How to fly spitfire and Bf-109

[ghostly_doggo]

How do you all fly the bf 109 and the spitfire against each other. I’m in my bodenplatte career and I’m trying to get better flying the spit, and wouldn’t mind some insight from people who fly one or the other or both. Thanks! 

[norsetto]

I'm by no means an expert, so take my words with caution, but for engine management what I do is mainly to keep an eye on rpm/mp, I manually link them since I have a double throttle to rpm and then fine tune mp accordingly to need. I try to keep rpm low (around 2600-2700) and only use short burst of power when most needed (mainly to accelerate). I keep my guns with close convergence (230 mt) and try to fire only when I see the white of their eyes?. Usually I try to lead about a full guncross when at the right distance (after a while you should get good at estimating it). Mg requires more lead and is more effective against the body (good for pk). On the spit I never try a front shot and rarely deflections, remember to be gentle on the stick and you should have no problem shooting down the AI. They usually get me only from the front especially if we are outnumbered or if I forget to check my 6. It also helps if you try to almost never fly straight for too long, or if you have to do it check your 6 often and try to disengage immediately if you see you are being shot at. The AI always try to turn fight so they should be easy prey for a spit. When on the defensive they always try to slow down and enter into a split-s so just be prepared for that.

[oc2209]

Depending on your AI (career difficulty) settings, this might be different.

 

Generally, when in the Spitfire or the 109, the AI will attempt to use both planes' climbing ability. In the 109, it's more difficult to get the Spit into a vulnerable position, but not impossible. In the Spitfire, it should be much easier to get behind the 109 and stay there. The only question is being outrun or out-zoom-climbed by the 109. My answer would be to always engage the 109 with at least a small altitude advantage. If this proves impossible in some cases, get altitude as quickly as possible. The AI will generally attempt to make diving passes at you while continually regaining height. Counteract this in a variety of ways; get creative in the ways you climb. I've experimented with vertical corkscrews. I'm not saying those are a good idea, but just find whatever works for you.

 

Once you have an altitude advantage over a 109, then you can dive on him and force him into a close-quarters turn fight. At that point he's dead. I keep my guns set to 200m convergence. I find the Spitfire's guns are awful at killing 109s' engines from directly behind. Your best bet is to hit the 109 in the wings or tail from behind, if you must fire from that angle at all. I suggest firing from deflection to save ammo expenditure. Very short bursts will generally be fatal when you're turning inside a 109, as your bullets will always hit something vital from your top-down orientation relative to the target.

 

*Edit: just ran a quick battle test in a Yak-9 versus a 109G-6 Late with boost. For masochistic purposes of course. You can lure the AI down to ground level, provided you turn into their bounce properly. At that point you also force a turn fight. A Spit IX is faster than a Yak, so you should have no difficulty luring 109s in this fashion, if the above advice proves difficult to implement.

 

For the record, it took me 9 freakin' minutes to finally drop the 109 (ace AI) in a Yak. It's only possible by degrees. Pull through their turn with flaps dropped, blind fire as they continue their turn, cripple them, still take forever to catch them even while crippled. Finish them off using most of your ammo. I happened to get the invincible 109 variant tonight.

Edited November 27, 2020 by oc2209

[von_Tom]

 

 

Fly them exactly the same if you can - stay fast and high and boom and zoom.  Try not to get sucked into a fight where the enemy can use their advantage (don't climb with a 109, don't turn with a Spit etc).  Never turn to death.

 

von Tom

[No145_Bunny]

Or do a head-on attack.... Tom (cough, cough)

[von_Tom]

30 minutes ago, No145_Bunny said:

Or do a head-on attack.... Tom (cough, cough)

 

You ok with that cough?  Need something to help with it - maybe some 20mms?

 

Huh?  HUH?

 

Anyway, I was in a P51 and P51s need a smack n the nose to make them look even half attractive...

 

von Tom