really…
I made some quick mission builder missions, running version 4.09m, lets say '44 Pony vs BF109g6 44.
After an head on attack and turning again behind the 109…don’t think that I can keep up with the 109. Its simply flying away…no chance. But thats not it. The 109 can climb steadily and by that of course works out an energy advantage which soon ends up in some leaded greeting cards into my direction or better still into my airfoil :D.
P 47? no chance, speedy 38? no chance what ever I took…only the Tempest was able to develop and maintain speeds (as indicated) in the range of 450-600 km/h. There was a chance to land hits.
The other planes could develop a short peak of speed but soon ran hot (engine overheat message) so that I was at a miserable disadvantage very soon. Speeds above 300 350? no way…in dives maybe.
Ok, probably its my lack of flying competence.
But the original parameters, the performance data of the planes tell a totally different story, so that, what I experienced in that quick missions, according to these historical data, was not possible.
350 km/h for a P51 (the 109 easily flew 550-600 in those quick missions.)
…that was the max speed of a B17 or a B24.
Don’t get me wrong…I like this sim…but this is a bit strange isn’t it?
Which level of AI Hiawatha ?
ACE ai actualy cheats, ACE ai aircraft are faster and climb better than either veteran AI or player aircraft.
350 km/h for a P51
ehh, what, erm… which model… not that it matters, they are all faster than that…
I shall test.
Hiawatha, something strange indeed, however, looks like its just on your setup.
P51 1944 vs 109 G6/as altitude 2k over crimea.( Veteran AI )
After merge ( at about 460kph ) initial ( horizontal )turn onto 109 never dropped below 400kph and range was closed quickly.
You getting full elevator and throttle authority ?.. external stores ?
Sporran
First, thanks for your answers Sporran…
Ai was set to ace…yes
will test again with veteran…
No, no external stores and well, yes, I think I have full elevator and throttle control… you think its not correctly calibrated?..I’ll check that…
PS: altitude was set to 1000m…
Much better (more into direction of realistic) now with AI to Veteran.
My control setting seems to be ok Sporran.
I reach the 109G6 AS now with my P-51NA.
Will do more tests though.
Links:
http://www.aviation-history.com/north-american/p51.html
Max speed for the P51-D = 437 mph (703 km/h)
http://www.aviation-history.com/messerschmitt/bf109.html
Max speed for the ME109 G6 = 387 mph (622 km/h)…
Ok its not the AS version, will try to find data as well…and performance data is relative…, but there is at least an indication…of what should be there…
One other point to remember with your figures Hiaw,
AI does not overheat, and i am not sure that AI ever runs out of boost( MW40), so max sustained speed may be higher for any AI than historical numbers would indicate.
Sporran
Thx for the good hints Sporran.
You wondered about the 350km/h in the P-51D NA…I forgot to mention or add, that I was in a shallow climb then…and the 109s steadily gained more distance without any effort.
When I followed with a Tempest, even in those shallow climbs I reached velocities that were comparable with those of the Messerschmitts (as ace ai).
But then again, there was the overheat problem as well which obviously didn’t seem to bother the AI Me109s and yes I had the impression they had an unlimited extra boost.
You wondered about the 350km/h in the P-51D NA…I forgot to mention or add, that I was in a shallow climb then…and the 109s steadily gained more distance without any effort.
An unfortunate consequence of the 109 being a small, light aircraft compared to the p51. Following into the gradual climb is probably a mistake vs AI and definatly a mistake vs players. The 109’s flight envelope at low speeds is more flexible than the P51’s.
Might be a better option to fly level until closing with the 109 horizontaly, then convert into a zoom to get the altitude for a gun solution, or even do a staged climb to maintain high airspeed remembering that this is the flight mode that pits the p51’s strengths against the 109’s main weakness ( high speed compresibility ).
Sporran
PS: hope this isnt a grandmother sucking eggs scenario, if it is, please forgive me.
PPS: also concider fuel load, 109 at 100% is probably equal to the p51 at 50%
No worries Sporran, this is very interesting and your advices and knowledge very helpful.
Thanks again.