Quote:
Originally Posted by By-Tor
Ive been reading about WW2 planes since I was a child, and playing WW2 flight sims for a long time , since Ien Warbirds came along and blew my mind.
Everything I've ever read about the P-51 in cambat has pointed to the fact that the FLAPS were everything in its being able to manuever in combat. I've read many acounts of pilots turning inside 109s (let alone 190s). The trick was deploying flaps(which were incremental). Flap use had to be done very judiciously, as they bled energy like mad. The trick was to only deploy them when pulling for angles at the proper moments and pulling lead for the shot.
Effective ACM ia all about WHEN to pull G's, with regard to where in the relative circles you are with the enemy and what attitude your nose is in at the moment. Just pulling G's in an ongoing circle is ineffective in an energy fighter like the P-51. But accounts Ive read say that it could turn VERY tighly for a quarter or half-circle, but then you need to back off the stick, or E-bleed will slow youto doom level very quickly! Unfortunately, flaps are not available in realistic mode which I fly for the immersion factor of the 'target lock' view. Ive spent years using the old static hat views and can use them well, but the visual immersion of seeing the smooth 'pan' is something I cant go back from now. Just beautiful to behold.
Hopefully the new P-51 fixes will help keep this fighter flying online. Be a shame to do without her beautifull lines
in my sights  I've always been a 'knife-fighter' myself. |
You are right, the flaps are a must. Thats why i only fly simulation becouse you have to work them flaps, we need moor flap options, i find my self lowering the gear to get full flaps at low speed turn fights and then retract the wheels in the P-51B/D. But it would help a lot to go in to battle with less fuel like in IL-2 1946 MP.