P-47d40 vs. d25

[Randy1]

I wonder if the veteran P-47 players automatically compensate their flying techniques when they switch from a 25 to a 40?  So automatic, it makes the planes seem very close when compared.

I had posted some time ago the difference between the P-38J and L.  The J was lighter feeling.  ACK-ACK countered saying there was no difference.  After spending so much time in the two 38s, I would say they do seem equal but I think not from my first impressions.

[LilMak]

Randy. I adjust my style for two of the Jugs (D-11 & N). The rest I basically fly the same.

[ML52]

Randy. I adjust my style for two of the Jugs (D-11 & N). The rest I basically fly the same.

What do you mean? Would you explain how?

[LilMak]

What do you mean? Would you explain how?

Well the D-11 is more light on its feet for a P-47 so it turns better. But it doesn't have the paddle prop so it accelerates and climbs slower. My fights in it generally are flatter than the others. I'll usually try to get a better head of steam going before I enter combat because E is harder to recover. Plus feels like it holds its speed a little longer. The razorback is a little more aerodynamic I guess.

Aside from roll, the N just feels like it's stuck in the mud. I'm more careful with it than the others. It's almost as fast as the M but it's considerably heavier to accommodate all the fuel and bigger wings. So it accelerates even slower and climbs like a pig when the WEP is gone.

Most of this is just gutt feeling. I don't have any real numbers to back this up. Just opinion.

[DaveBB]

I used to really enjoy dogfighting in the P47D-11.  No one expected it to be the turn-and-burn fighter that it was.  Half of what made it so good was the shear surprise of mixing it up with Spits and N1k2s.  Of course while it turned better than the -25 and -40, one still had to use superior tactics to kill said Spitfire or N1K2.  I had a positive kill to death ratio in it.  At such close range, a snapshot with 8 .50s would disintegrate an enemy fighter. Half the battle was spent with the stall horn blaring, using massive rudder inputs to get the nose pointed where you wanted to go, and waiting for the plane to reach flying speed again. 

[ML52]

Thanks LilMak! I tried the N tonight on a dive bombing sorte. It felt very slow to climb, made me worry that I'd chosen a field far to close, even 2 sectors away! It did feel more stable in the dive and handled the speed well, I thought, near compression. For me in a fight with a Niki it felt sluggish but I could get away to reset and or rtb.

[Randy1]

Randy. I adjust my style for two of the Jugs (D-11 & N). The rest I basically fly the same.

The N is one of those love hate things.  Got some great qualities but . . .

There wass a player in the past that had mastered the N but I cannot remember who.

[bozon]

Be minded about the amount of fuel you carry in the N. 100% internal is a whopping 550 galons - about 5 times the fuel load of a 109!

The M and D models are also flying fuel tankers, though a bit less extreme since the are missing the fuel tanks in the wings. It is important to learn to fly with less internal fuel and extend the good "light time" as much as possible.

Another note regarding "N" - the wings were extended from the roots. This means that the guns moved even farther apart that in tye other jugs and convergence is an even bigger issue. I swear that you can fit an entire Yak3 beween the guns, so when you fire at it from point blanc range, the bullets pass harmlessly on both sides.