I just wanted to add that this is a very good callout by cocteau4ad. A plane does not stall at a specific speed; so saying that you can "fly slower" with flaps is relative to that same state of flight with flaps. In other words, you will still stall faster in an accelerated stall (as in a turn) than when you are flying straight and level. However, flaps will delay the stall longer in that configuration than if you had no flaps.

Remember, anything that causes an increase in wing loading will also cause an increase in stall speed (such as pulling Gs or flying a loaded aircraft).

hey Manintrees your question was answer bacickly it give you more time to aim at the target and also to find them, you want to retract them because you need to get aout of there as fast as you can and also they can get damage if you is you fly outside the VFE or white arc basacly the speed that the manufacturer tells you to retract the falps to avoid damage. remember that just doing a manuver like you see it in a book will not necesarily work all the time. in a dog fight you need to adapt to the situation every second, also you need to know what your oponent is capable of. if he can turn tighter that you do not get on a turning fight use another, zoom and boom might be the answer.

No. Flaps have a maximum speed they can be deployed. Usually around 200mph or less. A P47 for example has a 180mph upper limit on flap deployment. Above that you'll break the hydraulics. Combat flaps can be used at higher speeds but your trading lift for speed. Personally thats breaking the golden rules of energy fighting.

Also due to flaps increasing lift you'll be far less accurate when using them.

Most dive bombers had dive breaks. Everyone else had to manage there speed by either shallow dive, reducing RPM and increading pitch and using the prop as a break or opening the radiator to cause drag.

You'll break the hydraulics using them in a high speed manouver. Combat flaps are good for spiral climbs and tight turns but all the time they are deployed you'll burning off energy. Personally the use of combat flaps in a late war environment is just adding a nail to your coffin.