New P-40 FM

[wholehawg]

I have been mucking about with 4.12 for while now and I was wondering if there were any P-40 drivers out there and what their impressions were of the new FM?

It's always been one of my favorite aircraft of WW2 and in this sim. It seems like the roll rate has been bumped up and the wing loading increased so it flys more like a 190 now.

[Woke Up Dead]

In 4.11 I was able to use the P-40E to out-turn 109-F4 pilots online in a slow speed fight at low altitude, most of the time. I wasn't able to do this yesterday, though it was only one fight. The F4 and G2 were very tough opponents for the P-40 even before this patch, I hope it can still turn with an F2 or E.

The change I noticed the most is the fuel consumption, it seems like you need to take 50% fuel now to fly as far as you were able to with 30% before. Maybe it's the extra fuel weight that made me notice the low-speed turn rate decrease?

My early overall impression is that life will now be even tougher for P40 pilots facing German opponents, but things should still be OK or even better against the Japanese.

[ElAurens]

I always took 50% fuel before so I see no difference there.

Older P40 FMs never seemed to me to have the correct roll rate. The P40 had an extremely good roll rate, probably the best US fighter in this regard. Early versions were around 135 deg/sec while later, heavier versions dropped to around 90 deg/sec, still very respectable.

I've always though as well that the turning ability of the P40 has never been properly given it's due in sims. I suspect this is an artifact of the popular myth that it was a poor turner based on it's performance against the A6M early in the war. Of course NO allied aircraft could turn with the Zero, but only the P40 got saddled with the FMs of a flying brick, at least in the turn.

The reality is that the early Hawk 81s could out turn the Spitfire below 15.000 ft.

Try that in the sim and see what you get.

[IceFire]

Not sure about the Spitfire but I can still out turn 109s except for maybe the G-2 (but I wonder if that is still a bit overdone). The handling is definitely more difficult and the stability difference between the E and M is more pronounced but I think this is "more right" in terms of the realism of the P-40.

It's still a wonderful fighter with a troubled reputation but in the right hands its easily competitive at low and medium altitudes.

I'm looking forward to having a new 3D model and some new variants... especially if we get a P-40N. A few hundred pounds lighter and with more engine power. That could be fun

[KG26_Alpha]

When introduced in the North Africa campaign 1941, the Bf109's flew above them and dove into the P40 formations below,
the Warhawk was a medium to low altitude aircraft which was exploited by the Luftwaffe.

Roll and turn all you like its what they did to avoid the BnZ tactics from the Bf109's

[ElAurens]

Tell it to the 325th.