Author Topic: Best Prop Plane?????? (Read 6633 times)

FX1 · « **Reply #45 on:** August 09, 2007, 05:30:57 PM »

I am too tried to answer that post. I wasn't bashing the u4 it my second ride and love the bird. We play the game different . That is our difference in opinion.

B3YT · « **Reply #46 on:** August 09, 2007, 05:51:47 PM »

having flow an fought the f4u and spit 9 . i've shot down alot of f4us with the spit . i've had them fast an slow . often depends on pilot and not trying to follow. if the f4u dives i stay level. he's got to come up at some point. if they chase me i'll fly as close to his belly as i can under that long nose.

Ace8765 · « **Reply #47 on:** August 09, 2007, 11:01:32 PM »

If you take everything into account i think the P51D is the best overall prop plane

445 Mph
6 .50 cal MG
Excellent Manueverablity at high alt (which is where most of the fights are anyway)
good armor
good climb rate

Karnak · « **Reply #48 on:** August 09, 2007, 11:42:56 PM »

That doesn't describe the P-51D I know.

Frankly, the Spitfire Mk XIV would probably have a rather significant advantage over the P-51D. Faster, heavier firepower. better acceleration. P-51D only really comes out ahead in fuel range (by a lot). The P-51 was not particularly renown for its durability either.

The F4U-4 would maul either of those two. Remember, all three of these fighters are good at high altitude, not just the P-51D.

BaldEagl · « **Reply #49 on:** August 09, 2007, 11:59:19 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Karnak
The F4U-4 would maul either of those two. Remember, all three of these fighters are good at high altitude, not just the P-51D.

That depends on the altitude. I was in a Spit XIV one night dueling a Ta-152 at 23-24K. We were pretty evenly matched in speed, power, climb and turn rate. If anything, the Spit had a slight advantage.

I don't think a F4U-4 would last against either of these planes at that alt and that's where they were designed to fly. The P-51 would be toast.

Vudak · « **Reply #50 on:** August 10, 2007, 12:04:43 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by mtnman

Herein lies the answer. The spit driver DOES have a chance against the F4U if the F4U slows down and continues to try to out-turn the spit at slow speed. This is just plain stupid, of course.

And darn fun, might I add

(Also quite rewarding when you actually manage to pull it off against a decent stick).

SteveBailey · « **Reply #51 on:** August 10, 2007, 02:00:19 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Ace8765
If you take everything into account i think the P51D is the best overall prop plane

445 Mph
6 .50 cal MG
Excellent Manueverablity at high alt (which is where most of the fights are anyway)
good armor
good climb rate

P51 sux, quite frankly. FRom another post:

Respectfully, I earnestly disagree. The 51, in it's current model, isn't a very good plane, compared to other LW rides. What does it do well? Very few things really. High speed handling is excellent and views are as well. Other than that there are planes that clearly outclass it.

It's speed is pretty good yes, but this is somewhat hampered by its uninspiring acceleration. There are several planes that are not only faster but more agile. Additionally, the tiffie and -a are nearly as fast and are better all around aircraft.(speaking of deck speeds here as most LW fights occur at or near the ground).

Acceleration, as alluded to, just plain sucks.

Roll rate is mediocre at most combat speeds.

Climb rate is average at best.

Lethality is quite average.

Ammo load out for the .50's is below average compared to other .50 rides.

Durability, again... unremarkable.

Turn rate is well below average, towards the bottom for all fighters.

Sure it has long legs, but this rarely comes into play in the small maps we are using.

In summary, the 51 is decidely outclassed by its contemporaries in the LW, as it stands today.

Bruv119 · « **Reply #52 on:** August 10, 2007, 04:04:34 AM »

Steve I agree on some points but it still is a very good plane.

Its characteristics suit teamwork more than some of the other planes.

2 P51'S can do way more damage flown together than say 2 190's or 2 Spits.

Back on subject my favourite Best prop plane has to be the Tempest. Way too many people fly it timidly but its at its best when flown really aggressively.

I use it when Bish go all GHI/lemming style to get a field. I don't think any other plane in the set could let me terrorise 10 + enemy cons on my own and let me live aswell as she does. 4 hispanos mixed with sheer speed and power. Also can turn with most stuff and catch them out because they dont expect you too.

bozon · « **Reply #53 on:** August 10, 2007, 08:25:26 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by SteveBailey
P51 sux, quite frankly.

It most certainly doesn't.

I don't know what some people expect of it. It was not a super plane in real life either. Large part of its success was due to fighting a worn out opposition, that actually had better planes, relatively late in the war. It wasn't there when LW or IJN were in their prime to blow them out of the skies. It was a very decent all-purpose fighter, but not much more than that. American war propaganda inflated its public image.

In AH it may not be the best, but is ranked quite high. I'll take it over a tiffi any day and it is a match for anything LW except maybe the 109K4 - but then again, how many planes are on par with the K4?

There's a big difference between, not-best and sux.

SteveBailey · « **Reply #54 on:** August 10, 2007, 11:09:32 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by bozon
It most certainly doesn't.

.

Ya, it does. I guess you can't/ didn't read my post. I've already established how it is clearly outclassed by most of it's late war contemporaries. You might not like facts, but that doesn't make them anything but.

As for your K4 comment... anything the pony does, the d9 does better. So does the la7 at MA alts, unless you consider views and high speed handling... oh ya, I already mentioned those.

Krusty · « **Reply #55 on:** August 10, 2007, 11:21:23 AM »

The P51D does not suck by any meaning of the word.

It is fast. Faster than all F4us up til 15k, not counting sea level (where the F4u4 gains a few MPH due to ram air effect). It outclimbs all f4us but the -4 (not surprising) and all jugs and is pretty close in climb to the P-38s.

It turns slightly better than the 38J/L without flaps, and only slightly worse with flaps. It has better acceleration than all US planes except the F4U-4. Not only that, once at a speed, it KEEPS that speed because of the low drag airframe. Dive in a 47, level out, and slow down. Dive in a 51, level out, and keep screaming along. This also helps in zoom climbs and high speed manuvering.

The guns themselves are the same as the USN planes. Doesn't matter that they have a fractionally smaller ammo load, they still hit just as hard.

The visibility is far better than in the f4us, f6f, p38s, f4f, p40s.

Basically, there's not ONE thing about the P51 that sucks. It does everything very well.

Karnak · « **Reply #56 on:** August 10, 2007, 11:45:16 AM »

The P-51D is a very good fighter, just not the best piston fighter.

Krusty · « **Reply #57 on:** August 10, 2007, 11:52:03 AM »

My personal affections lie elsewhere, but I consider the P51D "top 10" in the best piston planes list.

RATTFINK · « **Reply #58 on:** August 10, 2007, 11:59:26 AM »

Vudak · « **Reply #59 on:** August 10, 2007, 11:59:43 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by SteveBailey

anything the pony does, the d9 does better.

Well, except maybe merge or knife fight...

Edit - and Steve, I'm not doing this to call you out or get under your skin... But as I recall we're both in the next scenario flying Mustangs, so if you'd like to test my statement out in the DA with me, I'd be more than happy. Just don't expect anything resembling a challenge for the first 20 fights or so, I'm rusty as anything

You take the D9 a few rides, then we switch. What do you say?