AB Fighter Plane Reviews

[Haifhearted 22]

If at all possible do you think you could do either the F7F or Beaufighter mk10?

 

Although in general I would just like to see a high tier heavy fighter used properly.

I can't figure out how to fly them in a way that gets me more than 2-3 kills before I end up dead to some fighter, and I've finally managed to worm my way into games with jets, which adds another level of difficulty as I can't figure out what sort of altitude to hold as all of my tier 4s are unspaded.

Edited August 23, 2015 by Haifhearted

[tx141 815]

Nice to see it being used to it's potential, love flying that family of aircraft as super-heavy fighters. They can be so much fun. Enjoyed the history portion of the review, too, thanks!  :salute:

p.s.: Very classy, not using AI gunners.

 

No problem and thank you.  :yes:

[Kazumi_ 6,575]

Have you reviewed the Mc.202? I've given it the nickname of "Teir One Jet" due to the insane speeds it can reach, along with amazing manuverability at medium altitudes. Its easy to fly in AB and in RB too, however the engine seems to heat up quickly after a modest amount of time. Edited August 28, 2015 by Kazumi_

[tx141 815]

If at all possible do you think you could do either the F7F or Beaufighter mk10?

 

Although in general I would just like to see a high tier heavy fighter used properly.

I can't figure out how to fly them in a way that gets me more than 2-3 kills before I end up dead to some fighter, and I've finally managed to worm my way into games with jets, which adds another level of difficulty as I can't figure out what sort of altitude to hold as all of my tier 4s are unspaded.

 

I would definitely be up for doing the F7F one day in the near future, as I was fortunate enough to get the Engine Throttle upgrade from a modification trophy. As for the Beaufighter Mk. X, that is going to be a little further away as I am currently focusing on higher BR aircraft. However, never say never, it may come around sooner than you expect.

 

Heavy fighters are rather challenging, I will see what I can do for you to help out.

 

As for unspaded tier IVs, did you have a chance to take a look at my Stock Syndrome Redux video? If not, I suggest you take a look as whilst jets are not involved, it shows how you can gradually build altitude and hold it for a while by using the actions of your team mates as a shield to mask your approach.

 

Update 28.08.2015:

• A number of you have been asking me about the Ta 152 H-1's new flight model which arrived last month (or so). Well, here we go:

[media='315x420']http://youtu.be/FLif4oK7Rxc[/media]

 

Ta 152 H-1 - Old Dog, New Tricks?

• Next up? The BF 109 K-4 (when the stock grind eventually ends!).

Have a nice three day weekend folks!  :salute:

Have you reviewed the Mc.202? I've given it the nickname of "Teir One Jet" due to the insane speeds it can reach, along with amazing manuverability at medium altitudes. Its easy to fly in AB and in RB too, however the engine seems to heat up quickly after a modest amount of time.

 

Not yet, but I am definitely up for reviewing it in the near future. Thank you for your suggestion and insight.  :yes:

Edited August 28, 2015 by tx141

[tx141 815]

Update 03.09.2015:

• Well, it was a long road, but one that was well worth it...I give you the BF 109 K-4 both with and without pods:

[media='315x420']http://youtu.be/1DT4prQLb3Y[/media]

 

BF 109 K-4 - The Grim Reaper

• Next up? The La-7 (B-20).

All the best folks and apologies for the wait.  :salute:

[Yubided 465]

Nice change-up with the B-25. I'm amazed I don't see more people doing what you did. I see a lot of people trying to go head-to-head with their B-25s but very few BnZ with them, which is so much more effective provided you don't dive too low (as you mentioned). Personally, I like aggressive B-25 pilots pushing for head-to-heads. It's very easily countered with a split-s into a low yo-yo for an easy shot at a wing from the vulnerable underside. Occasionally you get one that dives with you in the split-s but that just delays the inevitable as they are usually flying towards your spawn and below 2.5 km at that stage. I just leave them for the lawnmowers. Once, a B-25 is low, it's nowhere near the threat it can be when it has 5 km+ altitude. My personal preference is to aim for 6 km altitude but I try to keep climbing the entire time I use one. The higher you are in a B-25, the easier it is to pick off climbing fighters in my opinion.

 

About the only thing I don't agree with is your bomb choice. I find I can get away with the 3 x 1000 lbs load and still do what you did in your video. The cost of the bombs dropped when climbing is negligible and the extra hitting power helps when trying to nail small targets from 6 km+ or finishing off an airfield in a close match.

