Smug Question, but a question never the less.
 

I was just playing against my friend, and someone neither of us knew? I was flying of course, my Yak-3, and my friend was flying a 109G6 as well as the other guy. While my friend knows not to come down and take me on, the other guy who had some skills up high, had little to none at lower altitudes.

And so my question is, because this seems to happen to me every time I fly my Yak-3 against a 109. Why do some people online, think that 5,000ft and below, they can challenge me in a turning and roll fight? Has anyone else gone up against these kinds of people?

And to answer the possible question of did I win against him. The simple answer is of course: Yes! :cool:

Because who knows ALT plays a part in the planes performance?

Well I do. I mean it's kinda common knowledge to know that the 109 a high altitude fighter, can't do much against a low altitude Yak-3 unless he tries to BnZ, but usually I just get out of their way when that happens.

Not a lot of people realise the performance limitations that come with each aircraft. Guess they don't try out a lot of planes. My guess is most people recognize the Spit as an awesome plane, and when they try to fly it they get sick of the wingdrops. So they try the next plane: the 109. This one is pretty easy to fly, so they stick with it. I love it when I'm the only La-7 in a room full of 109's. I'll outturn them anytime. And that with an airplane that is surprisingly easy to fly as well. The Spit IV outturns the La, but is a lot trickier to fly.
I guess people should just try out more different planes, and they'll notice how they fly.

Well, Ive Never known & id say most people wont aswell

The problem is that if people will always fly at the optimum altitude for their aircraft you might always be at different altitudes :P. I vote ignorance is bliss on this one.

Well if you fly Sim, you should realize how your plane handles at certain altitudes. I sure do. Flying my Yak-3 at 10,000ft is not a good setting. But flying say a 109 or something like that, I have no problem.

Maybe, I just think people need to try out other planes. Not just go for those that seem the best, though the Yak-3 in my opinion is the best at lower altitudes besides the I-153 Chaika or I-16?

Well at some point you have to try and use your disadvantage to your advantage. For instance, you mention the 109, but Ive seen a few pilots heavily overshoot a 109 thats at low level and slowed way down.

See many people will automatically try and out-turn the 109, but a good pilot will know this and try and lure in a bandit on his 6. Then when the time is right pulling way back on the throttle, the enemy roars past and is killed.

Plus with a 109 if you keep the speed up you can force and opponent way off track, allowing team members to get on his tail. Also the 109 at speed has a comparable turn rate to most other aircraft, which means no real advantage for the enemy.

"
Thats a bold statement to make my friend, because not everyone shares the knowledge you do.

Most of the people play IL2 online because they enjoy flying games, and just generally like a change from the likes of COD, HALO etc.

Knowledge plays no part in what they do, they play because they enjoy it. They dont play it it its historically meant to be played because they dont know how the planes performed.

I would say "its not common knowledge that the 109 is a high altitude fighter" but those who do know it (like yourself) can appreciate it more and use your knowledge to your advantage ;)

win win situation on your part.


You get to play the game AND you get your 109 down low for an easy kill.

I don't think it was a bold statement. If you know anything of the 109, you'll know first off that it was built as a high altitude fighter. If you've looked in a 109 book, it will be there. I mean look at a Hurricane and a 109. If the Hurricane tried dogfighting a 109 at a high altitude, you know who will have the better advantage.