Best Fighter III

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

nothing is, yet you seem to think the P-38 is??

Actually I dont think the P-38 was the greatest plane ever. I just think it is better then some of the things you throw up against it.

That is not true Alder. I just think the P-51 was competative with all its rivals in WWII. It had a few things it did very well, such as sustain high speeds for extended periods and tremendous range, and others it was not so good at, such as sustained hard turns and durability under fire.

Thankyou RG, that is the best thing Ive heard so far. Now I will agree with you!

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Oh I believe exactly what you are saying, but RG thinks that the P-51 is the greatest thing since bread and butter. Yes it was a great aircraft and one of the best ever built however it like all aircraft had faults also. Machines are not perfect.

That is not true Alder. I just think the P-51 was competative with all its rivals in WWII. It had a few things it did very well, such as sustain high speeds for extended periods and tremendous range, and others it was not so good at, such as sustained hard turns and durability under fire.

The P-38 was a great plane, but it's not until you get into the late J series that it really came into its own. And it was flawed in its ability at high speeds because the wings were not properly designed for it - it should have had a little more wing area but thinner wings.

All-in-all, I think the F4U-4 and P-47M/N were the best American fighters.

The F4U-4 was probably the best pure fighter of the three perticularly under about 27,000 feet. But of course, it didn't see action in the ETO.

=S=

Lunatic

I VOTE FOR THE F4U-4

 

[trackend]

Spite,Spite,Spite,Spite,Spite,Spite...... I must stop spitting, filthy habit.
But seriously folks I love the Spitfire but my logical head says that the Corsair (even though not correct I like names more than numbers) was a more advanced aircraft so I believe probably on balance a better fighter. Clever bloke that Sikorsky ( Beisel of course)

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

The Corsair was definatly a great aircraft.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

and cirtainly in the running for this title............

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Yes it should be.

 

[Aggie08]

my vote is with the mustang or the corsair... but no takers for the me-262? Could have changed the course of the war had it been utilized properly...

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

my vote is with the mustang or the corsair... but no takers for the me-262? Could have changed the course of the war had it been utilized properly...

The Corsair is a fine choice. I would not go with the 262 however. I too think it was a fine aircraft (not accounting for the engine problems), and I too think it was the best operational jet of WW2 however it was too little, too late. Needed to work out the engine problems and get more fuel and then maybe if it had been operational about a year sooner.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

she wasn't much of a dogfighter either..........

 

[trackend]

I read that the speed of the 262 actually caused problems as the range closed so quickly they had to reduce speed to get long enough to ensure accuacy on smaller targets like fighters ect also the aircraft had a habit of weaving when given some welly

 

[KraziKanuK]

I read that the speed of the 262 actually caused problems as the range closed so quickly they had to reduce speed to get long enough to ensure accuacy on smaller targets like fighters ect also the aircraft had a habit of weaving when given some welly

The a/c tended to 'snake' at high speeds.

Throttling back was not an option for under 6000rpm the throttle could not be moved quickly. On a bomber attack, the a/c would dive from a higher altitude(1500m??) to get through the fighter screen, go below the level of the bombers(500m??) and climb to loose speed. Seen a diagram in a book someplace, hence the '??'.

 

[trackend]

Thanks for the info KK

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

The aircraft was deffinatly too fast for conventional dogfighting. Therefore she was better suited for intercepting then dogfighting.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

which is the role she was used in most...........

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Correct

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

and even if she did dogfight, as soon as one of those extremely fragile engines go so does she..........

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Yeap the biggest problem of the 262 was her engines. I dont think she could fly on only 1.

 

[Aggie08]

needs to take a note or two from american birds...

 

[KraziKanuK]

Yeap the biggest problem of the 262 was her engines. I dont think she could fly on only 1.

They could and even landed, though as with any twin, one could not take liberties.

 

[cheddar cheese]

Even the Komet had trouble flying on one engline