A6M

[SmokinLoon]

This is patently untrue Loon. Virtually every plane in the game can employ flaps advantageously in when angles fighting slow. Even the nigh useless flaps on the Fw-190,which don't help all that much fighting other planes, will come into play in close duels between two good sticks in 190s.

BTW, the instability problems with full flaps are entirely caused by auto-trim. The system attempts to trim the aircraft to fly straight and level at the airspeed you are doing in *clean* configuration. The extra lift of the flaps causes alot of nose-up pitch under those conditions. So either manually trim, or, if when entering flaps-heaving maneuvering, hold down the "I" key to turn off auto-trim and input alot of nose-down trim. (It is easier by several orders of magnitude to fight and shoot holding a little back pressure when the airplane is trimmed somewhat nose-heavy is to have to push the stick forward constantly when the trim tendency is to nose up.)

While I agree that flaps can be deployed at drastically low speed levels and they can help a most planes to turn tighter and a few plane a great deal tighter, it does however take that aircraft which in most cases needs speed to survive, to the other end of the spectrum and handicap them in terms of overall performance if the use of flaps is sustained.  So again the case, at least in my opinion, goes back to the use of flaps as a major factor in %90 of air combat menouvers.  Can those flaps be deployed at 250mph+?  How many notches?  What effect do flaps have at normal combat speeds?

Regarding the "combat trim".  I alway have mine shut off unless in level flight on a long haul.  There are a number of planes that can grab a few more mph if the trim is done manually.  The Mossi being the first one to come to mind.  Error in the flight model perhaps (naaaaaah)?      But even with the F4U's flaps deployed without "combat trim" on, it still needs a steady hand.  It is planes like the F4U that will shine if the pilot has the skill.  Some planes like the Spit16 shine regardless of who is flying it 

[humble]

I havent flown the pony all that much in recent years so I'm a bit out of date on the in game handling. However IRL (and to a degree in the game) the Ponies high speed rate of turn allowed it to turn circles around the spitfire at high speed. A pony in a 2G turn at 315 mph will out turn a spit. I dont remember if you use flaps there or not to be honest.

As for the entire ENY argument I think that it's simply a tool to enhance game play. While there is no question that a plane like the 109K4 allows much greater survivability and the ability to engage with some measure of impunity the 109F (and G2) are far superior fighters overall IMO.  

[BnZs]

 But even with the F4U's flaps deployed without "combat trim" on, it still needs a steady hand.  It is planes like the F4U that will shine if the pilot has the skill. 

Like I say, the important part is some nose-down trim to compensate for the pitching-up tendency. Do that, and the airplane becomes a steady gun platform again.

You know, sometimes I wish you could turn off the auto-trim feature for all axes except rudder. Elevator is easy enough to trim out myself, being somewhat "out of trim" in roll doesn't really bother me, it's just trying to keep the ball centered with a twisty stick that gets annoying.

[Ack-Ack]

Regarding the "combat trim".  I alway have mine shut off unless in level flight on a long haul.  There are a number of planes that can grab a few more mph if the trim is done manually.  The Mossi being the first one to come to mind.  Error in the flight model perhaps (naaaaaah)?      But even with the F4U's flaps deployed without "combat trim" on, it still needs a steady hand.  It is planes like the F4U that will shine if the pilot has the skill.  Some planes like the Spit16 shine regardless of who is flying it 

Using or not using combat trim does not affect the speed of a plane, so having it on will not 'grab a few more mph' over someone that doesn't use it.  However, someone using combat trim in flap dependent plane will be at a slight disadvantage fighting against someone that doesn't have it on. 

You really should read how CT works and the negative effects it has on flap dependent planes.


ack-ack

[SmokinLoon]

Using or not using combat trim does not affect the speed of a plane, so having it on will not 'grab a few more mph' over someone that doesn't use it.  However, someone using combat trim in flap dependent plane will be at a slight disadvantage fighting against someone that doesn't have it on. 

You really should read how CT works and the negative effects it has on flap dependent planes.


ack-ack

I dissagree.  Try it sometime.  The CT on a Mossie is not set up correctly, at least at the high speed level flight.  The CT auto trim has the nose up, if you trim it down slightly and go manual only... you do sqeak out another few mph at level flight.  It is much?  Not enough for me to do it unless I am being chased at optimal alt (8500ft or 15000ft).

I'm well aware of how CT works and the negative effects it has on flap dependent planes.

[Ack-Ack]

The "dive recovery flaps" on aP38L do nothing but allow it (hopefully) to pull up from a high speed dive from high to low altitudes.  It does not make the plane any better, it brings it up to par with other dive bombers for those pilots lucky enough to get the dive recovery flaps to work. 

Nope, at high speeds the dive flaps can aid in turns.  Also, the flaps in the P-38 do change the flight performance of the aircraft a great deal.


ack-ack

[dirt911]

it applys this way the zero was okay for experinced pilot but the japs were using themm too kamikaze yeah so the f4 was tasked with holding them back but the pilots that flew the zero for kamikaze wereyoung in expirienced pilots meaning they really didnt even know too turn when they were being shot at an experienced pilot could take down a plane but the f4 had bterer armor,speed,turning,and 6 guns instead of four and an expirenced f4 pilot could easily bring a zero down for sure

[Saxman]

That post makes my brain hurt. 

[bongaroo]

Base ENY values on it's usage and K/D ratio?  Have them adjust each month according to the previous month's usage.  I dunno, shot in the dark here really.

[BnZs]

Base ENY values on it's usage

Going by those figures, ENY would consistently rate the P-51D the "best" non-perked plane in the game.

and K/D ratio? 

And going by the K/D ratio, the Fw-190D9 would probably be the "best" month-to-month.

[bongaroo]

Case being they would have the lower ENY's and as such be the rides not available as the limiter kicks in due to side imbalance.  Getting people into other rides as a result.  Just seems to me to be a fair answer to the question of how to rank them without relying on all the talk of guns, speed, turning, and whatnot that seems to cause the arguments in how they relate to ENY.

Make sense?