Q: about your favorite US fighter in the game

[wingman777]

I keep reading where the Hellcat was supposed to be a pilots dream with great performance but the one I fly in the game is VERY tough. It'll stall easy, won't pull out of dive, doesn't turn well...I get burned in it constantly. The F4U seems to work best for me but it's not really a great dogfighter, same for the P-38. The Wildcat is fun to fly but lacks the performance of the Corsair and P-38. Hopefully some of you seasoned veterans can tell me how to get the most from my US choices. I have yet to import any new planes to the game because its not connected to the net. I seem to be unstoppable when flying the N1K2J George, what a joy ride! Thanks in advance for your assistance. :cost1:

[Rami]

I like flying the Lockheed P-38j Lightning, Republic P-47d Thunderbolt, and the North American P-51 b/c/d Mustang.

I'd have to say the Lightning is my favorite, though I know how to milk the best out of my Jug. (Yes, the pun was intended! :costumes:)

[OBIO]

The stock planes are real dogs....the flight dynamics are horrible. Once you get around to installing B-24 Guy's overhaul files for those planes...you will find that the Corsair is a dog fighter, that the Hellcat is amazing and that the P-38 is a joy to fly.

My favorite US fighter, among those that came with the game is the Hellcat. Out of all the hundreds and hundreds of planes in my install now (close to the 800 plane mark...takes forever for the sim to start up) is the FDG2 P-51B/C.

OBIO

[Blue Devil]

I keep reading where the Hellcat was supposed to be a pilots dream with great performance but the one I fly in the game is VERY tough. It'll stall easy, won't pull out of dive, doesn't turn well...I get burned in it constantly. The F4U seems to work best for me but it's not really a great dogfighter, same for the P-38. The Wildcat is fun to fly but lacks the performance of the Corsair and P-38. Hopefully some of you seasoned veterans can tell me how to get the most from my US choices. I have yet to import any new planes to the game because its not connected to the net. I seem to be unstoppable when flying the N1K2J George, what a joy ride! Thanks in advance for your assistance. :cost1:

1. D/L and install ALL of the AvHistory 1% A/C and RealityX from Netwings (http://www.netwings.org/library/Avhistory_CFS2_Aircraft/).
2. D/L and drop in The B24 Guy's (http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=downloads&FileUploadName=The%20B24%20Guy) OH upgraded models for most A/C.
3. Check back here for further up-grades.

[Allen]

1% P-39 is good fun to fly if you know how to fly it.
←

[Jagdflieger]

I'd definitely save the above planes, particularly the B-24 Guy's updated MS Planes to a CD and take it home to load on your non-internet gaming computer.

Keep in mind though, that the MS stock planes are generally dogs so that they will perform well as AI aircraft too. If you get into mission building or flying other people's missions and campaigns, you may want to leave your stock MS planes in their original folders and then use your upgraded planes for yourself from a slightly renamed folder. The upgraded flight models often confuse the AI portion of the sim and they will not fly very aggressivly and they have trouble landing.

I.e:

A6M2_Zero (for the stock MS Plane)
AYM2_Zero-UD (for your own updated plane)

This will work up to point as CFS 2 usually can only handle 90 to 100 airplanes in the aircraft folder at a time for mission building.

[bearcat241]

You're right about the N1K2J George man...its the cat's meow of all the stockers. In online multiplay it rules, except for its extremely limited ammo capacity. Its not the plane for those who can only spray and pray WRT marksmanship. But if your aiming is good, you can give the jocks in stock kitties and hogs a fit!

But my favorite stock MODEL is that of the Hellcat, then the Corsair...all of my stockers are heavily modded with the best FDE's i can muster w/o making them too unrealistic :kilroy:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

I agree with Obio's assessment and prefer the AvHistory 1% birds with RealityX. But in answering your question, the F6F Hellcat gets my vote. It's tough, maneuverable, good firepower and versatile... I even use it for dive bombing

[Willy]

Retired from the Navy here, but I have to admit that I like the P-38 Lightning.

[DauntlessDriver546]

Of all the stock planes... Hellcat...

Favorite overall?? Ummmm... I'd have to say... Schmittfire... excellent realism... I can feel her out really nicely, and boy can it turn like a demon!

[Hern07]

Of the stock planes I like the wildcat in an early '42 skin (ie. B-24 Guy's.) Flys well and is maneuverable. As for the real plane, up until Nov., 1942, it outscored the Zero in plane to plane combat. Admmitedly there were many other factors involved. That's why it is so hard to say what was the best fighter. For instance, in carrier combat, the A5m Claude was better than the Mustang and at low altitudes a P-40 could have bested the early Spitfires. :kilroy:

[Wulf190]

Out of the Stock aircraft? Corsair, bar none. It was the first aircraft I flew when I started up CFS2 for the first time. DBolt really did a first rate job fixing the stocker up!

