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Custom Skins / Re: Romanian Built 109G-2
« Last post by Vraciu on April 17, 2025, 09:32:31 AM »Nice work.
Recent Posts
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Aces High General Discussion / Re: Hello all AH'rs it's been a while
« Last post by ZE on April 17, 2025, 09:30:00 AM »I can participate... letme know plans
ZE
ZE
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Aces High General Discussion / Re: How is the game these days?
« Last post by ZE on April 17, 2025, 09:27:47 AM »Always gotta be careful when ZE’s Brewster is in the area, he’s a good shot in it.
JAJAJA, nooo Stampf93 , we need to be careful with you around.
ZE
84
Aircraft and Vehicles / Re: Ki-84-1a v Spitfire Mk VIII
« Last post by Gaston on April 17, 2025, 09:25:37 AM » A bit of reality in this slightly old thread:
Osprey "Ki-43 aces of WWII" p.50: Sgt. Toshimi Ikezawa, Ki-43 ace: "I heard Major Eto had refused delivery of the Ki-84 (640-660 km/h). They could not avoid an attack if it came from above, because of the Ki-84's poor rate of turn (17-20 s. left, 20-23 s. right). I think we owe our survival to the Ki-43 (540 km/h, 11-14 s. turn either way), as the Ki-84 would have left you in a tight spot if attacked from above by P-51s. Spitfire [Mk VIII] leaders [meaning skilled and experienced] would pull out of their dives (!!!) when they realized they could not catch us [unaware]. Wingmen [inexperienced] pilots would continue to dive straight down on us, leaving them vulnerable in a turning fight..."
The lower value turn times are sourced in "A consideration of Ki-84 performance", a Japanese original source, but are not sustained speed, while the higher figure is an estimation closer to the more combat-relevant sustained speed at reduced power. The P-51D was roughly similar with flaps 20 degrees down.
Ki-43 turn values are from its pilot manual.
Another Ki-84 quote while I am at it:
"Aeroplane" November 2005, "Ki-100 fighter Database": p. 61-77 "The conclusion drawn by the Akeno pilots left little to the imagination: In short, it stated that given equally skilled pilots, the Ki-100 (585 km/h) would always win a fight with the Ki-84 (640-660 km/h) in any one-to-one combat. They further added that in a combat situation with up to three Ki-84s, the Ki-100 pilot could still develop the battle to his advantage. The results of the evaluations at the Hitachi school were just as clear-cut: [Captain Yasuro Mazaki] added that the Ki-84 was "only superior to the Ki-100 in diving speed. The Ki-100 was much better in the turn and while climbing." P.77 -The maneuverability of the Ki-100 was the best of the Army's frontline fighters. with the exception of the Ki-43."
And this below to confirm the first quote (just in case, but I'm sure you needed no convincing, right?);
The TAIC captured a Ki-43-II pilot manual and noted: "There is evidence to believe Japanese Army pilots have a strong preference for the Ki-43 over the higher performing Tony and Tojo."
And if you wonder how the A6M Zero compared in all of this, ooops, there is a slight doctrinal problem...:
https://youtu.be/ApOfbxpL4Dg?si=8unn86EM2X5BSGqy[/URL]
57:55: Useful intro to the discovery. (That the Zero did not really do sustained low speed turns, whomp-whomp.)
1:01:45 (USN pilot, late 1942) "[Japanese Zero] pilots have generally poor fighter tactics. Zeroes could not be shaken by us if they would chop their throttles and sit on our tails. [Meaning turn]"
At 59:07 "Intelligence reports assumed that these tactics indicated the Zero lacked maneuverability."
59:22 "Judging from their apparently long fuselage, these planes do not have a small turning circle, and are not very maneuverable."
59:33 "The Chinese report in question noted the reluctance of the Japanese Navy pilots to dogfight."
1:00:05 "Chinese pilots report that the Japanese will not engage in a turning duel."
1:01:32 "Accounts (from intelligence archives) of Japanese [ha-hem, NAVY] hit and run tactics against the Allies are so numerous, we'd be here for days..."