 

B-25 is definitely one of the more interesting / flexible bombers in the game. There is so much more to it than pressing spacebar.

[tx141 815]

Nice change-up with the B-25. I'm amazed I don't see more people doing what you did. I see a lot of people trying to go head-to-head with their B-25s but very few BnZ with them, which is so much more effective provided you don't dive too low (as you mentioned). Personally, I like aggressive B-25 pilots pushing for head-to-heads. It's very easily countered with a split-s into a low yo-yo for an easy shot at a wing from the vulnerable underside. Occasionally you get one that dives with you in the split-s but that just delays the inevitable as they are usually flying towards your spawn and below 2.5 km at that stage. I just leave them for the lawnmowers. Once, a B-25 is low, it's nowhere near the threat it can be when it has 5 km+ altitude. My personal preference is to aim for 6 km altitude but I try to keep climbing the entire time I use one. The higher you are in a B-25, the easier it is to pick off climbing fighters in my opinion.

 

About the only thing I don't agree with is your bomb choice. I find I can get away with the 3 x 1000 lbs load and still do what you did in your video. The cost of the bombs dropped when climbing is negligible and the extra hitting power helps when trying to nail small targets from 6 km+ or finishing off an airfield in a close match.

 

B-25 is definitely one of the more interesting / flexible bombers in the game. There is so much more to it than pressing spacebar.

 

Yubided! Haven't seen you around in a while mate, I trust you are keeping well? :)

 

Thank you. I agree with your point that the higher you go, the more powerful a position you place the B-25J in. It never seems to lose performance with altitude until you get to altitudes exceeding 7500m which is well above the average altitude expected for a BR 3.7 match in my experience.

 

I will have to look into carrying the larger load(s) when flying the B-25J-20, you words have given me a little bit more confidence to do so.  :yes:

 

Update 14.09.2015:

• Time to take a look at one of the rarer BR 5.0 aircraft in the game: the La-7B-20. Is it really just another La-7?

[media='315x420']http://youtu.be/lnQi825j6ec[/media]

 

La-7B-20 - Going Unnoticed

• Next up? The La-9 - hopefully before its BR is dropped to 5.7!
• In the meantime, I have also been working on upgrading the J2M3.

All the best folks, and have a pleasant week.  :salute:

Edited September 14, 2015 by tx141

[Bramborough 376]

I like your approach to the La-7B-20.  Recently I dusted off the German premmie La-5FN, which I had never gotten around to playing much, and what little I did was ages ago.  Being a similar aircraft, I tried this sneaky style you demonstrated in the video, running through the lemming train from behind.  Works pretty well on a Dom map, where the enemy team (and one's own, for that matter) tends to be more concentrated, and (even) fewer players climb or spread out in different directions.

 

Looking forward to your La-9 video.  One of the few non-elited planes remaining in my hangar which I still need to stock-grind.  Almost done with the I-185(M71).  I've promised myself that I'm not buying another aircraft until all my current ones are spaded.  We'll see how long that holds up...I've only set that rule for myself, oh, 10 or 12 times before, lol.

[PzGren 4,043]

The B25 challenging you for head-on is probably the games number 1 most annoying strategy. Due to the need to avoid top turret, you often low yoyo and attack from below.. If he turns for head-on, there is no way you would accept 4726648261894 50cal head-on in an interceptor without copious amounts of 30mm.

It accomplish 2 things. A, because you are below, he dove and gain speed. And B, he essentially suppressed your gun pass, forced overshoot and requiring you to at the very least turn around.

By that point, he would have accelerated away from you and become a very annoying tail chase.. Or the very least, you would have lost the kill to another friendly.

All this, combined with an uncanny ability to absorb ludicrous amount of damage, makes B25 quite frankly the most imba bomber in the game. Slightly ahead of dodododo E variant. Edited September 15, 2015 by PzGren

[Yubided 465]

Yubided! Haven't seen you around in a while mate, I trust you are keeping well? :)

 

Could be worse. Could be better. I don't play as much as I used to so I tend to hop on, grind out a plane and then come back in a week or something. The game isn't as appealing to me as it once was. Such is life.

 

 

The B25 challenging you for head-on is probably the games number 1 most annoying strategy. Due to the need to avoid top turret, you often low yoyo and attack from below.. If he turns for head-on, there is no way you would accept 4726648261894 50cal head-on in an interceptor without copious amounts of 30mm.

