Well, this is quite awesome. I didn't realize we were getting the Brewster. It's a favorite of mine. But which one are we getting- the F2A-2, or the B-239 export version?
The U.S. F2A version was a disappointment, but mostly due to weighing down the aircraft with armor and naval equipment. The Finnish export B-239 version was lighter and much more agile. I fully expect it to be a Zeke-killer in-game.
These are lies, and they make me sadface. The F2A-2 Buffalos in service with the US Navy had significantly more engine power that more then made up for their greater weight. The B-239s purchased by the Finns were modified export versions with 950hp engines, nearly every Buffalo used by the Americans were F2A-2s with 1200 horsepower engines. I'd put the performance advantage firmly with the F2A, but the lighter weight of the B-239 meant it wasn't very far behind in that regard.
From Wikipedia:
Plagued by production difficulties, Brewster only delivered 11 F2A-1 aircraft to the Navy; the remainder of the order was later diverted to the Finnish Air Force in modified form as the B-239E (export). A later variant, the F2A-2 (Model B-339), of which 43 were ordered by the U.S. Navy, included a more powerful R-1820-40 engine of 1,200 hp (895 kw), a better propeller, and integral flotation gear, but still lacked pilot armor and self-sealing fuel tanks... The Brewster aircraft sent to Finland were de-navalised (lightened) F2A-1 Buffaloes given the export designation Model B-239, fitted with an export-approved Wright R-1820-G5 9-cylinder engine of 950 hp (708 kw).[35] As the B-239 was a de-navalised F2A-1, it lacked self-sealing tanks and pilot armor. Before shipment, the Brewster Aeronautical Company personnel removed the naval fittings on the aircraft, such as arrestor hook and life raft container, resulting in a somewhat lighter aircraft.[36] The Finns added an armored backrest for the pilot, metric instrumentation, the Finnish Väisälä T.h.m.40 gunsight, and four .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns.
As you can see, the Buffalo's used by the US had more engine power, and the weight reduction in the B-239 was somewhat offset by the addition of armored plate and the four .50s.
The B-239 had a power/weight ratio of .16 hp/lb, and the F2A-2, .20hp/lb. The F2A-2 was 5,942 lbs, the B-239, 5,808.
For you Buffalo haters out there, it would behoove you to note that of the early war rides, the Buffalo was the
only American fighter that had a good power/weight ratio (better then the A6M2, which had one of .18hp/lb, and competitive with the 109E,) and a decent climb rate. In addition to this it turned well and had a very good roll rate. To be honest, I'd rather have an F2A-2 then a P-40.
My question is, which Buffalo are we getting? Are we getting the F2A-2, or the B-239 Finnish export variant? They'd both be good, but for obvious reasons I lust for the F2A-2. With any luck we can get both- the differences in the modeling shouldn't be more drastic then adjusting weight/power parameters, and perhaps center of balance as well.
