Maneuverability, Agility and Turning Circle.
Don't forget the usual confusion that some folks have with agility, turning circle and maneuverability.
Agility is how responsive an aircraft is to pilot control input. Unstable aircraft are always very agile and snap into and out off turns, spins, rolls, etc. sometimes too quickly for an inexperienced pilot to cope with. Aircraft like the P-47, P-51, Fw-190, F-2A Buffalo, A6M Zero, I-16, I-153, Fokker Dr.1., Sopwith Camel, etc. are described as highly agile but were also very difficult to fly at maximum potential. Roll rate features amongst the summation of agility. The P-47 is decribed as agile in reports but at over 7 tons has poor maneuverability and a poor turning circle. It has a good roll rate though. It rolls quicker than the Bf-109 and the Spitfire but not the Fw-190 or P-51.
Basically agility describes how snappy and responsive an aircraft is to control input.
Maneuverability is an assessment of aerobatic stunts and maneuvers. This is a summation dive recovery, looping ability, turning circle and execution ability of classic dogfight aerobatics. As an example the F-4F Wildcat was described as maneuverable but not agile. The A6M Zero is described as both agile and maneuverable. The P-38 is both agile and maneuverable but had a poor turning circle. The Bf-110 is described as maneuverable in reports but was not agile and did not have a good turning circle radius.
Turning circle is an aircraft's tightest radius turn at the lowest possible speed without stalling. Some bombers can turn tighter than some fighters but they are not very maneuverable.
In all modes of BOP most of the ace players will cut their throttles to idling in order to turn inside an inexperienced player's fighter. Some will even pop their combat flaps, in simulator mode, to force their fighter to cut tighter into the turn so as to pull lead on their prey.
Last edited by Panzergranate; 03-09-2012 at 05:28 PM.
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03-09-2012, 05:25 PM
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