 | most important feature on a WW2 fighter| Aviation Discuss most important feature on a WW2 fighter in the World War II - Aviation forums; This is rather academic, but I wonder: What feature should more important/useful on a fighter's performance against another ... |
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12-30-2006, 05:39 PM
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#1 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
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Country:  | most important feature on a WW2 fighter
This is rather academic, but I wonder: What feature should more important/useful on a fighter's performance against another fighter, firepower aside:
Max. speed
Rate of climb
Diving speed/acceleration
level acceleration
maximum height
turning ability
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12-30-2006, 05:51 PM
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#2 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: London Ontario Canada
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Country:  | For me it is turning ability what good are the others if you do not have good turning ability. | |
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12-31-2006, 04:34 AM
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#3 | | Master of Ewes
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Country:  | speed- speed allows you to pick and choose when and where to fight, it can gain you altitude and allow you to avoid a tricky turning fight.............
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12-31-2006, 06:29 AM
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#4 | | Senior Member
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Originally Posted by the lancaster kicks ass  speed- speed allows you to pick and choose when and where to fight, it can gain you altitude and allow you to avoid a tricky turning fight............. | Agreed, I would take speed as well.
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12-31-2006, 07:31 AM
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#5 | | Senior Member
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Country:  | Rate of climb
Diving speed/acceleration
level acceleration
Why did you choose max. speed? Its ony number without practical matter. The max. speeed is only reachable in optimal conditions i.e. level (celling) and long and straight distance. How often these conditions happens in combat? Quote: |
speed- speed allows you to pick and choose when and where to fight, it can gain you altitude and allow you to avoid a tricky turning fight.............
| Better climb rate, level and dive acceleration assure the same  | |
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12-31-2006, 11:05 AM
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#6 | | Senior Member
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Country:  | Quote:
Originally Posted by net_sailor Rate of climb
Diving speed/acceleration
level acceleration
Why did you choose max. speed? Its ony number without practical matter. The max. speeed is only reachable in optimal conditions i.e. level (celling) and long and straight distance. How often these conditions happens in combat?
Better climb rate, level and dive acceleration assure the same | I agree, but my choice characteristic would be personal protection of the pilot. It takes a long time and many many hours to train quality pilots. Maneuverability would be my number one flight characteristic, definitely above speed.
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12-31-2006, 11:46 AM
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#7 | | "Shooter"
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Country: | Good point Matt. I think I would add good pilot training. Without that, it doesn't matter what the aircraft has.
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12-31-2006, 12:56 PM
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#8 | | IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO
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Country: | Something left out here boys...
During WW2 many of the "Professional Military Pilots" entered the fray early and a good many on both sides were killed off early in the war. You had to bring up people who prior to the war had no interest in aviation, get them trained and make them combat pilots. Although not listed the aircraft has to be "user friendly," easy to fly and operated while giving superior performance. But in viewing the choices I would pick max speed. Remember "Speed is Everything."
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12-31-2006, 01:05 PM
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#9 | | Senior Member
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Originally Posted by FLYBOYJ Something left out here boys...
During WW2 many of the "Professional Military Pilots" entered the fray early and a good many on both sides were killed off early in the war. You had to bring up people who prior to the war had no interest in aviation, get them trained and make them combat pilots. Although not listed the aircraft has to be "user friendly," easy to fly and operated while giving superior performance. But in viewing the choices I would pick max speed. Remember "Speed is Everything." | Good point on the user friendly part - but I'm going to still disagree on max speed  speed isn't going to keep that target in your sights when you're being outmaneuvered and can't pull w/ him...
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12-31-2006, 01:09 PM
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#10 | | Solopsist Extraordinaire
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Country: | Which speed? Va? Vmo? Vd?
I'm not sure that outright Vmo is what I would want. An example was the F-106. The time to speed was not a linear curve (ie constant acceleration until Vmo). Rather the time from Mach 1.2 to Mach 1.6 was like 6+ minutes. My point being that noting maximum speed alone is insufficient to evaluate and address the problem.
I think that being forced to choose only one parameter, I would choose better climb rate. Altitude equates to more potential energy. And anything other than slash and run dogfights are won on energy conservation.
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12-31-2006, 01:16 PM
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#11 | | IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO
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Originally Posted by mkloby Good point on the user friendly part - but I'm going to still disagree on max speed speed isn't going to keep that target in your sights when you're being outmaneuvered and can't pull w/ him... | It's not - but it's going to keep you alive...
You could handle being out maneuvered by doing Yo-Yos or fighting in the vertical (i.e. P-38, P-40, F-4 in Vietnam). Although the fighter pilot must be aggressive you also want him to be able to survive to fight another day if the fight turns to a disadvantage - when you have speed you could break off and choose another day to fight when you have that advantage....
My opinion...
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12-31-2006, 01:18 PM
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#12 | | Solopsist Extraordinaire
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Country: | Fair enough. We did see that tactic brought to bear with the P-38 clover leaf tactics. Your point is well made.
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12-31-2006, 01:22 PM
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#13 | | Senior Member
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Country: | FBJ - that is a good point, the ability to tear off from an engagement. Although slightly different, I know american pilots made good use of favorable dive characteristics vice zekes to gain a sharp speed advantage. You know, in reality, different characteristics will pay the rent or save your ass in different situations.
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12-31-2006, 01:24 PM
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#14 | | Solopsist Extraordinaire
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Country: | ...and thus having to choose only one parameter makes for somewhat of a silly argument.
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12-31-2006, 01:25 PM
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#15 | | Senior Member
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Country: | matt - are you following me around the forum????
Maybe but it's a fun debate nonetheless.
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