Worst 190 Pilot ever

[D_Konig]

Im either brain damaged (I am) or doing something (wrong) or both (probably).

 

I can barely get the 190 to get past 300-350kmh, can barely get it climb - I tried to do a bomber intercept mission and by the time I got to the intercept point I was barely at 2.8km and the target was at 5k.

 

Flaps good, trim good, gear up, what gives?

Should I be using manual prop pitch or something ? 

[Jaws2002]

 

 

300-350kmh

 

That's a good fast climb speed. Don't fight it to climb, at low speed. Let it get some speed before you start climbing.

In 190 I don't use flaps for takeoff unless I have the 500kg bomb hanging. Usually raise the gear immediately after take off, then hug the ground until I pass over 320-350km/h and only then I start climbing maintaining over 300km/h most of the time. All auto and try to keep the engine in continuous settings for the climb.

  Trim as needed. the 190 is heavy for It's size and has rather small wing. It likes to do everything at higher speeds.

[D_Konig]

I thought it was as fast or faster tgan the 109s?

I fly around in those 450-500 no problem

[Finkeren]

This might be a stupid question, but are you sure, you're flying level and not climbing? The Fw 190 flies in a nose-down attitude, which means that when flying level the nose actually points slightly down. So to get max speed in level flight, you'll have to keep the gunsight under the horizon.

[Jaws2002]

I thought it was as fast or faster tgan the 109s?

I fly around in those 450-500 no problem

 

 

It is fast, but when it comes to climb:

 

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Now, this is an A2. The A3 is much better climber, but still not in the same league with the Bf-109.

So don't try to fly around with the nose pointing up all the time. Let the plane get to speed, then fly it fast and you can get away from/catch everything.

Edited January 15, 2015 by Jaws2002

[D_Konig]

Roger that, thanks Jaws and Finkeren. Didnt know either of that. Ive pretty much eclusively flown 109s since cliffs of dover and even il2 1946.. im too crappy a pilot to handle anything more complex haha.

 

Not a dumb question Finkeren, Youre probly right I likely was slightly climbing when i thought I was going level.. didnt realize it was designed to fly that way.

 

Also didnt know those climbing numbers either, thanks Jaws. Makes more sense now, just have to be way more deliberate with my movements.

[II/JG17_HerrMurf]

Not exclusively, but as a learner, think of the 190 as a downhill attacker. Climb away from the fight, attack from an altitude advantage, and extend. Initially, don't turn with a russian through more than 270 degrees. Always stay above 325 kph. As you learn her you can relax the above standards and explore closer to the edge of the flight/combat envelopes.

[Capt_Stubing]

Recipe for success. Climb and always be above your target. Make slashing attacks and control the fight with extensions and climb only when you have separation. The think that you will have to learn is the current version we have in the game has very little elevator authority above 600kph. If you can stay below that during your bottom of your dive you can make your attack with more success. I find that it takes a lot of patients in this game as most aren't willing to give you a tracking shot. Get good at high deflection and snap shots with 4 cannons and wipe the floor with people. I've been flying virtual FWs for over 10 years and it's taking me some time.

Edited January 16, 2015 by 14./JG5CaptStubing

[Fortis_Leader]

Most importantly in my experience, extend a lot. The top speed in level flight is a lot higher than that of even the fastest Soviet fighter, and the -190 accelerates quickly as well.

 

Extend, climb, come back, dive on the most suitable target (doesn't have to be a steep dive, as the top speed + what you can build up in a shallow dive is incredible in relation to even your best opponent) and get out again. I rather like that tactic, as it doesn't punish you much if at all for bringing the 2 extra 20mm cannons, which just make the Fw a ridiculously capable killing machine, even against Il-2s. Coming up on their 6 with "just" 4 20mm cannons blazing will make very quick work of them.

[D_Konig]

Yes I've noticed the dive thing... this thing will be going up over 600-700kmh in no time in a dive. 

 

I find I lose control of her quite a bit more easily - again keep in mine i've spent 98% of my virtual flying career in 109s and the rest screwing around in other aircraft. Is it the shorter wingspan? I try to turn into something and it just flops out of control and I go into a spin what seems like really easily, maybe Im losing all my speed too quickly and not paying attention..

