F4U-4 vs Spitfire 14

[Saxman]

Spits are one of the easiest aircraft to take down once you get a shot.  F4U's will take all sorts of 50 cals before they lose anything important.

Even with 20mm fire you often need more concentrated fire than just a snapshot to break off something important.

[stroker71]

Why get a couple of uber sticks to test it out.  Do it at the different alt bases in the DA.

[SmokinLoon]

If teh F4U-4 can flown inside its evelope, it will win.  But take 2 average pilot who dont really know either plane well... and the Spit14 will win as it is an easier plane to fly. 

The F4U-4 takes lots of flaps, throttle, and experience to make it perform to its potential and the Spit14 just takes some commen sense.

Me?  I'd grab the Spit14 since I am not well versed in the trickery of the F4Ux.  "Any idiot can fly a Spitfire", I believe is the quote I heard a Spitfire pilot say on YouTube.   

[thrila]

Aye, but the pilot was clearly not referencing the spit14, it's anything but friendly to the inexperienced.  I imagine a duel by 2 average pilots would end up with the spit14 entering a flat spin and augering.

The f4u4 is not only superior plane for racking up kills in the MA and surviving, but is also a better fighter 1v1 than the spit14.  I'm not sure the minimum notches of flap the f4u4 requires to outturn the spit14 but it may only be a single notch, combined with it's gentler low speed handling it soon dominates the spit. 

[Anaxogoras]

On the other hand, it the XIV drivers knows what he's doing, he can fly it like a 109K-4 and get above the F4U-4.  The XIV climbs about 1000fpm faster than the U-4 below 10k ft.

[Motherland]

If teh F4U-4 can flown inside its evelope, it will win.  But take 2 average pilot who dont really know either plane well... and the Spit14 will win as it is an easier plane to fly. 

The F4U-4 takes lots of flaps, throttle, and experience to make it perform to its potential and the Spit14 just takes some commen sense.

Me?  I'd grab the Spit14 since I am not well versed in the trickery of the F4Ux.  "Any idiot can fly a Spitfire", I believe is the quote I heard a Spitfire pilot say on YouTube.   

The 14 breaks all of the rules. It is very difficult to fly compared to the F4U. It doesn't turn for chit.
IMO the 14 is about as difficult to keep stable and flying (if not more) as the 109K. The only redeeming factor is it's guns.

The -U4 would trash the 14.

[Urchin]

On the other hand, it the XIV drivers knows what he's doing, he can fly it like a 109K-4 and get above the F4U-4.  The XIV climbs about 1000fpm faster than the U-4 below 10k ft.

The Spit 14 wouldn't have a chance in hell against the F4U if it slowed down long enough to take advantage of the F4U's "inferior" acceleration and climb. 

[stroker71]

If I was the spit pilot my tactics would be:

1: slow the fight down
2: get alittle bit of separation using better acceleration
3: outclimb using spiral climb
4: hope the f4u pilot is dumb enough to try to climb with me
5: shoot said f4u down....and hope I don't break my wings off.

IMO equal sticks I think it would be a really good fight

[Steve]

If I was the spit pilot my tactics would be:

1: slow the fight down

2:  Bang you're dead

[MachFly]

The Spit 14 wouldn't have a chance in hell against the F4U if it slowed down long enough to take advantage of the F4U's "inferior" acceleration and climb. 

Actually spitfire 14 has a greater acceleration and climb rate that the F4U-4, (I also tested that)

If teh F4U-4 can flown inside its evelope, it will win.  But take 2 average pilot who dont really know either plane well... and the Spit14 will win as it is an easier plane to fly. 

The F4U-4 takes lots of flaps, throttle, and experience to make it perform to its potential and the Spit14 just takes some commen sense.

Me?  I'd grab the Spit14 since I am not well versed in the trickery of the F4Ux.  "Any idiot can fly a Spitfire", I believe is the quote I heard a Spitfire pilot say on YouTube.   

you guys are comparing 2 AVERAGE pilots, who don't know the key ability's of ether planes. I am trying to compare what plane will do better for a pilot that knows how to fly both of them.



And yes, i shot down Spit 14s wile flying -4, and I show down -4 wile flying spit 14. You just need to know what your doing.

[Steve]

Actually spitfire 14 has a greater acceleration and climb rate that the F4U-4, (I also tested that)

You missed the point. By slowing down the fight in order to take advantage of the superior climb and acceleration, you are surrendering.  You'd be dead before you got the opportunity to put these factors to use.

[Motherland]

And yes, i shot down Spit 14s wile flying -4, and I show down -4 wile flying spit 14. You just need to know what your doing.

Of course. I've shot down an Me.262 in a Bf.109E before.
That's why, when you compare aircraft in this way, you have to do it assuming the two aircraft are flying in a DA environment and are flown by pilots of similar skill.

[Anaxogoras]

Granted I think the F4 has the advantage, but if I can fight F4s in the 109K with some success I should be able to do it in the XIV.

We need to stop this arm-chair philosophizing and go try it out.

[MachFly]

We need to stop this arm-chair philosophizing and go try it out.

I'd love to
But that's going to be kinda hard because it's hard finding 2 pilots with the same amount of skill

So if you can find 2 pilots with approximately the same kill to death ratio (for tour 109, because 110 has just started), I would appreciate that.
(and yes, I would love to be one of the pilots testing it as long as we find a 2nd one with approximately the same K/D as me)

[Widewing]

I'd love to
But that's going to be kinda hard because it's hard finding 2 pilots with the same amount of skill

So if you can find 2 pilots with approximately the same kill to death ratio (for tour 109, because 110 has just started), I would appreciate that.
(and yes, I would love to be one of the pilots testing it as long as we find a 2nd one with approximately the same K/D as me)

Kill to death ratio is meaningless if you want to determine dogfighting skill.

We have tested the F4U-4 against the Tempest, Spit14, Spit16, La-7, 190K-4, Ta 152, Dora and the like. By we, I mean some of the best pilots in the game. Regardless of who flew the F4U-4, it was the equal of the La-7 and Spit16 down low (if the fight goes long enough to get slow, the F4U-4 gains a noticeable edge). It was superior at 10k and above. The F4U-4 was superior to the others at any altitude up through 30k.

Indeed, I advocate unperking the Spit14, while keeping the F4U-4's perk where it is. If we had the F4U-4B with four cannon, HTC would have to perk it as high or higher than the Tempest.

When I stated that the F4U-4 was superior to the Spitfire Mk.XIV, I wasn't assuming anything. We have tested the best fighters head to head many times. That doesn't mean that the Spit14 isn't a great fighter, because it is. It's just not the F4U-4's equal... Overall, nothing else is either.


My regards,

Widewing