Advice: What is the most forgiving "noob" plane to start with?

[humdinger]

Title about sums it up...looking for advice on a forgiving aircraft that would be a good starter plane to start off learning.   Preference would be to Allie side but open to all suggestions.  I'm having a heck of a time landing anything without nosing over.  Long term would love to master the P-51, but doesn't seem like that's an easy starter.  Had a little more luck with the P-47.  But again, any recommendations welcomed - thanks!

[cardboard_killer]

@humdinger What kind of realism are you looking at right now? Are you working with complex engine management? I think the Yak is most people's starter plane if they aren't using complex engine management. Or the IL-2 itself. If using complex engine management, you can try the Bf-109 as everything is automated mostly, but I find them hard to land/taxi.

 

For easy taxing/landing, you could stick with the P-39 or P-38 due to the toe breaks and tricycle landing gear. Eventually, though, you'll need to learn on a tail dragger.

 

If you haven't watched them yet, I recommend for the Yak these two videos:

 

 

 

Edited December 19, 2020 by cardboard_killer

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

U-2VS. It has no complex equipment to worry about and its low speed gives you plenty of time to react. However, some things you'd learn wouldn't really translate to any other aircraft.

 

On the Axis side, the earlier Bf 109 variants (F) are a good choice. Fairly forgiving handling, engine automation, and good performance make them very effective in any hands.

 

For the Allies, I agree that the Yaks are a good choice unless you are very concerned about ground handling.

[WheelwrightPL]

On the Allied side you could try PE-2 two-engined bomber/heavy-fighter (it has front-firing guns). First try without any bombs, and you will notice that the plane handles well (not twitchy at all) and has excellent front visibility which helps with navigation and landing (BTW when landing don't exceed 35° flaps or you'll crash, learn where flaps-position-indicator is from this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDA5yJyUNoU ).

 

If you want something more agile I recommend HS-129 ground-attacker. It also has excellent visibility, however it tends to veer-off on takeoff, so you need to be quick with toe-brakes to correct that (BTW learn the difference between toe-brakes and differential-brakes which PE-2 has). HS-129 is fully automated, but as you get better you can switch engines into manual mode and use boost to extract more performance out of it.

 

Those two planes have excellent visibility, and don't fly very fast which is beginner friendly. However they don't have a tail-wheel lock, which means you need to use more brakes/rudder to keep them straight during take-off, which requires some practice and skill. It is easier to take-off with planes which have a tail-wheel lock such as for example FW-190 (in that plane the tail-wheel lock is simply engaged by pulling the stick towards you). FW-190 is also a good plane to start with, due to its full automation, excellent ergonomics, and flaps which are very simple to operate (just push the flaps-button twice for landing). However it is a thoroughbred fighter, so things happen fast, and visibility is poor. 

[Pearlmania]

Hi there,

 

I just started out recently and I am using the BF-109F4. It's a real pain to taxi with and it really wants to turn to the left in flight. I'm using Col. Ninny's flight guides and he flies the F4 so I'm just having at it.

 

[BlindAsABat]

On the Allied side, unless you are going to count the Sovs as friendly, then in my view the P51 is as easy as it gets.  Chopping and changing aeroplanes will not help. Better to choose one and stick with it, practice does make if not perfect then a long way towards it and there are a lot of how to videos out there on you tube to learn from.

 

Earlier on today I came across my Cliffs of Dover log book from 2015 when I was first learning to be a virtual pilot.  I put in 148.5 hours actual stick time on the Hurricane (more than 200 hours overall) before I was judged combat ready and allowed out with the big boys (I was still useless in combat and my teddy was thrown out of the pram nearly every flight for another year or so). Now I have moved across to BoX I am finding that in some respects I am back to square one. 

 

I ground loop it every bloody landing, but the plane I deem best on the allied side is the Tempest.  Flies like a dream, as fast as a thief, and such firepower you won't believe.  It is easy enough to land but a complete bitch to roll out or taxi.  Others have the hang of it, I will too, one day - after putting effort into both the P51 and P38 they weren't for me.

[twilson37]

I would say it depends.  Are you looking for a plane that is easy to fly or easy to fight in. For example I find the A-20 easy to fly but not really a dogfighter. I think the 109 is a great fighter but a little tricky to take off and land.  Overall I would probably recommend a Yak for the Russians, the BF109F4 in BoM for the Germans, and the Tempest for BoN. All are great fighters in their own way and don't require too much effort to get in an fly.  I also checking out the youtube videos on these aircraft.  I also recommend the following youtube channels to further hone your skills.

Air Combat Tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=air+combat+tutorial+library

MAGz:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE3Q5hF6oN676vS-kVCxYDJgr-8VnWrbC

Sheriff's Sim Shack:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEOoU9PxkXEmsFdzrbvx37A

 

Hope this helps

 

 

[69th_Mobile_BBQ]

For the very basics of getting a plane up in the air and getting some flight time, I'd go with the Yak ser.69 (or any of the Yaks).   

They pretty much have "rookie" settings >> Oil and Water Radiators 100%,  RPM 100%,  Throttle 100%  Mixture 100%   >> Set it and forget it.  Unless the map weather is really hot, there should be no issues with overheating or a blown engine.

Then, there are the (slightly more) "expert" settings which are a bit more dialed-back but actually provide (slightly) better performance. 

[Guest deleted@210880]

Yak 1b, because as well as being straightforward/forgiving to fly you can see behind you, which will keep you alive ( a bit ) longer.

 

It's a 'collectors' aircraft I think, but so, so worth it.

 

[humdinger]

Awesome info, thanks everyone.  I'm leaning more towards taking out the Yak as the primary...

[JG13_opcode]

The Spitfire IXe is no slouch and should not be overlooked.

 

It's one of those aircraft, much like the 109, that is good but not the best at pretty much everything.

[Chief_Mouser]

Il-2. Any of them. Really, really stable aircraft. Get going with that then progress to fighters.

[Snap_Roller]

FW-190s, any of them.

[stylo]

I think the best starter plane does depend on the side you want to fly. Both Soviet and Nazi have good continuity between the models of aircraft they use. I think USA less so. 
 

For Soviet I am starting with the Yak-1 series 69. My rationale:

- Flyable in all BOS/BOM career mode 

- Uses complex engine management but not overly complex (two stage supercharger, lean mixture once well into stage 2)

- Uses engine cooling but forgiving 

- Teaches you using RPM to adjust engine load

- Better performing and friendlier than other Soviet early war aircraft (LaGG esp). E.g. it has a tail wheel lock making take off easier. good low altitude dogfighter

- Sets you up to use the more powerful Yak-1b or Yak-9T in multiplayer 
 

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