First hop in P39

[BlitzPig_EL]

Got in a short hop while home for lunch...

 

 

The new draw distance is astoundingly beautiful...

 

Landed at the BlitzPigs traditional home, Tuapse...

 

 

The 39 seems pretty docile so far, didn't really have time to wring her out.

Pulled on the stick at low speed (under 200mph IAS) and had plenty of warning via buffeting before things got hairy. Also did an Immelman over the field starting a 250mph IAS, a bit dodgy at the top of the loop, but no stall or flatspin precursors.

 

That was all I had time for... More after work.

 

 

[EAF19_Marsh]

Interesting, will do exactly the same when finished d/l

[CUJO_1970]

El, you have my permission to take the rest of the day off and post more screen shots. I'm stuck at work too.

 

I will even write a note to your employer lol

[unlikely_spider]

Thanks for the update!

[AndyJWest]

Quote

The 39 seems pretty docile so far, didn't really have time to wring her out.

 

Yup. Plenty of warning before the stall, and she seems to recover well enough if you respond properly. I've not tried an intentional spin yet, which will probably be the real test of the flight model.

 

Needs a fair bit of trimming to keep the ball centred, but otherwise no obvious vices. Landing seemed easy enough.

[RobCarter3]

Does it have a manifold pressure regulator? I'm stuck at work and dying ti get home and try it out

[Archie]

Only had a quick ride, think it could be my new favourite! 

[Jade_Monkey]

Still have about 4 hrs to go till i can fire up the sim. Thanks for sharing!

[=RvE=Windmills]

Anyone knows exactly at what limit the engine blows? It seems at high speeds you can slam the throttle forward as much you like, but you need to handle it carefully at low speeds. Though the exact circumstances where engine damage occurs aren't really clear to me.

[-TBC-AeroAce]

So far it feels nice to fly. Can turn ok, can recover from normal spins,I can't seem to get it to flat spin, guns are nice however it could not climb outof a wet paper bag on normal power.

[Ehret]

Just now, Windmills said:

Anyone knows exactly at what limit the engine blows? It seems at high speeds you can slam the throttle forward as much you like, but you need to handle it carefully at low speeds. Though the exact circumstances where engine damage occurs aren't really clear to me.

 

Because the propeller pitch governor is slow - probably - just like in the P40. When you suddenly open the throttle the engine may over-rev.

Edited March 14, 2018 by Ehret

[6./ZG26_5tuka]

26 minutes ago, Windmills said:

Anyone knows exactly at what limit the engine blows? It seems at high speeds you can slam the throttle forward as much you like, but you need to handle it carefully at low speeds. Though the exact circumstances where engine damage occurs aren't really clear to me.

Full power will last you for 5min, don't know the other settings from the top of my head.

The Cobra is quite nice to fly and easy to recover from a spin. A fully developed spin can be stoped with rudder after < 1 rotation or with stick neutral after 2-3. Like the Spitfire pitch is kind of sensetive especially at low speed where it needs to be treated with some care.

 

Also, you can takeoff the wing guns and the rear armour plate to save about 350kg of weight increasing manouvrebility significantly.

Edited March 14, 2018 by 6./ZG26_5tuka

[=FEW=Hauggy]

Honestly the hardest part for me at least is to get used to that 37mm and hit something with it.

[Archie]

Try 'open canopy' and watch the windows wind down 
 

Wasn't the P-39 supposed to have a rather vicious flat spin IRL, I've only had a quick play but it seems quite easy to get out of spins?

[A_radek]

Pressure regulator, does it have one?

[-TBC-AeroAce]

5 minutes ago, a_radek said:

Pressure regulator, does it have one?

No

[Tag777]

11 minutes ago, 6./ZG76_Archie said:

Try 'open canopy' and watch the windows wind down 
 

Wasn't the P-39 supposed to have a rather vicious flat spin IRL, I've only had a quick play but it seems quite easy to get out of spins?

The flat spin only happens with the magazines of the nose guns empty.

[A_radek]

2 minutes ago, AeroAce said:

No

 

Thank you.

[Jason_Williams]

Our research indicates that the P-39 flat spin could be bad if the nose was too light. Tests were done to try and re-create it and looks like is was mainly an issue when no ammo in the nose and CG moves too far back. We've tried to model this to the best of our ability and we think it's pretty close. It's not the best fighter, but it did score and was a serviceable weapon for the Soviets.  

 

Jason

[=RvE=Windmills]

Am I missing something or do the specifications not match the ingame tech tips for the engine power level? Tech tips just say continuous/combat/ emergency as far as I can tell, while the specs mention military/take off/maximum?

[Guest deleted@83466]

Maybe I should start a new topic about this, but I'll try here first.

 

The Specification in the game states that Auto-Rich is obtained at 66%.  However, when I actually put the mixture at 66%, I get a Tech Tip warning indicating I should adjust fuel mixture.   Is this tech tip in error, or if not, can someone explain better how to use the mixture in this aircraft?  Also, I assume that if my spikey controller gives me 67% instead of 66%, that there is some leeway given, and I'm still in Auto-Rich, correct?

