AHWiki - User contributions [en]

F2A Buffalo

2008-11-18T17:03:33Z

Yossarian: fixed a minor typo

== Brewster Buffalo ==

Note: Buffalo has not been modeled to AH yet.

The Brewster F2A (company Model 139) was an American fighter aircraft which saw limited service during World War II.
In 1939, the F2A became the first monoplane fighter aircraft used by the US Navy. In December 1941, it suffered severe losses with both British Commonwealth and Dutch air forces in South East Asia while facing the Japanese Navy A6M Zero and the Japanese Army's Oscar. It also saw action with US Marine Corps squadrons at the Battle of Midway. Frustrated with the Buffalo's poor maneuverability and speed compared to the Japanese Zero, the F2A was derided by U.S. Marine Corps pilots as a "flying coffin".

C-47A

2008-08-18T02:19:19Z

Yossarian: clarified the 'high speed'

Il-2 Type 3

2008-08-01T12:11:00Z

Yossarian: Fixed several typos

{{AHII Aircraft pagesections}}
{{Infobox Aircraft
|name =[[Template:Infobox Aircraft/doc|Editing this template]]
|image =
|type =
|variantof =
|country =
|manufacturer =
|crew =
|wingspan =
|length =
|height =
|internalfuel =
}}
__TOC__
==The {{PAGENAME}} in World War II==

===Development===

===Unit Deployment===

===External Links===

<div style="clear:right;background-color:#F3F3E0;padding:1em;border:1px solid #999">
{{Infobox AH Aircraft
|name =[[Template:Infobox AH Aircraft/doc|Ilyushin Il-2 Type 3]]
|image =
|type =Bomber/Attacker
|variantof =
|crew =Two
|loadout1-1 =2x 7.62mm MG, 750 rounds/gun
|loadout1-2 =2x 23mm cannons, 150 rounds/gun
|loadout1-3 =1x 12.7mm MG in rear cockpit, 200 rounds
|loadout2-1 =
|loadout2-2 =
|options1 =4x RS-82 rockets, or 4x RS-132 rockets
|options2 =2x 250kg bombs, or 4 or 6x 100kg bombs
|options3 =
|options4 =
|options5 =
|options6 =
|options7 =
|earliestMA =MW
|perkcost =0
|LWENY =25
|carrier =no
}}
==The {{PAGENAME}} in Aces High II==
The Il-2 was for the longest time a very uncommon aircraft, downright rare to be honest, but seems to be making a bit of a comeback. Often though you will see them be spawned pointlessly on a runway when all the fighter hangers are down (bomber hangers spawn Il-2s). Regardless, the main historical strengths of the Il-2, armour and firepower, are fairly well modelled when dealing with tanks and other vehicles though the Il-2 also shows the historical vulnerability to true fighter aircraft. Used as a local defense aircraft though the Il-2 can be quite effective though using it offensively tends to be almost suicidal and many aircraft make better attackers.

===Engine Power===
The Il-2 isn't going to impress you with speed, it is truly slow at only 245mph at sea-level (no WEP option). Increases in altitude come slowly and offer little improved performance. The best you can achieve is about 260mph at 8K and performance drops off rapidly above that altitude. Climb rates are painfully slow, at only 1,400ft/min so don't plan any time climbing except what you may need in order to make a good bombing run from decent altitude. A serious problem for the Il-2 can actually be that some higher altitude fields in AH already place the Il-2 outside of the low altitude performance envelope it requires. Fuel duration is also a problem, only 32 minutes and considering the low cruise speeds involved that doesn't get you very far. Best to keep your fights close to your own field.

===Aces High II Performance Charts===
[[Image:il23spd.jpg|300px|Il-2 Type 3 speed chart]]
[[image:il23clmb.jpg|300px|Il-2 Type 3 climb chart]]

===Firepower===
Standard are two 7.6mm guns (750rounds/gun)and a pair of massive 23mm VYa cannons with 150 rounds/gun. To the rear is a single mounted 12.7mm machine gun with 200 rounds, which could cause attackers some concern but being only a single mount doesn't tend to add much to your rear defense. The 23mm cannons can be very destructive against vehicles, or structures, but it seems that you need to get fairly close in order to punch through a heavily armoured target. Being wing mounted, convergence can be a problem and it seems people set the convergence out to the maximum of D650 to get some longer range shooting potential. That results in the best range for the cannons being a little further out than would be typical in most fighters. The 7.6mm guns are essentially useless except as a last ditch weapon. Complementing the guns are options for both rockets and bombs, with the bombs being in wing-pod mounted internal bays. This is an unusual layout and requires you to remember to open the bays before using the bombs, but imparts an advantage in less drag when the bays are closed. The rockets are quite effective against armour, and the 250kg bombs are a good size, making for a decent loadout.

