First fight in a 109

[jimbop]

Goes without saying that I lost... I downed a couple of blennies which were returning over the channel and then tangled with a hurri. My impressions as a previously-full-time red pilot?

- Excellent power
- Excellent stability at speed (and what speed)
- Awesome guns (just tore both Blenheims to pieces and set one on fire)
- Rubbish turning

The turning, or rather the lack of turning, will take some getting used to. What are your strategies, blue pilots? Seems that dragging the willing ones down to reduce their energy and then extending away to build superior E would be a good way to go. What if they don't descend?

[JG52Uther]

I love the 109. Boom and zoom is the best tactic, but its very easy to get dragged into low down turn fights with the reds, then you are in trouble.
Watch how Mr X flies the 109 here:
http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showthread.php?t=29297

[JG5_emil]

The 109 is all about energy fighting, maintaining it and only attack when you have a superior energy advantage.

Be very careful when fighting the rotol hurri, it's deadly, the poor old spit 1a is much slower and easier to kill. Fingers crossed for some attention to the FM. If it's a Spit II and you've got any kind of advantage it's pretty much one or two attacks and run.

[jimbop]

Yeah, I have shot down my fair share of yellow noses in the hurricane rotol. It is my first choice and I am always pleased when a 109 starts turning with me. 1a is just rubbish at the moment.

As I flew over the channel playing with the throttle and prop pitch to get the feel for the 109 I wondered how anyone managed to get shot down in it. Then I started turning with the hurricane and realised pretty quickly! Exactly what I do myself so I guess I had no excuse.

Im not an expert but I noticed that I cant manually control flaps (slats?) in 109? Pls can someone explain why?

[JG5_emil]

Well the other way is getting to focused on your target and making too many energy bleeding manoeuvres in too shorter time. It's a fighter for the very patient pilot when flying solo and you need to know when to attack and when to disengage. It's very difficult to disengage when you know you've hit someone but if you can and take your time to regain the energy advantage you will get shot down very little.

It is also a superb fighter when flown in a team with others.

[JG5_emil]

Originally Posted by Tvrdi

Im not an expert but I noticed that I cant manually control flaps (slats?) in 109? Pls can someone explain why?

You definitely cannot control the leading edge slats manually, no idea if that was possible in RL...I kinda doubt it.

[Ataros]

Originally Posted by JG5_emil

You definitely cannot control the leading edge slats manually, no idea if that was possible in RL...I kinda doubt it.

They are automatic on most aircraft except for some STOL ones as far as I know. Airflow makes them extract at certain speed.

Flaps control in a 109 has 3 positions like IRL. Need to keep a key pressed in down position.

[JG52Uther]

I have my flaps mapped to a lever on my saitek quad, I only ever use flaps for landing though. Speed is life in a 109.

Originally Posted by JG52Uther

I have my flaps mapped to a lever on my saitek quad, I only ever use flaps for landing though. Speed is life in a 109.

Sure, I doubt flaps were used in combat, in WW2. But were "exploited" in old IL2 for turnings hehe