1975 Saburo Sakai interview: "It was great in dogfights, especially in the vertical. In a vertical looping maneuver like this (looping) the Zero was absolutely wonderful! Even if they got behind you, if you enter a vertical looping contest, in about 3 or 4 loops we'd be right back on their tail. That's how good the Zero was in vertical maneuvers." "We used a diagonal looping maneuver. No two pilots had the same Hinero Komi maneuver."
Yeah, if the term Hinero Komi is unfamiliar, let's just say that the Zero as a whole is unfamiliar....
For some reason I love this one:
311th Fighter Group Unit history: "On October 21, 1943, the 530th squadron’s P-51As met numerous Mitsubishi Zeros. I came up behind Lt. Geoffrey Neal, who was chasing a Zero down to the deck! I latched on to their formation and watched as he drove the enemy fighter right into the ground. The pilot of the Zero had tried everything to get rid of Lt. Neal except to circle fight." 311th Fighter Group Unit history."
Don't you just love what an uncannily accurate picture of history historians left us with? You just reverse things into the exact opposite of everything they said, and everything lines up perfectly.
It even works with the P-47 (very mushy in the initial bite, but otherwise the most obsessive extreme low speed turn fighter in the West, at least to the left):
-William M McDermott, 25 May 1944 [P-47D Razorback, needle-tip prop (superior prop for
low speed turns if using full power)]: "The enemy aircraft [Me-109G-6] and I both banked
to the left at the same time. After 3 or 4 climbing turns I managed to get into a position to
fire a deflection shot, using about two rings and observing no hits. [5000 ft.] We continued in
a climbing Lufberry using full power and indicating 140 mph. I used two and half rings and
observed a few hits on his tail surfaces. We continued circling for approximately another full
turn when he suddenly snapped and spun in."
And you don't say:
Quote, "On special Missions: The Luftwaffe's Research and Experimental Squadrons 1923-1945" John Richard Smith, Eddie J. Creek, Peter Petrick Classic, 2003 - History - 128 pages: (early captured Razorback without full power available, and with needle tip prop): "The P-47D out-turns our Bf-109G."
But mostly at the most extreme low speed and only in left turns, and maybe only for the needle tip prop Razorback, I would say.
I think the apparent magic has to do with the bottom air dog-legging above the wings when power is low in a turn, as with the needle tip prop: Squeezed air accelerates in a constriction point (unlike traffic, a basic aerodynamic fact), the acceleration being here on top of the wing if the prop is not strong enough to beat down the dog leg...
Yes, quite an accurate picture historians gave us...: Power is everything!!!
Osprey "Ki-43 aces of WWII" p.50: Sgt. Toshimi Ikezawa, Ki-43 ace: "I heard Major Eto had refused delivery of the Ki-84 (640-660 km/h). They could not avoid an attack if it came from above, because of the Ki-84's poor rate of turn (17-20 s. left, 20-23 s. right). I think we owe our survival to the Ki-43 (540 km/h, 11-14 s. turn either way), as the Ki-84 would have left you in a tight spot if attacked from above by P-51s. Spitfire [Mk VIII] leaders [meaning skilled and experienced] would pull out of their dives (!!!) when they realized they could not catch us [unaware]. Wingmen [inexperienced] pilots would continue to dive straight down on us, leaving them vulnerable in a turning fight..."
The lower value turn times are sourced in "A consideration of Ki-84 performance", a Japanese original source, but are not sustained speed, while the higher figure is an estimation closer to the more combat-relevant sustained speed at reduced power. The P-51D was roughly similar with flaps 20 degrees down.
Ki-43 turn values are from its pilot manual.
Another Ki-84 quote while I am at it:
"Aeroplane" November 2005, "Ki-100 fighter Database": p. 61-77 "The conclusion drawn by the Akeno pilots left little to the imagination: In short, it stated that given equally skilled pilots, the Ki-100 (585 km/h) would always win a fight with the Ki-84 (640-660 km/h) in any one-to-one combat. They further added that in a combat situation with up to three Ki-84s, the Ki-100 pilot could still develop the battle to his advantage. The results of the evaluations at the Hitachi school were just as clear-cut: [Captain Yasuro Mazaki] added that the Ki-84 was "only superior to the Ki-100 in diving speed. The Ki-100 was much better in the turn and while climbing." P.77 -The maneuverability of the Ki-100 was the best of the Army's frontline fighters. with the exception of the Ki-43."
