.
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Dadtallica, thank you for that in depth expert listing. It was also very timely. :salute
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Dadtallica, thank you for that in depth expert listing. It was also very timely. :salute
lol anytime!
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ChatGPT weighed in. This is taking out the 163 and 262 which would be 1/2 on the list.
It seemed to me that he 262 was always slow off off the line compared to the props.
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ChatGPT weighed in. This is taking out the 163 and 262 which would be 1/2 on the list.
1. Bf 109K-4
This is the benchmark.
In AHIII nothing with a prop gets off the line and keeps pulling like the K-4. Light airframe, brutal MW-50 power, and very low drag. From ~200 IAS upward it just keeps adding speed while others taper.
Why it’s #1: best power-to-weight and best drag profile combined.
⸻
2. Fw 190D-9
The Dora accelerates like a freight train once it’s rolling.
Slightly heavier than the K-4, but the Jumo engine delivers smooth, sustained push. In level flight or a shallow dive it closes gaps fast and recovers energy better than almost anything else.
Why it’s #2: relentless mid-speed acceleration and excellent energy recovery.
⸻
3. Tempest Mk V
This airplane is violence at low altitude.
The Sabre engine gives instant torque, and the Tempest’s aerodynamics stay clean at speed. From ~250–400 IAS it accelerates harder than most pilots expect and dominates deck-level extensions.
Why it’s #3: unmatched low-alt acceleration among Allied props.
⸻
4. P-47M
Heavy, yes. Slow to start, no.
Once power is on, the P-47M builds speed faster than almost any Allied fighter, especially above 300 IAS. Turbo + water + clean high-speed design matters a lot in AHIII.
Why it’s here: enormous horsepower that actually converts into speed.
⸻
5. Spitfire Mk XIV
This one surprises people.
The Griffon Spit accelerates brutally from low-to-mid speeds, especially right after a maneuver. It doesn’t hold acceleration as long as the Tempest or K-4, but the initial shove is excellent.
Why it ranks here: explosive burst acceleration, especially post-turn.
⸻
6. Ta 152H
This is altitude-biased but still earns the slot.
Below its optimal band it’s merely good; in its band it accelerates extremely well for a long-wing aircraft. In AHIII, above ~20k it out-pulls most props in level acceleration.
Why it makes the list: sustained high-alt acceleration others can’t match.
Think I would replace/add the P47 and Ta152 with the Ki84 and La7, but overall good list. Usually the least fun planes to come across in the MA because its an easy press X and avoid trouble... but the Spit Ki84 and 109K can make for some fun fights.
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It seemed to me that he 262 was always slow off off the line compared to the props.
I think it accelerates with a P51D
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Think I would replace/add the P47 and Ta152 with the Ki84 and La7, but overall good list.
I agree with this. 152 acceleration sucksssssss at MA altitudes.
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It seemed to me that he 262 was always slow off off the line compared to the props.
A piston engine reacts pretty much immediately to the throttle. A jet engine takes some time to spin up when the throttle is advanced. Once it does spin up, you have lots of acceleration and speed.
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A piston engine reacts pretty much immediately to the throttle. A jet engine takes some time to spin up when the throttle is advanced. Once it does spin up, you have lots of acceleration and speed.
There's a automatic fuel control unit that the early 262s didn't have that they model in IL2 GB. If you jet doesn't have it you have to move the throttle very slowly or suffer the consequences.
From AI:
The early Messerschmitt Me 262’s Junkers Jumo 004 engines lacked an automatic fuel control unit (sometimes referred to as a fuel metering pump or fuel regulator). Without this device, rapid throttle movements could cause fuel surging, compressor stalls, or flameouts, which is faithfully modeled in IL-2 Great Battles. Pilots had to move the throttle very gently to avoid engine damage.
🔧 What Was Missing?
Automatic Fuel Control Unit (Fuel Pump/Regulator):
Early Jumo 004 engines did not have a sophisticated fuel metering system.
Fuel flow was directly linked to throttle position, without compensation for compressor speed or airflow.
This made the engines extremely sensitive to throttle inputs.
⚠️ Problems Caused
Compressor Stall: Sudden throttle increases disrupted airflow through the compressor.
Flameout: Excess fuel could extinguish combustion if airflow wasn’t matched.
Overheating: Fuel surges led to dangerously high jet pipe temperatures.
Operational Limitation: Pilots were instructed to move throttles slowly and smoothly to avoid catastrophic engine failure.
🎮 IL-2 Great Battles Modeling
The simulator replicates this limitation:
If you slam the throttle forward, the Jumo 004 engines can flame out or stall.
Players must “nurse” the throttle, just like real Luftwaffe pilots did.
Later versions of the Jumo 004 incorporated improved fuel control systems to reduce this risk, but early models remained notoriously fragile.
I think this may add to the spooling up time as well. As I recall the early model F-14 had a bit of a delay too.