[DauntlessDriver546]

That's funny Wolf, same story here! Although I don't fly the stocker anymore... I fly the D-Ware ones only...

[Eoraptor1]

A better question would be: Which one isn't my favorite? I rarely use stock airfiles anymore, but we have such a wealth of riches in the add-on department, I could go on and on. I've even learned to love the Brewster Buffalo in its Finnish variant. I'm very impressed with the entire Donationware FDG2 Corsair Pack, but the plane I've been flying most this month is the BSK Spitfire V. This is a really remarkable model provided by Bruno for free.

JAMES

[Maxstuka]

In USA I like P-47 ,P-43 or P-36
In german like Fw190A or Stuka to bomber
In russian with the La-7

:jump:

[Togo]

!. Donationware F4F
2. Donationware F4U with 20mm cannon
3. Stock N1K2J George

[Devildog73]

Since you have restricted me to US planes, any of the modded F4UC or D models.

My all time favorite plane to fly is a Spitfire VIII or (and I know I am crazy) KM's P-40E. I have gotten used to the flight dynamics of the P-40 and can dogfight Japanese and/or Germans fairly well in it. Like the George, though, ammo is limited and you best get in close for a deflection shot on short bursts. Also, if you know how to use the throttle and flaps on it, and know how to roll it, you can really eat up some superior fighters with poor pilots online.

It is underpowered and would have really benefitted from WEP or a Griffon spitfire engine.

After the Spits, I would take a P-51B/C with Malcom Hood canopy.

With all of them, I have gone online and looked up their actual performance and ammo loadouts and modded the DP and AIR files to reflect them accurately. As previously stated though, 1% did this for several aircraft already.

[wingman777]

OBIO wrote: Once you get around to installing B-24 Guy's overhaul files for those planes... My game is completely stock, so where do I go to get the great enhancements you spoke of? The B-24 guy sounds legendary already. I really appreciate the insight you guys are giving me and look forward to sharpening my dogfighting skills through this group. I hope you all have a great Christmas celebration. :icon31: :birthday2

[hewman100]

B-24 Guys stuff is here at the Outhouse wingman:

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=downloads&FileUploadName=The%20B24%20Guy

While you're at it, you should get DBolts Corsairs here:

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=downloads&FileUploadName=DBolt

[Hern07]

SOH is the best source, (cfs2 download ssction) but browse through Netwings and Simviation. Go to your favorite search engine (I like Yahoo for these searches) type in CFS2 Aircraft and you will be surprised at how many hits you get. :kilroy:

[olaf1924]

Donationware p-36 a great looking plane for 5.00 dollars. :wavey:

[Pen32Win]

The Forked Tailed Devil....

That is as long as you get a good airfile and A/C.cfg under it. The stock one is BAD!!! Bad for the plane, bad for the ground, bad for your health......:costumes: I use it for AI's as the FPS is better for high numbers in a mission.

What I fly is DCC's MDL's with an air file I created which is right between the Stock one and DC's which is a real hotrod. My wingmen can even make a turn with me and not end up 12,000M's away trying to get back into formation.

[Cowboy1968]

My personal favorite is a well done corsair the F4U-4B donationware machine.

[Eoraptor1]

The Forked Tailed Devil....

That is as long as you get a good airfile and A/C.cfg under it. The stock one is BAD!!! Bad for the plane, bad for the ground, bad for your health......:costumes: I use it for AI's as the FPS is better for high numbers in a mission.

What I fly is DCC's MDL's with an air file I created which is right between the Stock one and DC's which is a real hotrod. My wingmen can even make a turn with me and not end up 12,000M's away trying to get back into formation.

Which mark P-38 did you make the airfile for, PenWin, and is there any chance of your uploading it? I have a cobbled together -L that I use, and it works very well for a Player's a/c, but is iffy as AI. I can get my wingmen to turn with me and keep formation, but I can't get them to attack targets.

JAMES

[Pen32Win]

Which mark P-38 did you make the airfile for, PenWin, and is there any chance of your uploading it? I have a cobbled together -L that I use, and it works very well for a Player's a/c, but is iffy as AI. I can get my wingmen to turn with me and keep formation, but I can't get them to attack targets.

JAMES

G-13, H-5 and J-25(still a bit too hot, on the back burner right now as my focus is on Early to Mid 1943). These will attack anything all of the time except turning ships, which they'll do if the target is big enough.

I was going to make them part of the Campaign Package we're working on but I guess I could put them up before then since it's going to be awhile.
I'm doing some airfield work right noe so give me a bit to get a proper package together. I'll throw in the stuff for both the stock and DCC MDL's. BTW, don't expect 1% style Flight models. These were produced to be reasonably realistic and have the AI's be able to complete mission requirements with them.

OH what the heck, it's Christmas....delete the .txt and enjoy....

[Talon]

I usually just fly P-40's and Wildcats but Pen sent me this P-38 and I love it.It even gets back into formation when told to.