 

Nevermind, I see there is already a Mixture topic.

 

Nice work, btw, Jason and team.  This feels like Christmas.

Edited March 14, 2018 by SeaSerpent

[Ehret]

There is the manifold pressure governor! It may lag a bit but you don't need throttle corrections with altitude. A convenient feature, but it limits you to maximum 60" MP, where in the P40 you can briefly over-boost to 70" MP.

[Finkeren]

After a few more combat flights in the P-39, I think I've "got it". At first I was fairly unimpressed. I thought its performance was mediocre at best, it felt heavy and the armament was pretty weak with the occasional insta-kill from the M4.

 

However, then it dawned on me: There is a reason Pokryshkin liked both the MiG-3 and the P-39, they actually share a few traits and can be flown succesfully, if you are tactically smart.

 

This is a plane that simply doesn't perform well at a disadvantage. It has neither the power, the dive acceleration, the sustained turn nor the climb rate to effectively get itself out of a pickle. However: Given a starting advantage, it is devastatingly effective and next to impossible to shake for a 109 or 190. It is extremely agile and putting the sights on the target is almost as effortless as in the Spitfire, as long as you have energy to spare.

 

Where it is superior to the MiG is in its high speed handling, this is a plane that wants to be flown fast but doesn't really have the power to justify it, so it needs a starting advantage.

 

In MP people who fly the P-39 are going to have to milk those 5 mins at emergency power for all it's worth to get that starting advantage, but if they can pull it off, they can switch to combat power and still be extremely deadly to anyone below.  

[Mauf]

8 minutes ago, Finkeren said:

After a few more combat flights in the P-39, I think I've "got it". At first I was fairly unimpressed. I thought its performance was mediocre at best, it felt heavy and the armament was pretty weak with the occasional insta-kill from the M4.

 

However, then it dawned on me: There is a reason Pokryshkin liked both the MiG-3 and the P-39, they actually share a few traits and can be flown succesfully, if you are tactically smart.

 

This is a plane that simply doesn't perform well at a disadvantage. It has neither the power, the dive acceleration, the sustained turn nor the climb rate to effectively get itself out of a pickle. However: Given a starting advantage, it is devastatingly effective and next to impossible to shake for a 109 or 190. It is extremely agile and putting the sights on the target is almost as effortless as in the Spitfire, as long as you have energy to spare.

 

Where it is superior to the MiG is in its high speed handling, this is a plane that wants to be flown fast but doesn't really have the power to justify it, so it needs a starting advantage.

 

In MP people who fly the P-39 are going to have to milk those 5 mins at emergency power for all it's worth to get that starting advantage, but if they can pull it off, they can switch to combat power and still be extremely deadly to anyone below.  

 

I have a feeling that the plane becomes sluggish at around 180-200mph (aka unstable in the turn, your nose starts to wander and such). Where would you put the "Never-go-below-line"? 220-230 about?

 

[216th_Lucas_From_Hell]

Agreed with Finkeren, word by word.

 

The one thing that's caused me trouble so far is the visibility. The bars around the cockpit make for some uncomfortable blind spots, and learning there's an enemy there by seeing tracers or hearing their cannon go off is unsettling to say the least!

[Finkeren]

6 minutes ago, 216th_Lucas_From_Hell said:

The one thing that's caused me trouble so far is the visibility. The bars around the cockpit make for some uncomfortable blind spots, and learning there's an enemy there by seeing tracers or hearing their cannon go off is unsettling to say the least!

 

Yep, field of vision is not the best. We have good visibility dead six, but 5 and 7 causes problems. I find myself moving my head around a lot compared to most other fighters.

[Ehret]

The reflector sight is visible at wide angles - you can move your head up a bit and still be able to see it. Great for deflection shots and short nose helps even more.

[Swing]

The P39 is so fun to fly...i'm totally in love......i love the sound of this cab door...and the motor behind me...

[Nic727]

Am I the only one noticing weird sound when looking the P39 from the front? Maybe it’s normal, just want to make sure.

 

thx

[MeoW.Scharfi]

The P39 is with P40 the real VVS BnZ Fighter which i really love to fly. Take your time with climbing and then dominate EVERYTHING below you. It has one of the best, maybe THE best maneuverability at high speed. Outrolling 190s at high speed is possible and it handles better at slow speed than a 190 does and it dive performance is similiar. You have to decrease RPM or your engine will blow up inside while diving. Also don't increase Throttle too fast or it has the same effect.(like increasing from 0 percent RPM to 100 percent). I think you can pull more G than a 190 and your gunsight is very good for making long range shots. Moreover I find it easier with the 37mm to hit a target than with the 30mm in case of deflection shooting. But i can give you some more tips:

 

- Watercooler never less than 60 % open. I found out that my plane becomes slower when I have the radiator closed. 60 % is the actual closed setting for the plane.

- Oil never less than 46-47% open. Same effect, its actually closed with 46-47%.

=> so you work between 60%-100% with the Radiator(water) and 46%-100% with oilcooler

 

Also learn and practise to make very small movements with your stick at slow speed, and it turns still not that bad at slow speed. At high speed you can turn like a maniac and pull all the way till you have energy. (even if i think the spin could be more fatal while turning)

 

What you think why Pokryshkins tactic was called Kuban stair? Dive on your enemies, same counts with P40, main strength with their planes.

And you could copy paste that thought for Bodenplatte with P51D and P47L, Good dive quality, worse defensive quality.

 

 

Edited March 15, 2018 by MeoW.Scharfi

[A_radek]

Very cool of you to share those radiator settings Scharfi.

[Barnacles]

2 hours ago, Nic727 said:

Am I the only one noticing weird sound when looking the P39 from the front? Maybe it’s normal, just want to make sure.

 

thx

I think it must be the whine from the long prop shaft.

 

[6./ZG26_5tuka]

2 hours ago, Nic727 said:

Am I the only one noticing weird sound when looking the P39 from the front? Maybe it’s normal, just want to make sure.

 

thx

https://youtu.be/gtW6KQPjB14?t=44

 

https://youtu.be/aoT2QnKtbdU?t=46

 

Thats what it sounds like in reality.

[rolikiraly]

4 hours ago, MeoW.Scharfi said:

[...] Outrolling 190s at high speed is possible [...]

 

Well i hope it's not really true? Maybe it's a bit of an exaggeration or "survivor" (ace pilot) bias?

[Finkeren]

9 minutes ago, rolikiraly said:

 

Well i hope it's not really true? Maybe it's a bit of an exaggeration or "survivor" (ace pilot) bias?

 

It’s not true, but it does roll really well.

Edited March 15, 2018 by Finkeren

[CrazyDuck]

11 hours ago, Finkeren said:

This is a plane that simply doesn't perform well at a disadvantage. It has neither the power, the dive acceleration, the sustained turn nor the climb rate to effectively get itself out of a pickle. However: Given a starting advantage, it is devastatingly effective and next to impossible to shake for a 109 or 190. It is extremely agile and putting the sights on the target is almost as effortless as in the Spitfire, as long as you have energy to spare.

 

I'm currently (re)reading Sakai's Samurai with Aircobra probably his most numerous victim - and the impression I got from his memoirs is excatly like the one you describe here. Of course A6M is a totally different kind of bird compared to European fighters of 42/43, but focusing on the Aircobra, one can deduct that Zekes had no trouble whatsoever killing them almost effortlessly when at the same energy level. However, once cobras had alt advantage, they became extremely dangerous; way, way more so than P-40s or F4Fs.

[Mac_Messer]

Lovely plane, my 2nd favorite in the game now. Nice cockpit, great sound, easy taxing. I love its responsiveness to inputs - it felt twitchy at first, went away with proper trim setup. Very good all around visibility, comfortable revi to use. I thought something was off till I realised the game doesn`t say "emergency maximum", instead "combat mode" - and the actual "emergency" shown ingame is takeoff power.

 

Around 150knots it becomes sluggish, gives stall warning though very short before it flips. Had trouble in it when I got dragged to low speed, then didn`t keep up with faster accelerating planes. It can`t stand high AoA at lowet speeds. Both 109 and 190 can easily outclimb it over 3000m. I`d imagine good P39 pilots will insist on high speed angle fights but that is avoidable as long as 109/190 pilot remains calm and disciplined. Now with both parties in bigger numbers I think it might go both ways.

 

The only problem I got with this plane is that nose guns alone are insufficent, wing guns are unusable above 150m range. Getting close, really close is not my style, unfortunately.

 

[StickMan]

19 hours ago, AeroAce said:

however it could not climb outof a wet paper bag on normal power.

My first encounter with one online last night can confirm. One managed to get behind me last night after I made a kill. I was able to out climb him easily in a FW. So its climb rate sucks or the pilot was not too skilled in flying it yet. I was able to create a nice height advantage for myself and spiral around onto his six. Seemed the P-39 is more capable in a dive as it took me some effort to start catching him. Had to break off the engagement however as I noticed friends of his ahead slightly higher than me. 

Edited March 15, 2018 by StickMan

[Nic727]

8 hours ago, 6./ZG26_5tuka said:

https://youtu.be/gtW6KQPjB14?t=44

 

https://youtu.be/aoT2QnKtbdU?t=46

 

Thats what it sounds like in reality.

Thank you!

[ACG_Smokejumper]

17 hours ago, Windmills said:

Am I missing something or do the specifications not match the ingame tech tips for the engine power level? Tech tips just say continuous/combat/ emergency as far as I can tell, while the specs mention military/take off/maximum?

 

 

I have found that switching off tech tips allows me to flog the engine more. The constant warnings had me managing the P-40 too conservatively.