And this below to confirm the first quote (just in case, but I'm sure you needed no convincing, right?);
The TAIC captured a Ki-43-II pilot manual and noted: "There is evidence to believe Japanese Army pilots have a strong preference for the Ki-43 over the higher performing Tony and Tojo."
And if you wonder how the A6M Zero compared in all of this, ooops, there is a slight doctrinal problem...:
https://youtu.be/ApOfbxpL4Dg?si=8unn86EM2X5BSGqy[/URL]
57:55: Useful intro to the discovery. (That the Zero did not really do sustained low speed turns, whomp-whomp.)
1:01:45 (USN pilot, late 1942) "[Japanese Zero] pilots have generally poor fighter tactics. Zeroes could not be shaken by us if they would chop their throttles and sit on our tails. [Meaning turn]"
At 59:07 "Intelligence reports assumed that these tactics indicated the Zero lacked maneuverability."
59:22 "Judging from their apparently long fuselage, these planes do not have a small turning circle, and are not very maneuverable."
59:33 "The Chinese report in question noted the reluctance of the Japanese Navy pilots to dogfight."
1:00:05 "Chinese pilots report that the Japanese will not engage in a turning duel."
1:01:32 "Accounts (from intelligence archives) of Japanese [ha-hem, NAVY] hit and run tactics against the Allies are so numerous, we'd be here for days..."
1975 Saburo Sakai interview: "It was great in dogfights, especially in the vertical. In a vertical looping maneuver like this (looping) the Zero was absolutely wonderful! Even if they got behind you, if you enter a vertical looping contest, in about 3 or 4 loops we'd be right back on their tail. That's how good the Zero was in vertical maneuvers." "We used a diagonal looping maneuver. No two pilots had the same Hinero Komi maneuver."
Yeah, if the term Hinero Komi is unfamiliar, let's just say that the Zero as a whole is unfamiliar....
For some reason I love this one:
311th Fighter Group Unit history: "On October 21, 1943, the 530th squadron’s P-51As met numerous Mitsubishi Zeros. I came up behind Lt. Geoffrey Neal, who was chasing a Zero down to the deck! I latched on to their formation and watched as he drove the enemy fighter right into the ground. The pilot of the Zero had tried everything to get rid of Lt. Neal except to circle fight." 311th Fighter Group Unit history."
Don't you just love what an uncannily accurate picture of history historians left us with? You just reverse things into the exact opposite of everything they said, and everything lines up perfectly.
It even works with the P-47 (very mushy in the initial bite, but otherwise the most obsessive extreme low speed turn fighter in the West, at least to the left):
-William M McDermott, 25 May 1944 [P-47D Razorback, needle-tip prop (superior prop for
low speed turns if using full power)]: "The enemy aircraft [Me-109G-6] and I both banked
to the left at the same time. After 3 or 4 climbing turns I managed to get into a position to
fire a deflection shot, using about two rings and observing no hits. [5000 ft.] We continued in
a climbing Lufberry using full power and indicating 140 mph. I used two and half rings and
observed a few hits on his tail surfaces. We continued circling for approximately another full
turn when he suddenly snapped and spun in."
And you don't say:
Quote, "On special Missions: The Luftwaffe's Research and Experimental Squadrons 1923-1945" John Richard Smith, Eddie J. Creek, Peter Petrick Classic, 2003 - History - 128 pages: (early captured Razorback without full power available, and with needle tip prop): "The P-47D out-turns our Bf-109G."
But mostly at the most extreme low speed and only in left turns, and maybe only for the needle tip prop Razorback, I would say.
I think the apparent magic has to do with the bottom air dog-legging above the wings when power is low in a turn, as with the needle tip prop: Squeezed air accelerates in a constriction point (unlike traffic, a basic aerodynamic fact), the acceleration being here on top of the wing if the prop is not strong enough to beat down the dog leg...
