[csteimel47591]

Does anyone know how to leave the rear tank empty on the P-51?
When I fly with a P-51 it uses the rear tank as the primary.... Even on 25% fuel, all other tanks are empty and it puts about 65gal in the rear... It seems to make the P-51 unstable, I have trouble flying it in a dog-fight without going in to a temporary spin every now and then.... I dunno how realistic IL-2 is with the rear tank but I hate the P-51 in the game... Either the rear tank is affecting the performance or I don't know how to fly it.... However, I can fly the 109 and spitfire without a problem, thats why I assume it's the rear tank...
How dumb... why would they make the rear tank the primary?

Anyway, any sugestions will help.
Thanks,

CS

[ACE-OF-ACES]

Sadly IL2 does NOT simulte the locations of the fuel tanks with it comes to weight. Fuel weight is evenly distributes the weight of the fuel over the entire plane, which is just one of the reasons we don't see what the RL pilots saw when flying the P51 with a full rear tank.

It does simulate the locatin wrt taking hits that cause a fuel leak, but at that point the fuel weight is evenly subtracted from the total weight of the aicraft

[KG64_Cnopicilin]

P-51 likes to stall in a dogfight. You just need to get used to flying it. Bf-109 is quite good in the dogfights (not against spits) because of the low stall speed with a bit of flaps.

[Cuccos19]

Hm, stalling in a dogfight is very-very anoying. I can turn with the Lightning below 200km/h, steadily! Of course, usually with flaps down. I always prefer the Lightning all over any other US fighters. I cannot outmaneuver the K-43 or the A6M, but I can the 109s and 190s.

The Fighting Woodpeckers also changed their P-51Ds to Lightnings. Guess why?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1kSL2qoxpU

Only the Curtiss Hawks (P-40, P-36), Wildcat F4F and maybe the Corsair F4U are pleasant aircraft to fly, but the really famed ones (Mustang, Thunderbolt, Hellcat) simply don't work for me.

Actually I love the F4F-3 Wildcat. I love its steady pleasant flying characteristics, although it can be quite good in turnfight. It also has very much ammo per guns, too. Once I fought against about 18 A6M2-21s over Midway. My wingman was shoot down, and finally I was alone. Circling over Midway I lured the Zeros in front of my friendly AAA, and they took them out nicely. I also shot down several Zeros, althought my plane was badly damaged. The cockpit had more holes than an Emmental cheese, my gunsight was ruined, and I was around 200meters continuously. So I couldn't got away in dive. I had to wait the Zeros got close, and finally I slowed down my bird, he overflow me, and I gave him a shot. Sometimes missed, sometimes hit. Like russian roulet. Finally I landed at Midway, and I broke my birds legs, unfortunatelly. That was a hell of a tiring fight! I would be dead in a P-51 within 2minutes, as I know my fighting style.

[ColaBen]

Hi'
The rear fuel tank was, as far as possible left empty, only to be used on very long range missions.
Procedure was to use its fuel during climb-out from the English bases. Because center of gravity made it very hard to control during a IMC climb (hard to fly on instruments).
Happy Landings
ColaBen

[352ndOscar]

The P-51 is an excellent aircraft - "when used properly".

Taking a P-51 into a turn fight is like taking your sister to Las Vegas to get married; its just not good form and that kind of thing is usually frowned upon.

[Cuccos19]

Somehow I couldn't resist to got into a turnfight. I'm maybe to quick temperd, I have no patience for boom 'n zoom tactics.

The annoying is that many (laic) people thinks that the Mustang was a superior dogfighter. It simply wasn't. Quite same fighter like Thunderbolts, as for air combat tactics - hit and run. The Soviet Yaks, they were maneuverables. Maybe most of the people aren't really clear with terminology, they mixing dogfight with air combat, etc.

[Guest]

Sadly IL2 does NOT simulte the locations of the fuel tanks with it comes to weight.

My IL2 does ..at least for Ta152H and Josse's F51.

[ACE-OF-ACES]

Sadly IL2 does NOT simulte the locations of the fuel tanks with it comes to weight.

My IL2 does ..at least for Ta152H and Josse's F51.

Than you got a version of IL-2 that none of the mod makers I have spoken to have

[Guest]

I did some stuff that I wanted to have in game...like multiple fuel tanks for some planes,some drivable vehicles,flak gun that you can use etc...

[Cuccos19]

Is that secret project, or you can tell us more... hock:

[Axial]

P-51 likes to stall in a dogfight. You just need to get used to flying it. Bf-109 is quite good in the dogfights (not against spits) because of the low stall speed with a bit of flaps.

Say what now? :wink:

P-51 requires gentle control motions and you have to be going at least 200mph to avoid the potential for a snaproll. Use it like a B&Z plane and it will treat you well. Try a turnfight with it and it'll complain.

[Cuccos19]

P-51 likes to stall in a dogfight. You just need to get used to flying it. Bf-109 is quite good in the dogfights (not against spits) because of the low stall speed with a bit of flaps.

Say what now? :wink:

P-51 requires gentle control motions and you have to be going at least 200mph to avoid the potential for a snaproll. Use it like a B&Z plane and it will treat you well. Try a turnfight with it and it'll complain.

That's main problem, that the Mustang restricts to do what you would please to. I would think from a single engined fighter plane - which is actually looks very modern, streamlined, etc... at its time - that it can do everything. It's not like a fat cow as the Jug (sorry...). Although, the Jug is surprisingly good in roll rate at high speed. So Mustang's shape and outlook wickedly suggest to do dogfight with it, if you don't know it well. And you will be in deep shite surrounded by Messers or Franks. The same is the problem with the Fw190. One of the best roll rate, but slugish in turn and climbs idly.

I love the Lightning almost over everything else (except some small number made planes, like Do335, Kyushu J7W1, but they are too few, too late). Lightning also perfect for B-Z tactics, but also can turn beautifully without stalling. Also very easy to get back controls if I loose it for a sec. Very easy to accelerate, surprisingly short time required get +100km/h speed plus. The only problem is the compressibility. Simply have to get use to it. And it also have more rounds per gun, than any of the Mustangs (+1x 20mm cannon for backup...). And, centerline guns, no coverage settings required, almost... Ups!

[ACE-OF-ACES]

I did some stuff that I wanted to have in game...like multiple fuel tanks for some planes,some drivable vehicles,flak gun that you can use etc...

You should contact Monguse! Ill bet the mod makers he knows would be interested in that! Me, I don't make mods (the black box) I simply test them (what comes out of the black box)

[Nightshade]

Well, I fly this beauty 90% of the time.

If you're patience enough, using BnZ, you'll get 5-6 kills per sortie without a scratch on arcade DF server.

...That said enough about this baby. 8)