USN-USMC fighters At 5000 Ft
Notes on USN/USMC Fighters tested @ 5K ft.
1. The early Wildcats seem to compare with what I know of their performance, not spectacular but stable; however, the FM-2, which was 500 lbs lighter & somewhat aerodynamically cleaner than the F4F-4, as well as enjoying a 160 hp power advantage at altitudes up to nearly 20,000 ft, is portrayed in-game as even more sluggish than its predecessors. I was so surprised by this, I ended up re-running the FM-2 to ensure that I hadn't left the landing gear hanging down or something, but it was just as sluggish and 'meh' as the first time. Historically, this was simply not the case. The FM-2 was widely acknowledged as the 'wilder' Wildcat; being lighter, cleaner and more powerful at low and medium altitudes, it had superior climb and acceleration, and a somewhat better top speed at low and medium altitudes. It was a much better match for the Zero, even the later models. Someone's got some 'splaining to do.
2. There is very little if any difference between the F4U-1/Corsair Mk I and the F4U-1A, which makes little sense, given the -1A's water injection and the fact that the runs made in the -1A were all much more level overall. The Dash 1A is ultimately faster once you reach 480 kph, but it should be no contest from the start. This just doesn't seem right. I also added the Dash 1D, and it has a noticeably better jump, but the same general top end.
3. Both models of Hellcat continue to be a huge letdown. With or without water injection, it is portrayed as a slug, and much slower than the official numbers I have found. A standard F6F-3 should be capable of 290 kts/330 mph true airspeed, or about 530 kph at this altitude. If the Wonder Woman 'speedometer' is correct, that would mean an IAS of about 470/480 kph in-game. The best level TAS I got from the F6F-3 was just over 510 kph, and the best level TAS on the F6F-5 was around 515 kph, or about 460 kph indicated for both. Again, there was very little difference in acceleration between the two, in spite of the extra 200 hp or so that the water injection of the Dash 5 is supposed to have. Again, I re-ran the Dash 5 to make sure that I hadn't done something wrong. The main difference is in top speed, but from 270 to 380 IAS indicated, there is no difference.
cheers
horseback
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