Spit 8 vs Ki

[pembquist]

Any tips on this matchup?  Also are the offline drones still fixed with regard to altitude?

[MachFly]

Spitfires mk VIII maintains energy a lot better, Spitfire climbs a lot better, Spitfire accelerates better, Spitfire has better guns, Spitfire can maintain higher speed after a dive a lot longer, Spitfire accelerates in a dive a lot better and to a higher speed, and the Spitfire looks better.

[Big Rat]

KI-61 or 84, big difference

 
BigRat

[MachFly]

I made my reply bases on spit 8 vs Ki-84 comparison. Don't know much about Ki-61 (I think what I said above is correct about Ki-61 as well).

[Oldman731]

Spitfires mk VIII maintains energy a lot better, Spitfire climbs a lot better, Spitfire accelerates better, Spitfire has better guns, Spitfire can maintain higher speed after a dive a lot longer, Spitfire accelerates in a dive a lot better and to a higher speed, and the Spitfire looks better.

We had this matchup in AvA a couple of years ago, for a week.  Didn't seem to matter who flew them, the Spits got clobbered regularly by the Franks.

- oldman

[MachFly]

We had this matchup in AvA a couple of years ago, for a week.  Didn't seem to matter who flew them, the Spits got clobbered regularly by the Franks.

- oldman

I was not there so it's hard to comment. I know I never have problems with the Ki-84 and I know the numbers say that the Spit 8 is a better plane.

I think what happened was there was no one who really knew the plane and ki-84 is a better turnfighter (especially on the deck), therefore the Ki-84 pilots had a large advantage.

[BaldEagl]

We had this matchup in AvA a couple of years ago, for a week.  Didn't seem to matter who flew them, the Spits got clobbered regularly by the Franks.

- oldman

I can't remember ever getting beat by a Ki-84 in any Mark of Spitfire in a turn fight or any other type of fight as long as it was a fair fight.  Everything kills me in furballs or alone in a horde.

[FLS]

Any tips on this matchup?  Also are the offline drones still fixed with regard to altitude?

The drones fly over the base you are closest to regardless of where you took off. If you are by a 10k base I expect the drones are about 12k.

[pembquist]

Should have read Spit 8 vs Ki 84.  Looking at Soda's Aircraft Evaluations it looks like the Spit 8 has better climb but about equal or worse on the other flight characteristics.  Being usually the weaker pilot I'm groping for a strategy.  As it is I try to avoid turning with them, and try to keep the speed of the encounter up over all.  Maybe this is a case where the planes are close in performance and there aren't really any areas to exploit.  Any advice? 

[Big Rat]

Planes on paper are one thing, how they fly in comparison to each other can be completely different.  My best comparison to how to fly an 84 is very similiar to a K4.  It's very good in the verticle and an OK turner at most speeds. K4 a bit better verticle and 84 better turner, but I use similiar tactics between the two.  The best way to learn how to combat a plane is to learn to fly it yourself, this way you will know what it can and can't do when you run into it. 

 
BigRat

[ink]

Planes on paper are one thing, how they fly in comparison to each other can be completely different.  My best comparison to how to fly an 84 is very similiar to a K4.  It's very good in the verticle and an OK turner at most speeds. K4 a bit better verticle and 84 better turner, but I use similiar tactics between the two.  The best way to learn how to combat a plane is to learn to fly it yourself, this way you will know what it can and can't do when you run into it. 

 
BigRat

Strange that is basically the same strategy I use with the KI84, thing is a monster in the vert, I really enjoy the plane and would take one over any spit

[Hap]

ki's flaps deploy at 140 ias . . . killer air craft in the right hands a match for anyone.  Spit 8 also a great plane.  2 of my favs.  Fun to go up against hogs in either.

[boomerlu]

Here's what the numbers say:
Ki84 has an edge in speed on the deck
Spit 8 has a pretty sizable climb advantage (500 ft/s)
Spit 8 turns better both rate and radius.
However Ki84 flaps deploy at higher speeds.

If you are flying the Spit 8, I would say keep the fight more vertical - sucker the Ki into deploying flaps for a shot and then zoom out away. This should be easy to see as you are the better turning fighter. If the Ki gains in the turn fight at all, you know he dropped flaps.

[MachFly]

However Ki84 flaps deploy at higher speeds.

What speed is that?
According to Hap they deploy at 140mph, Spitfire's flaps deploy at 160mph.

[boomerlu]

Ahh I apologize it's 160 each. Just tested it out. However the Ki has incremental flaps where the Spit has only one setting. Again, according to the numbers the Spit should be out turning the Ki unless the Ki drops flaps where the Spit does not.