what Allied aircraft are the best in this game?

[TinyTim]

Originally Posted by pandacat

Remember this is Russian built game. Russian planes were meant to be the stars.

It's a shame they really aren't. In general they're outclassed by their german counterparts.

Of course they shine (and did so historically) at 1v1 twisting and turning at treetop level, but not much of WW2 aerial combat looked like that.

[Laurwin]

Nice and lively discussion we got here!

Like I said, I had some great flights with spit8 and spit9 against fw190s. Just gotta keep that energy up for various reasons. Primarily attacking with bnz, but it's also possible to execute many manouvers from higher speed than slower speed I feel. It gives you more options, to start from a higher E state, if you become defensive. Spitfire is so versatile aircraft, but bad thing is not so good dive capability. Otherwise it's quite good (later mark spits 8-14). I have a feeling that you might be better at diving, if youre against bf109, but the fw190 straight up outdives spit.

But I had a really great time on Skies of Valor last nite, with F4Fs out of all planes, vs zekes.

We had a pack of wildcats, ca. 8 guys in red TS channel, radio discipline was extremely effective although still relaxed enough. Situational awareness was as good as it gets (admittedly theres outside views and enemy views on that server too though)

First the zekes attack our carriers, we go into these lufbery circles and do our best at low alt turn fighting, we outnumbered them a little bit so we managed.

After that we got to like 3-4k, organized ourselves and started BnZing those zekes. We also drag-and-bagged a good bunch of them. Also a couple successful thach weave kills IIRC. It was so much fun!

P-38, I'd like to learn how to be more effective with it, but it's not that manouverable to be dead-honest. You just get out-rolled so easily, even in L late, and doesn't turn so good either. I wonder if it can even outrun anything the germans have, contemporary 190 and 109.

Trying to put the pipper on barrel-rolling 190, with a p-38, feels like exercise in futility LOL

[MaxGunz]

It's better to not try and follow a target with the pipper. Establish the pattern and aim ahead. When the target is -time- enough away from the aim point that shots will arrive at the same time, let off a burst.

The steadiest aim is when the controls are held still. Notice how changing speed and/or trying to make small adjustments gets nose bob/weave that does not happen when you are flying smooth? I find that it's easier to line up shots when the target is moving relative to my pipper, I pick a spot ahead of the movement and whether my flight is straight or curved my pipper is not wobbling. And that usually gets me deflection hits (when I do hit) which don't have to travel through the length of the target and get stopped by tail wheel, etc, and seat armor to achieve cockpit, engine and wing root hits.

The worst way to attack AI is to try and get co-speed on his six at under 300 meters. By the time you've lined that up it's going or gone evasive. Come in fast from a rear quarter, shoot deflection and you surprise them.

The AI are dummies, especially about off-angles. You can play to their strengths or their weaknesses.

[Laurwin]

hehe, I didn't say prob with p-38 was against AI?

but true enough, what you're saying makes sense.

indeed, it might be better practice, to not use "following method" with establishing lead, especially with energy fighters bnz. Following method works ok with hard turners like spits though.

More usually though online, there wont be so easy shots initially. Bounced bandit starts hard break turn, divingg at the same time, sometimes alternating the angle, diving or climbing (he's looking at attacker fromside window.)
I would do that with a spitfire to avoid getting hit, if I see a fw190 approaching fast and turning into me, with an uncomfortable looking angle.

this kind of deflection shot is almost impossible to predict (with a p-38 at least!). But Indeed, he will have that much less E later on at his disposal.

I thought that for maximum accuracy, you should be in a sustained low-g turn, or otherwise low-g on the airframe when shooting.

I dunno why that is, maybe it is in the German aerial gunnery manual.

Does it have something to do with the G-forces affecting upon the gun barrels?
Like, during sustained turn there's constant G, then the bullets spend a short time inside the barrel when being fired, and then the barrels are pointing ever so slightly differently, when the bullets exit the barrel? After that the bullets obviously are ballistic and unaffected?

[JtD]

Years of playing this game have taught me the following:

If you spot an opponent, check if you have the energy advantage, meaning if you're higher or considerably faster. If you are, dive, attack, extend. Come back if suitable. If not, get out of there. Which means that while I'm fairly successful in shooting down enemy aircraft and don't get shot down a lot, I hardly ever fight. I just kill or run.

The P-38 is fairly fast for it's time, climbs fairly well and has a decent firepower concentrated in its nose. It's got plenty of ammo for the .50ies. It is however somewhat sluggish at high speed, which means it is easier for the opponent to evade an attack. It's just physics, and there's nothing I can do about it. I can, however, start firing from further out than I can for instance in a Spitfire. I can also maintain a higher speed for longer, which makes extension easier. And the good climb rate permits extension in shallow climbs, which usually is a bad idea for instance in contemporary P-47's.

All in all, it isn't some marvellous killer, it is a good combat aircraft, which because of higher speeds and better high speed retention is somewhat easier to stay alive in than a Spitfire. It is a worse dogfighter, so don't dogfight with it like you would in a Spitfire. I usually don't dogfight, which makes the P-38 as good as a Spitfire for me.

[gaunt1]

Just curious, what about the Seafire? In IL-2 compare, its performance is quite unimpressive.

[IceFire]

Originally Posted by gaunt1

Just curious, what about the Seafire? In IL-2 compare, its performance is quite unimpressive.

The Seafire III comes in two versions: F.III and the LF.III

These are based around the Spitfire Vc with both engine choices.. the LF model having the low altitude cropped supercharger which offers excellent performance under 10,000 feet/3000 meters while the F version peaks around 18000 feet/5000ish meters. Against the Japanese fighters like the Zero... you have nearly all of the advantages. Against others you have to treat it like the best refined Spitfire V models around... great handling but it doesn't have the power to have the climb or speed that the Mark VIII or IX Spitfires have.

So a significant altitude advantage or forcing in the close fight is the best option.