 

but I've gotten a handle on the climbing and speed. She is definitely fast.

[Dakpilot]

Yes I've noticed the dive thing... this thing will be going up over 600-700kmh in no time in a dive. 

 

I find I lose control of her quite a bit more easily - again keep in mine i've spent 98% of my virtual flying career in 109s and the rest screwing around in other aircraft. Is it the shorter wingspan? I try to turn into something and it just flops out of control and I go into a spin what seems like really easily, maybe Im losing all my speed too quickly and not paying attention..

 

but I've gotten a handle on the climbing and speed. She is definitely fast.

 

What needs to be remembered is that the FW190 has by far the highest wing loading of any aircraft in game, and needs to be treated accordingly

 

"Wing loading is, of course, the number of pounds of aircraft weight supported by each square foot of wing area. Wing loading is usually expressed as the value when the airplane is at its maximum certified weight, so the actual wing loading will vary depending on fuel and payload onboard the airplane at any point.

A higher wing loaded airplane can surprise a pilot not trained to handle it by stalling at an airspeed higher than he is used to. The more highly loaded wing can also develop higher sink rates that take more power and altitude to recover from."

 

When combined with the VERY good control authority that the FW190 has compared with other A/C, for example shown here when the discussion of negative G stalls was being made

 

"Bf 109 F-4: -4g , after that it's stalls

Bf 109 G-2: -4g , after that it's stalls

Fw 190 A-3: -3g , after that it's stalls

LaGG-3 ser.29: -1g , can't achieve more AoA and G on max pushed stick pitch and trim

La-5 ser.8: -2g , can't achieve more AoA and G on max pushed stick pitch and trim

Yak-1 ser.69: -3g , can't achieve more AoA and G on max pushed stick pitch and trim

 

Fact is that Lagg, La and Yak simply dont have the stick movement to get the AoA needed to stall. And the 109 and 190 both can get to the AoA to stall - and while doing this they achieve a higher g before stalling than the russian planes"

 

The 109 has leading edge slats which take effect at high AoA giving it more forgiving handling, a big advantage considering that the 190 has even higher wingloading than 109, an aircraft normally considered to be  one with high wing loading for the time.

 

All this good 'stick authority' and a tendency to easily generate an accelerated stall is exacerbated in game by not having the tactile/seat of the pants and aural cues you would have IRL, so the result is that the 190 has a narrower critical envelope of flight and has to be flown more accurately to keep in it, and make use of its advantages, all of which is hard ingame in the heat of combat.

 

keep your airspeed up and be aware of how much AoA/G you are actually pulling, due to its higher wing loading coupled with lack of leading edge slats, smooth and gentle will help you , fighting it will bleed off your energy due to drag/higher sink rate when not flown in its optimal flight parameters.

 

I am not saying that the FM is perfect, far from it, but there is a lot to be considered in energy management of  and handling of FW190

 

Cheers Dakpilot

[D_Konig]

Thanks Dak, very helpful!

[II/JG17_HerrMurf]

In any of the DF servers you can stay at 2400/1.2 ata for the duration (25 mins or more) and still have at least 3-5 mins of max power available for high speed dashes.

Edited January 21, 2015 by HerrMurf

[-NW-ChiefRedCloud]

I saw the title to this thread and thought ... "Is someone talking about me?" ..... But I guess I'm not in this boat alone.

 

Chief

[Weegie]

Can I join the "challenged 190" club. I'm pretty sure I would get a first class honors in rubbish flying in most aircraft, but the 190 can be real handful. These tips are much appreciated.

 

I can land it sometimes but I daren't take off again in the same aircraft as the gear usually falls off when I climb out or something else falls off the aircraft due to my errrr, "enthusiastic" touchdown.

 

I find the LaGG an even bigger handful to put on the ground than the 190 but a lot easier to handle in the air.....................early days for me. I'm glad I never applied to the forces, I shouldn't be allowed withing 100 yards of an aircraft