what Allied aircraft are the best in this game?

[IceFire]

The FW190 is a top notch fighter but it does have some excellent contemporaries...

FW190A-4 vs

La-5 (at low alts)
Yak-9 or Yak-1B (at low alts)
Spitfire F.IX (or on the outside a LF.Vb model with clipped wings at low alt)

FW190A-5 vs

Similar to the list above... add P-47D-22 and Yak-9T

FW190A-9 vs

Tempest Mark V
Spitfire LF.IX
P-51D
P-47D-27
Yak-9U
La-5FN or La-7


Lots of different techniques to fight the FW190 on a variety of terms but most of those can hold their own if flown to their full abilities. The Yak-1B or Yak-9 series are better counters than most give credit for... they may be typically slower but they can follow the FW190 through many evasion techniques on account of similarly impressive roll rate. Spitfires listed are nearly as fast, great climb rates, but usually not enough roll rate... the clipped wings do help mind you.

The Tempest is the best RAF counter to the FW190 and perhaps the best pound for pound contemporary. Similarly fast, well armed, etc. The Typhoon in many ways is a good counter but didn't quite have the roll rate (having one of the worst roll rates of any European theatre fighter) or turn rate but it did have the speed which most types didn't. Too bad we don't have it yet...

[Igo kyu]

Originally Posted by IceFire

The FW190 is a top notch fighter but it does have some excellent contemporaries...

FW190A-4 vs

La-5 (at low alts)
Yak-9 or Yak-1B (at low alts)
Spitfire F.IX (or on the outside a LF.Vb model with clipped wings at low alt)

FW190A-5 vs

Similar to the list above... add P-47D-22 and Yak-9T

FW190A-9 vs

Tempest Mark V
Spitfire LF.IX
P-51D
P-47D-27
Yak-9U
La-5FN or La-7


Lots of different techniques to fight the FW190 on a variety of terms but most of those can hold their own if flown to their full abilities. The Yak-1B or Yak-9 series are better counters than most give credit for... they may be typically slower but they can follow the FW190 through many evasion techniques on account of similarly impressive roll rate. Spitfires listed are nearly as fast, great climb rates, but usually not enough roll rate... the clipped wings do help mind you.

The Tempest is the best RAF counter to the FW190 and perhaps the best pound for pound contemporary. Similarly fast, well armed, etc. The Typhoon in many ways is a good counter but didn't quite have the roll rate (having one of the worst roll rates of any European theatre fighter) or turn rate but it did have the speed which most types didn't. Too bad we don't have it yet...

I don't really know it in game, but historically I thought the Yak 3 was supposed to be a smaller lighter aircraft than the Yak 9, with less fuel and thus range, but better performance and turn times? It first appeared later than the Yak 9, despite the numerical sequence.

[Laurwin]

So, it looks more like I have to work on my defensive maanouvers and tactics more.
But still, good focke pilots can be tough to beat for sure, with these "midwar planes" (1942-43).

I had a great time yesterday with spits though, i was flying wingman with one of those jg77 guys, we got some nice bursts hitting fockes but not always te exploding fireball-type of kills (even with some cannon into fuel area lol)

Actually i was playing with adjusted network setring for il2 (packet size was set to the lowestt modem setting, in il2 setup) it may have been bad convergence also though,foee my hispanos.

[IceFire]

Originally Posted by Igo kyu

I don't really know it in game, but historically I thought the Yak 3 was supposed to be a smaller lighter aircraft than the Yak 9, with less fuel and thus range, but better performance and turn times? It first appeared later than the Yak 9, despite the numerical sequence.

The Yak-3 works too... I did neglect to include it. The Yak-3 is great for being able to turn and burn and power its way through whatever turn, roll, snap, etc. that you want it to. It doesn't dive as well as the Yak-9U does so against the FW190A-9 I'd rather be in a Yak-9U... but the Yak-3 will work. In a close in fight the Yak-3 is superior than pretty much everything it might fight against.

[gaunt1]

Originally Posted by Igo kyu

I don't really know it in game, but historically I thought the Yak 3 was supposed to be a smaller lighter aircraft than the Yak 9, with less fuel and thus range, but better performance and turn times? It first appeared later than the Yak 9, despite the numerical sequence.