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I find the yak9u gets off the ground quickly as well as the I16.
Another plane known for fast acceleration from a stop is the Beaufighter.
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The G14 has a quicker acceleration than the Yak9u. You compare them HERE (http://75.138.186.96:8080/gonzo/ahcharts/index.php)
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The G14 has a quicker acceleration than the Yak9u. You compare them HERE (http://75.138.186.96:8080/gonzo/ahcharts/index.php)
That's a great chart!
...but...where's the 39Q...?
- oldman
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I need to update the missing planes..... some day :)
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P38 is definitely top 6 in accelerating into the ground ;)
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Acceleration from what to what?
From a dead stop to gear up?
From dead stop to 300mph?
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What are the top 6 accelerating aircraft in the game?
older info (AH1 and AH2), pretty sure it generally still holds. Missing some newer planes.
AH2 sea level
https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,134923.msg1457899.html#msg1457899
AH1 sea level
https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,83705.msg814778.html#msg814778
AH1 18,000ft
https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,83988.msg818515.html#msg818515
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Acceleration is basically climb rate.
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Id love to understand how a yak3 can cut its engine in a rolling scissors and then turn it right back on and still out climb and accel from my K4. Is that possible in real life? Man this plane needs a serious ENY adjustment. Why won't Dale take a look at this. Its freaking irritating these yak3s....
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Id love to understand how a yak3 can cut its engine in a rolling scissors and then turn it right back on and still out climb and accel from my K4. Is that possible in real life? Man this plane needs a serious ENY adjustment. Why won't Dale take a look at this. Its freaking irritating these yak3s....
Single most annoying aircraft in the game.
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Id love to understand how a yak3 can cut its engine in a rolling scissors and then turn it right back on and still out climb and accel from my K4. Is that possible in real life? Man this plane needs a serious ENY adjustment. Why won't Dale take a look at this. Its freaking irritating these yak3s....
I flew the Yak-3 in the scenario and that was definitely not my experience. The K-4's were easily capable of climbing away from me.
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Acceleration is basically climb rate.
This^^^
Also at what altitude.
A lot of triangulating physics in a dogfight.
“He out climb me when he shouldn’t”
At what alt and what was E of both planes when it happened.
Too many variables.
If a late war plane can stomp a 109 it’s because that was the exact intent of the design, to beat the 109s.
A Yak in a TnB with a simple F4, his butt is grass. A F4 using flaps in a TnB the Yak has almost zero chance to get inside the turn for a shot.
Point being, comparing later war planes to a 109 is kinda fubar.
Top it off, depending on the model the 109 can be a handful. I found the K-4 to be a real handful to fly for a D9 jocky. It’s opposite of my style of flying. And only 65 taters, ugh!!!
I can see how a yak can wup a K-4, especially to an uncomfortable pilot.
The annoyance is a lot fly uber planes. A pilot comfortable in his uber ride can sometime bend expected physics.
We have flown these rides much more than any WWII pilots. We can exploit newly found loopholes. And we don’t have to shred our guts to do it.
We can only go by climb rate and hope our math is correct when triangulating a fight and shot.
I’m not a know-it-all doctor in real life, but I play one on a game bbs.
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The Yak3 is insane. Ive just been flying it in the match play vs the bots. Feels like a damn F16. Pulls up and around like crazy. Its way more agile than the K4. Very nice roll rate. Extremely nice views. Excels like crazy. No nose bounce at all. The only thing it cant do better is beat the K4 in a rolling scissors turn fight. Other than that, its ability to to do crazy stall maneuvers, pull out of and instantly pull up with little stall roll over is insane. Its easily an 8 ENY plane. If the Nik and La7 are 5-8 Eny, so should the yak3. Its way easier and more agile plane than the K4. Low ammo count but can still get 5 kills with it. On top of being incredibly hard to hit and almost indestructible against bullets, id say it's very much an Uber plane. After flying it I can now see why you can turn engine off and still climb up and back around like crazy, its so nimble like a F16. It definitely needs an ENY adj. Plus its just chasing players out of the game. Every time you fight rooks its like 9 yak3s vs everyone. Now I see why.
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If you keep that Yak 3 in the 12-16k range and keep your head on a swivel you'll soon know what it's like to be immortal...
But it needs more cowbell...
Not alot of rounds or go juice in it.
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If you keep that Yak 3 in the 12-16k range and keep your head on a swivel you'll soon know what it's like to be immortal...
But it needs more cowbell...
Not alot of rounds or go juice in it.
Yeah, they all have their minor weaknesses, however all super late war planes should be under 10 eny. Too many people flying them and the yaks are getting over saturated. The 109 is just about better in some ways, however is way harder to fly and aim compared to the yaks agility in quick fast turns and maneuvers. No reason at all it should be a much higher ENY than a Nik or la7 or F4U1d/ 1A.
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Not the yak9.