Talon

[dvslats]

These will attack anything all of the time except turning ships, which they'll do if the target is big enough.
Thanks for posting these Pen32. They attack just as advertised. Here lately in this ol' sim I can really appreciate a good air file. Ai's and all...tough combination to get right.

[Pen32Win]

Thanks DV;

The hardest part of airfiles the AI's "Like" comes down to speed and weight/MOI's. Heavy Fighters are the worst because of their weight and high speeds. It's actually easier to make a B-25 work properly becuse it isn't as fast as the P-38.

I've used TR's trick of using two different MOI sets one in the Aircraft.cfg and one in the Airfile. Sometimes this work very well and with other airfiles it does nothing. Then you're stuck with the A/C.cfg set.

It took me quite a bit of trial and mostly error to get these to play nice. They're not perfect and someone with more airfile knowledge than I could probably make them better. But for right now they're the best combined AI and player P-38 stuff I've got.

[Eoraptor1]

Thanks DV;

The hardest part of airfiles the AI's "Like" comes down to speed and weight/MOI's. Heavy Fighters are the worst because of their weight and high speeds. It's actually easier to make a B-25 work properly becuse it isn't as fast as the P-38.

I've used TR's trick of using two different MOI sets one in the Aircraft.cfg and one in the Airfile. Sometimes this work very well and with other airfiles it does nothing. Then you're stuck with the A/C.cfg set.

It took me quite a bit of trial and mostly error to get these to play nice. They're not perfect and someone with more airfile knowledge than I could probably make them better. But for right now they're the best combined AI and player P-38 stuff I've got.

Thanks for the upload, Pen. I haven't tried the airfiles out yet, but I do have them converted from .txt files. I did exactly the same thing you've outlined above for my -L airfile. It formates perfectly, but it won't attack anything for love or money. Frustrating. I expect after Christmas I'll be able to get back to tweaking it.

JAMES

[bobhegf]

The plane I like at the present time is the F4F.I fly a mod 1% F4F in the Guadalcanal Missions I am still working on for you fellows.I have done some MOI work to the stock F4F and Zero.I worked on the AI untill I got them to spin and recover , roll and loop. They do a great split S and are hard to hit. I am having 2 big problems ,one is the friendly fighters always go after the enemy fighters even if I have them attacking the bombers only and the second problem is getting the friendly and enemy AI aircraft to disingage at a given waypoint.Any ideas?http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/images/icons/icon10.gif

[egypt23spitfire]

..............P38.............. tweaked:ernae:
................luvs dem guns in da nose:applause:

...........(the idea of flying a single engine plane over vast stretches of shark infested blue water leaves me feeling somewhat nervous:icon_lol:)

[bearcat241]

... I am having 2 big problems ,one is the friendly fighters always go after the enemy fighters even if I have them attacking the bombers only and the second problem is getting the friendly and enemy AI aircraft to disingage at a given waypoint.Any ideas?http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/images/icons/icon10.gif


Priority-based programming...that's your nemesis. If you can rewrite this code more power to ya. The friendly AI fighters are priority-programmed for self-defense first, interception second - and any enemy fighters nearby represent immediate, high priority threats, especially if they have been tasked in MB as escorts or sweepers for the bombers you're after. The enemy AI installed as escorts, sweeps, patrols etc., are programmed to actively engage any adversaries within a prescribed moving radius and altitude of their aircraft.

As for disengaging, speaking strictly of fighters, generally most friendly flight AI will follow programming and disengage on command regardless of their business at hand when you call, if you call forcefully and repeatedly enough - i personally have never had a problem with this in my commands. But the problem is the enemies in the immediate area who don't give a $%^# about your commands and will continue to press the fight on you and your boys as long as you're in their proximity. You call 'rejoin' to your #2 who's hot on a bogie, he turns in your direction and the bogie turns on him. The last thing you want on your record are casualties resulting from getting shot in the ass while obediently rejoining your wing. :kilroy:

A conundrum, as they say....:mixedsmi:

Now, i haven't tried this myself, but you might try setting up enemy AI in the combat arena to the lowest aggressiveness in MB. This may have an effect on how they respond to your retreat after first being engaged. Logic says that if they're not very motivated in the first place they may be content to watch you and the boys fly away when you decide to break contact. But these types of priority programming are tough nuts to crack with simple dp and mission hand edits and whatever. By having the code you could rewrite the aggression parameters and ROE on both sides of an engagement.

[Hern07]

While looking for something else I ran across Buddah 13's great conversion of a Fs9 F4F-3 Wildcat at "http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?page=downloads&FileType=cfs2-aircraft&Category". It's about 1/3 way down the page and look for "FS9 to CfS2 conversion F4F-3 Wildcat." This is now my favorite F4F. I know of only one other skin and it could use some more. If you are a Wildcat fan you gotta check it out. You need to apply some right brake to take off. :applause: