He liked the P-40 over the P-51

[lantern53]

at least the early model P-51...Donald Lopez like the 6 50 cal machine guns of the P-40 over the 4 50cal guns of the P-51B...also said the P-40 had better visibility...when the P-51D came along, though...yeah, he liked that one

[INVADER_WARHAWK]

I once read that (during training) , experienced pilots on P 40 s were able to make the (rookie piloted) P 51 look outclassed , esspecialy at low alt.

Sure , they were experienced vs inexperienced , but I think that the Warkawk has something to offer

 

r/usernamechecksout

[=X51=VC_]

That's... not surprising. The Warkhawk would have been easier to fly and definitely easier to turn tight with and dogfight with at low speed. It has a thick wing and turns rather well, compared to the Mustang probably held back by pilots terrified of inducing snap-stalls with that laminar flow wing it has. And you're almost certainly talking about later variant P-40s, lighter, and with higher allowable engine settings than the artificially neutered P-40E we have. The P-40 was not a bad plane overall.

 

But also pilots are people, they like what they know and they like things based on "feel". Spitfire pilots complained about the Griffon torque and thought the Mk. VIII and IX flew better, 109 pilots liked the handling of the F over the G etc. etc. etc. doesn't mean those are better planes.

Edited June 16, 2020 by =X51=VC_

[I./JG52_Woutwocampe]

Several pilots wanted to keep flying an older plane that they knew well and trusted rather than getting a newer model even if it was supposed to be an 'improvement'.

 

Marseilles wanted to keep flying his F4 so bad but he was forced into getting the new G2 even if it had engine issues when it was launched. 

 

He died in a G2 shortly after because of smoke in the cockpit.