rcflys wrote:
zinhwk wrote:
And that data is pretty close to spot on again and again and again as proven by Robert. Did you read the discussion?
A LOT of different factors lead the P-51s "throne", but no it was not the undisputed best in all regimes when digging into numbers. The Aces admit as much in interviews. It was very good at what it did: long range escort. That does not give it the license to be made uber in every situation.
Also fun fact. If you are basing performance on bombers, those FMs are hosed and misused and because of whining to Wild Bill, they continue to over perform for their size and weight and the FM team isn't allowed to touch it. Every fighter had trouble keeping up in the last S3.
I understand that and yes I did read the discussion. but in my opinion the p51D flew like a pig on sunday night S3. even in the vertical it kept stalling out on the left side.
I'm going to make assumptions based on your description since I wasn't there.
A: P-51 prop rotates right (as seen from cockpit) therefore P-factor will induce a left yaw. So far, the plane is behaving correctly. It's okay I screwed up that definition too and was used to a previous backwards FM.
B:Given the occurrence and your description of "vertical" I'm going to assume you mean climbing with a high Angle of Attack. Any airplane will slow to the point of stall in that situation. It will be worse if are not going fast enough before climbing. This will also negate air ram effects, hindering top end engine performance. Not to mention Mustang is a big heavy plane by comparison. Straight up is not its strong suit. Gary Olds remembers almost getting caught by a 109 climbing straight up in a P-51. Still the FM sounds like it is behaving as expected.
C:Recorded performance numbers were based on a lighter, clean, frame (see previous link). So in the escort scenario you probably took a lot of fuel. By a lot, the mustang carries a lot of fuel weight fully loaded. Maybe you added drops at the beginning too? Maybe not since it is a smaller terrain than the typical ETO. In either case you will be heavy. You will be slower until you've burned off the extra weight. It will feel "piggish". Same holds true for any other FM. In the case of say a Yak, Lavochkin, 109 where the fuel capacity is small, full fuel won't "feel" quite as heavy.
Opinions are like assholes, everyone has them. Giving your scenario description and lack of anyone else reporting sluggish P-51 performance after the S3. It is mine the P-51 is not the jackass performing piggish.