The designers wanted better speed and climb rate. It had different wing than other Yaks, which was thinner and smaller than before. And despite lighter weight, wing loading increased, so turn rate deteriorated actually, although not too much thanks to the slightly more powerful engine. Historically, the best turning serial produced soviet planes were the Yak-1B with M-105PF engine and the first Yak-9 model. (after the I-15/153 and the I-16 of course)

[Janosch]

Actually, any thought that a given Luftwaffe plane is poor, weaker-than-x, not so good, inferior or anything is defeatist attitude and punishable by court martial (if you fly blue side). Tactics help a lot, and maybe surprise too. As long as you have a plane that can dive, you're good. You just need room to dive. Goes for both sides. But you can't really rely on your wingmen, though, ever.

It's no good underestimating the allies' equipment! .50 cal is super deadly, especially in a plane that has 6 guns. It really doesn't often make enemies explode, but one burst can cripple a 190 or even set it into fire, and then it's goodbye.

Btw there's nothing unrealistic about La-7 fm... it actually stalls if you pull the stick too much, unlike La-5FN.

[gaunt1]

Originally Posted by Janosch

Btw there's nothing unrealistic about La-7 fm... it actually stalls if you pull the stick too much, unlike La-5FN.

First, its ~25 km/h faster than any serial produced La-7. (685 vs 661) Then, there is the uber turning ability. I tested it: You can outturn an I-16 type 24, and you can turn with the A6M2 Zero too!
wing loading: La-7 - 185 kg/m3, I-16 - 130 kg/m3. Still, the La turns better ingame! But I think we should continue it in soviet fighters thread.

Right, that makes a lot of sense, I had a feeling the in game version wasn't the best turner possible, I thought maybe it had the later heavier engine (VK-107?).

That version is also in the game!

[Igo kyu]

Originally Posted by gaunt1

The designers wanted better speed and climb rate. It had different wing than other Yaks, which was thinner and smaller than before. And despite lighter weight, wing loading increased, so turn rate deteriorated actually, although not too much thanks to the slightly more powerful engine. Historically, the best turning serial produced soviet planes were the Yak-1B with M-105PF engine and the first Yak-9 model. (after the I-15/153 and the I-16 of course)

Right, that makes a lot of sense, I had a feeling the in game version wasn't the best turner possible, I thought maybe it had the later heavier engine (VK-107?).

[Woke Up Dead]

Originally Posted by Igo kyu

Right, that makes a lot of sense, I had a feeling the in game version wasn't the best turner possible, I thought maybe it had the later heavier engine (VK-107?).

It (Yak 3) isn't, it's also not that powerful. Many contemporary allied planes will beat it in a simple sustained flat turn, and so will good 109 G2 pilots. It's small and extremely "twisty" though, its very good turn rate and excellent roll rate let it create opportunities.


"I had a great time yesterday with spits though, i was flying wingman with one of those jg77 guys, we got some nice bursts hitting fockes but not always te exploding fireball-type of kills (even with some cannon into fuel area lol)"

Yes, the more I fly it, the more I realize that the Spit is probably the best plane overall against German opposition. Yes, the USA planes are better very high, and some of the Soviet planes are better very low, but the Spits are always the safest bet.

[TinyTim]

Originally Posted by Igo kyu

Right, that makes a lot of sense, I had a feeling the in game version wasn't the best turner possible, I thought maybe it had the later heavier engine (VK-107?).

No, Yak-3 has a VK-105 PF2 engine with about 1300 HP.

Yak-3 was actually a third generation of Yak-1 design. It was an evolution of Yak-1B (hence initial designation Yak-1M) - it had smaller wing (which traded off some of the Yak-1B excellent turn rate for roll rate and speed) that made its flight characteristics more "Fw-190-ish", oil cooler moved from the chin into wingroots, another UBS heavyhitter installed into the cowling, engine replaced for slightly more powerful VK-105 PF2 and reduced overall weight. That's about it.

VK-107 engine was installed onto Yak-3 only after the war.