It accomplish 2 things. A, because you are below, he dove and gain speed. And B, he essentially suppressed your gun pass, forced overshoot and requiring you to at the very least turn around.

 

Split-S when the B-25 is about 300 m off your nose. Most of the time they try to follow and then pull out of the dive as you come around underneath. If they dive at that point, they expose a wing and die. The smart ones will turn side on with their wing pointing at you. However, in doing so they aren't running head-first into a target so that slows them down a bit. I tend to break off and reset at that point. If they keep diving from the Split-S then I leave them. Usually all of your respawns will dive on them at that point. It's amusing watching how many get into a tail chase and fireballed. Best I've seen was three. The rage in chat was priceless. Some day people will learn that sitting 200 m behind a B-25 is not good for your health...

 

I don't think B-25s are that tanky. I think weapons performance has degraded significantly recently. .303s seem to be the most damaging weapon at the moment. HE rounds are very inconsistent. It's shades of 1.43 all over again.

[tx141 815]

The B25 challenging you for head-on is probably the games number 1 most annoying strategy. Due to the need to avoid top turret, you often low yoyo and attack from below.. If he turns for head-on, there is no way you would accept 4726648261894 50cal head-on in an interceptor without copious amounts of 30mm.

It accomplish 2 things. A, because you are below, he dove and gain speed. And B, he essentially suppressed your gun pass, forced overshoot and requiring you to at the very least turn around.

By that point, he would have accelerated away from you and become a very annoying tail chase.. Or the very least, you would have lost the kill to another friendly.

All this, combined with an uncanny ability to absorb ludicrous amount of damage, makes B25 quite frankly the most imba bomber in the game. Slightly ahead of dodododo E variant.

 

Well said.

 

Although there is always the SB 2M-103...with its rather incredible maneuverability and brutal front gunners.  :)s

 

Could be worse. Could be better. I don't play as much as I used to so I tend to hop on, grind out a plane and then come back in a week or something. The game isn't as appealing to me as it once was. Such is life.

 

Ah, fair enough. Well I hope all is well nonetheless.

 

Update 26.09.2015:

• No review this week, but I did get the chance to re-review the Ki-61-I Hei Hien. I thought I would do things differently via an Uncensored, live video:

[media='315x420']http://youtu.be/eTUgNycuBLg[/media]

 

Ki-61-I Hei Hein Re-Review

• Next up? Still yet to decide, especially now that I have at least seven planes ready for review...

Have a nice weekend folks!  :salute:

[tx141 815]

Update 30.09.2015:

• Jack's back and ready to let 'er rip in this review of the J2M3!

[media='315x420']http://youtu.be/rjWrq_AbZWs[/media]

 

J2M3 Model 21 - Jack the Ripper

• Next up? Most likely the Yak-9P.

All the best folks!  :salute:

[solrac103 6]

First of all congratulations for teaching us how to fly airplanes. I'm a big fan of yours.

I have a question I do not know if already answered. Do you know what is the best ammunition for each plane and which is the best shooting distance.

Thank you.

[Bramborough 376]

First of all congratulations for teaching us how to fly airplanes. I'm a big fan of yours.

I have a question I do not know if already answered. Do you know what is the best ammunition for each plane and which is the best shooting distance.

Thank you.

 

I find it difficult to imagine that Paul could provide any more complete or clear answers than he already has.  In each video he spells out in detail his ammo belt selection, convergence setting, the rationale behind those choices, and how he employs the aircraft with those settings in mind.

 

The only caveat would be that various ammo types sometimes see increases or decreases in effectiveness with a given patch.  So a few of the older videos might contain some out-of-date recommendations.  Even so, most of the older information I still find spot-on.

[Haifhearted 22]

First of all congratulations for teaching us how to fly airplanes. I'm a big fan of yours.

I have a question I do not know if already answered. Do you know what is the best ammunition for each plane and which is the best shooting distance.

Thank you.

 

Generally for ammunition you are looking to use some form of high explosive rounds on 20mm+ guns, and some form of armor piercing and incendiary on your 7-12mm guns (with armor piercing incendiary being optimal).

 

Convergence depends on your plane, as well as whether you are flying arcade or realistic.

Arcade usually sets convergence out a bit further than realistic, due to lead indicator letting you more easily take longer distance shots.

I personally like 400m for arcade, since I usually only open fire on people at closer ranges in a dive, and the shotgun spread lets me splash people in longer range head-to-heads.

