Help dogfighting (and moderating speed)

[majorfailure]

Originally Posted by Haklangr

1.) For hard turns, if I have to make one, I usually throttle down to 0% briefly, as I've seen others do; I'm not sure exactly on the best timing, though -- I usually have it on 0% throttle for the first half, then go back up to 99/110% (usually) as I pull out of the turn. What should I be doing?

Try adding an upward element to the turn - not exactly following the enemys path. Called a high yo-yo. Or try to turn not at all. Pull up somewhat, and then roll your plane to where you want to go, level out again - facing the direction you wanted to turn to but with less energy loss - because you used the roll axis to change your direction.

Originally Posted by Haklangr

Edit 2: Well, those tactics didn't work at all against P-39s. Altitude and speed did alright, but I couldn't outrun them -- so when my diving ambush failed and I tried to disengage, I just wasted a lot of time (seems they can't quite catch me either). I tried again and got one while coming down from on high, and got a second one by engaging in a turning fight. (Then I got shot down by a Yak of some kind...) Either the 109 can maneuver better than the P-39 (I've heard this so, but I think at higher altitudes than I was at -- maybe not), or I just got lucky.

This game is getting extremely fun, though... I'm glad I stuck with it through the frustrating.

At an altitude below 5000m I's say that is the best match you can get - the P-39 is a superb plane in the hands of a good pilot. Powerful armament, good roll rate, fast, Russian pilots loved them. Try to add some climb when running from them - as your Bf climbs better. And you get them up higher, where they feel the thin air more than you do - P-39 has a full throttle height of ~3000m, you have ~7000m. Don't turnfight - they are better than you - and you will get bogged down.