What are your thoughts? - G.55 Centauro serie 1

[tx141 815]

Hi All,

 

This week I thought I would review the G.55 Centauro serie 1 (Tier III; Battle Rating 4.7 Italian Fighter). Below you will find both my video review (including the history behind the production variants of the Fiat G.55 including the "serie 1") and a summary of my review in bullet-point form:

 

G.55 Centauro serie 1 - Finding Solace

Summary:

 

• Balanced firepower – With three 20mm cannon as distributed across the nose and the wings, the serie 1 can reliably bring at least one cannon to bear on target in any scenario and with any convergence setting. This is only furthered by the similar muzzle velocities of the plane’s machine gun and cannon armament (i.e. 765m/s and 785m/s respectively).
• All-round energy retention – Whilst the serie 1 retains its energy best in the vertical making it ideal for Boom and Zoom tactics, one should not forget the plane’s above average straight-line and horizontal energy retention; enabling the plane to also use either hit and run or turn-fighting tactics where appropriate.
• Strong climb-rate – Second only to the Bf 109 G-2/trop, the G.55 serie 1’s well-sustained climb-rate will enable the aircraft to get to altitude before most during the open stages of a given match. This provides the aircraft with a strong capability for bomber interception, and also allows its pilot to take the initiative in most one-on-one engagements.
• Limited dive acceleration – With the serie 1’s dive acceleration dropping off considerably beyond 600km/h, this makes it very difficult to reach speeds in excess of 850km/h in a dive. This means that dives cannot be relied upon as a means of escaping pursuers, or as a means of closing the distance to most enemy fighters who are alert of your presence.
• Rudder instability – Below 300km/h the rudder of the serie 1 will become very unstable, exposing the aircraft to potentially flat-spinning or prop-hanging during a turn-fight engagement. As a result, this pressures the serie 1 pilot to have to keep their speed above 300km/h when turn-fighting.

 

Final Thought:

 

The G.55 Centauro serie 1 feels a more complete package compared to the preceding sottoserie 0. Whilst its predecessor was by no means a push-over thanks to its phenomenal engine performance and overall versatility, the serie 1 builds on this through the up-rating of its firepower such that regardless of what type of engagement you are conducting, you can always bring at least one 20mm cannon onto target alongside the 12.7mm machine guns. Barring the plane’s unstable rudder below 300km/h, this is a highly comfortable plane and one which most, if not all, will end up finding solace in.

 

And now over to you: what are your thoughts on this Fighter?

 

Next time:

 

M.B.152C1 or FW 190 C (i.e. the two aircraft that could be obtained from the 2018 Festive Quest)

 

Be sure to let me know which one you want me to review using the above poll. Poll closes 1200 GMT 20/01/2019.

 

As always, take care and good luck in the skies.

 

Paul "tx141" Walsh 

Edited January 20, 2019 by tx141

[AlexByrth 6]

To me, this is the most pleasant plane in War Thunder.

In RB, this is the most expensive plane to repair in tier 3, IIRC!

In AB, it is pure fun!

[sidchicken 721]

This one was a blast to spade/fly.  Just started working on spading its big brother the G.56.  Not much else to say here, really.  Awesome plane is awesome.

[clar1ty 77]

I hope the unstable rudder isn't as shocking as he C202 in AB?  That put me off going any further up the Italian Tree.

Edited January 15, 2019 by clar1ty

[tx141 815]

On 14/01/2019 at 00:53, AlexByrth said:

To me, this is the most pleasant plane in War Thunder.

In RB, this is the most expensive plane to repair in tier 3, IIRC!

In AB, it is pure fun!

 

I can agree with you there. This plane just feels so nice to fly. Even when I was in the process of spading it I could not complain; it just felt right.

 

On 15/01/2019 at 00:19, sidchicken said:

This one was a blast to spade/fly.  Just started working on spading its big brother the G.56.  Not much else to say here, really.  Awesome plane is awesome.

 

I look forward to reviewing the G.56 - if I remember correctly it has a DB603 engine?

 

On 15/01/2019 at 21:29, clar1ty said:

I hope the unstable rudder isn't as shocking as he C202 in AB?  That put me off going any further up the Italian Tree.

 

The unstable rudder is considerably worse on the C.202EC compared to this aircraft. You do not have to worry as much with the G.55 serie 1 so long as you keep your speed above 300km/h.