Edited October 2, 2015 by Haifhearted

[tx141 815]

Guess I better come back...  ;)s

 

Three reviews here folks, it has been a while:

 

Gladiator Mk. II - The Power of Obsolescence

 

[media='315x420']https://youtu.be/Ke8LCIC0lPU[/media]

 

Tempest Mk. II - The Roar of the Centaur

 

[media='315x420']https://youtu.be/Oo52A5ue_Vs[/media]

 

And our first review in 1080p 60 frames per second: F8F-1B Bearcat - The Cool Cat

 

[media='315x420']https://youtu.be/vOpZBPrwrbo[/media]

 

Aside: I shall be looking into reviving this thread gradually and fixing up the review table on the first page.

 

Stay tuned folks, La-9 is next.  :salute:

Edited February 27, 2016 by tx141

[Kazumi_ 6,575]

Guess I better come back...  ;)s

 

Three reviews here folks, it has been a while:

 

Gladiator Mk. II - The Power of Obsolescence

 

[media='315x420']https://youtu.be/Ke8LCIC0lPU[/media]

 

Tempest Mk. II - The Roar of the Centaur

 

[media='315x420']https://youtu.be/Oo52A5ue_Vs[/media]

 

And our first review in 1080p 60 frames per second: F8F-1B Bearcat - The Cool Cat

 

[media='315x420']https://youtu.be/vOpZBPrwrbo[/media]

 

Aside: I shall be looking into reviving this thread gradually and fixing up the review table on the first page.

 

Stay tuned folks, La-9 is next.  :salute:

Sweet. I got the Me 262 A1/U4 a few days ago, kinda missed you! :c

 

Welcome back! o7

[TheJoker1432 1,974]

Well seems like you have some more work with the next update since quite a few planes are coming ^^

[Maj_Fox@psn 521]

Nice to see you back.

 

Ever thought of doing something on tanks?

 

Cheers Fox.

[Kazumi_ 6,575]

Nice to see you back.

 

Ever thought of doing something on tanks?

 

Cheers Fox.

I think he had a few vids on tanks, if I recall correctly.

 

Me 262 A1/U4 without compressor upgrade feels like a prop tbh. Only it has a friggin huge gun. Love it.

[tx141 815]

And as soon as I say I am back, personal circumstances take me away for two more weeks! Anyhoo...

 

Sweet. I got the Me 262 A1/U4 a few days ago, kinda missed you! :c

 

Welcome back! o7

 

Thank you, it is good to be back. :)

 

Well seems like you have some more work with the next update since quite a few planes are coming ^^

 

Yup, it has been almost a month since the release of 1.57, meaning I can start working on the new planes. :)

 

Nice to see you back.

 

Ever thought of doing something on tanks?

 

Cheers Fox.

 

Thank you.

 

Aye, please see below for my latest Ground Forces (RB) video:

 

Leopard I - Safe beside the seaside

 

[media='315x420']https://youtu.be/LKyzSCHpxSU[/media]

 

Oh and here's a new review...focusing this time on the, in my opinion, under-appreciated La-9:

 

La-9 - Ferocious Fritz

 

[media='315x420']https://youtu.be/iACOIBkMXDA[/media]

 

Next up? Not sure yet...potentially a Spitfire...stay tuned all!  :salute:

[tx141 815]

Looking towards the lower tiers now, here is my review of the Spitfire Mk. IIa - the Spitfire variant that seems to be forgotten about in Arcade!

 

Spitfire Mk. IIa - A Pleasure to Fly

 

[media='315x420']https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR3JGFkiSc8[/media]

 

As for what's next...that is going to be a surprise as I have something special in mind...  :salute:

[tx141 815]

That special aircraft I had in mind was the Dewoitine D.521! Enjoy folks!

 

D.521 - Collector's Item

 

[media='420x315']https://youtu.be/Nl4rUe4WbP0[/media]

 

Next time round...the P-61C Black Widow.  :salute:

[tx141 815]

And here we go, a few days later than expected (and I apologise, but reviewing this plane was just too much fun!): the P-61C-1 Black Widow!

 

P-61C-1 Black Widow - Along came a spider

 

[media='420x315']https://youtu.be/nOr7cwqZYI4[/media]

 

Next up? The Ki-44-II Hei.  :)s

[Hammmster 168]

Glad you are back.
This thread was (and still is) my flight school since I started my pilot career. Thank you.