Yes, quite an accurate picture historians gave us...: Power is everything!!!
85
Aces High General Discussion / Re: Game play?
« Last post by ZE on April 17, 2025, 09:24:35 AM »Went back to country auto assign to do my part to try to balance the numbers..
The fix:
Everyone is on auto assign..
What a difference it'd make in the game..landing kills with one's ego in lights only for the newbie..
Who's with me? MAHGA!
Eagler
With you Eagler,
For the good of our game, would like to try the auto-assign option, but don't know how to resolve the Squad-killing nasty situation ? I have seen you ( and a few others ),come to a fight against superior numbers without fear or intimidation, giving the game a chance to keep actions alive. It's sad to see our numbers going down.... not sure what the solution is, but willing to help to find new players.... - ooora for the video makers in you tube -
86
Aces High General Discussion / Re: How is the game these days?
« Last post by MDStampf93 on April 17, 2025, 09:18:26 AM »Always gotta be careful when ZE’s Brewster is in the area, he’s a good shot in it. 
87
Friday Squad Operations / Allied Orders
« Last post by weiser on April 17, 2025, 09:18:03 AM »Orders are out, any issues let me know
weiser
88
Aces High General Discussion / Re: How is the game these days?
« Last post by ZE on April 17, 2025, 09:10:05 AM »I'm trying to convince vets to get out of the low skilled planes and into higher skilled planes in order to give the less skilled players more of a chance to have fun and be successful in the fight.
Remember, good players in low skilled planes are far more deadly than good players in high skilled planes and it makes an impact on the arena.
It's my personal option to use the old Brewster ( even I know most of the HA fighter planes are faster and powerful and can kill me easily ) since the fun on the turns, twisting and long shooting is amazing. I'm not a killer pilot, but rookies and veterans have fun fighting with me and my Brew... I believe that attract more pilots to our game.
ZE
89
Aces High General Discussion / Re: How is the game these days?
« Last post by DmonSlyr on April 17, 2025, 08:10:08 AM »I still use the hat switch myself. Just cannot get the look behind views how I want with VR and Track Ir, and it just hurts my neck too much in WW2 with how much I look around.
I think you are over thinking it. I'm saying there is a skill level. Like a p40 takes a very high skill level to be successful most of the time. Planes like a spit16, La7, Tempest and 190D, take a very low skill level to be successful because of how capable they are vs other planes, regardless of the pilot (even though yes the pilot matters). I'm trying to convince vets to get out of the low skilled planes and into higher skilled planes in order to give the less skilled players more of a chance to have fun and be successful in the fight.
Remember, good players in low skilled planes are far more deadly than good players in high skilled planes and it makes an impact on the arena.
So some are saying it should be strictly TnB in planes designed to BnZ? Or we should just fly TnB planes?
You can chase me, once you turn back I’m on your 6, and I’m faster
Some players bite that hook. two birds one stone. Not only do I regain E, ya just handed me the 6.
Just FYI, a plane designed to BnZ needs to extend to regain speed so you don’t always have the advantage.
Frankly, I think those who fly with large nose canons strictly to HO are a bigger problem in that epidemic.
I think you are over thinking it. I'm saying there is a skill level. Like a p40 takes a very high skill level to be successful most of the time. Planes like a spit16, La7, Tempest and 190D, take a very low skill level to be successful because of how capable they are vs other planes, regardless of the pilot (even though yes the pilot matters). I'm trying to convince vets to get out of the low skilled planes and into higher skilled planes in order to give the less skilled players more of a chance to have fun and be successful in the fight.
Remember, good players in low skilled planes are far more deadly than good players in high skilled planes and it makes an impact on the arena.
90
Aces High General Discussion / Re: Game play?
« Last post by Animl-AW on April 17, 2025, 07:35:44 AM »This is a 20 year old complaint.
Older than that.
20 yrs ago ya would barely notice 50 players longing out. It wasn’t such a noticeable effect.
One country victim 8-9 times out of 10 will not sustain interest. I’m used to 3or5-1, and I’m logging. Top it off with one country only knows HOs, well,… have fun fighting weeds.
<shrug>