===Maneuverability===
13,580lbs, 47'11" wingspan, 38'2" long.... doesn't sound like something that should be very maneuverable but actually the Il-2 isn't all that bad. You won't beat a turn-fighter but you may be able to avoid a little bit of trouble if it comes your way. I've found the maneuverability of the Il-2 feels sloppy though, it seems to be pretty unstable and heavy on the controls. This is probably because it is usually quite heavily laden with weapons and it simply fly so slowly that just generating lift is an issue, let alone turning. Stalling the Il-2 is not all that fun, it flops around like a bit of beached whale but tends to get pointed nose down and accelerate back into control which is fine as long as you have a bit of altitude to work with. At low speeds you may find very little aileron response though making reversals at the top of zoom climbs a bit of a problem.

===Fighting in the {{PAGENAME}}===
The real shame is that the Il-2 isn't more useful and popular but a couple of factors conspire to keep it relegated to something that only shows up from time to time when a base is under attack by GV's. The key knocks against it are a lack of speed, only a moderate weapons load, and a lack of survivability against large caliber hits (which are very common). Now, nothing in the game can really survive large caliber hits nearly as well as the Il-2 except a much larger bomber, but with it's slow speed, it tends to be an easier target and gets hit more often than a faster fighter. The Il-2 is one of a few planes that can actually survive an Ostwind hit, sometimes two, but it simply presents too slow a target to avoid getting nailed most of the time.

Typically, the Il-2 is used in the anti-GV role and can be quite successful as it can absorb some hits from defending vehicles and continue to operate. You don't want to take lots of hits, or large calibre hits, but you aren't nearly as likely to lose something important to a couple of pings of .50cal or less. I tend to climb and use the bombs first, then rockets, then guns as the bombs will require the most altitude to use and I don't want to have to worry about climbing later in the fight to get sufficient altitude for the bombs to arm. I will also get rid of the most dangerous units with bombs in that fashion, typically any air-defense vehicles (Ostwind especially). Rockets are very good against Panzers once you learn how to aim and you can launch them point blank without concern of the pintle gun knocking you out. Panzers also offer more slowly moving targets. The cannons I save for the end, use them against M16's, M8's, LVT's, or PT's and then hit Panzers from the rear while flying only a couple of feet off the ground. High angle attacks are best of course but typically by this point I'm running in the weeds and don't want to climb.

You won't want to get caught in large calibre fire though, try and avoid anything that can hit you with more than a 13mm/.50cal round. You may survive two or three times the amount that would normally take down a fighter but chances are if he has you in his sites you are slow enough that he'll land a lot of hits in a short time. If you stand in front of 20mm or greater you are still going to get hurt pretty quickly.

===Fighting against the {{PAGENAME}}===
One would think the Il-2 should be easy prey, but that's usually not the case unless you catch one just taking off on the runway. Often they act like bait to attract suckers who will dive in and expose themselves to other friendly fighters in the process. The Il-2 is something like a Val or SBD, it is surprisingly nimble, flies so slowly, and makes such a small turning radius, that it can be very difficult to judge each attack pass on one. The Il-2 also has something those other two planes don't, a fearsome punch if you find yourself nose to nose with one. Always remember, that most fighters are going to have at least 100mph of advantage, if not closer to 200mph, on the Il-2, so closure can occur very quickly without much time to adjust.

If you find yourself with an Il-2 on your tail, try and extend if you think you can get out of the D600 or so range of the cannons. The Il-2 is likely to be greedy and fire until you are clearly out of range or he runs out of ammunition, so remember that. Il-2 pilots tend to find few honest opportunities for fighter kills so will push the point aggressively. Make most maneuvers up into the vertical and use your climb and acceleration performance advantage to the maximum. You should have clear advantages in both of these areas regardless of the fighter you fly and can exploit the Il-2s weakness. Keep your speed up, honestly an Il-2 should never have any sort of speed advantage at merge unless you've allowed yourself to get dreadfully slow. Even if you find yourself very slow you should be able to spiral climb and quickly sap all the energy out of the Il-2. If an Il-2 has a snapshot, avoid aggressively, you cannot afford to accept even a single 23mm hit as it could end the fight quickly.

Attacking an Il-2 shouldn't be a problem where you find yourself losing advantage, but it might be a problem in getting a kill. Snapshots seem to have pretty minimal effect unless you can land a large number of solid hits with large caliber guns. Try and energy fight as much as possible because the Il-2 is completely un-suited to this style of fighting. Never accept Head-Ons, you simply cannot compete in terms of firepower or survivability and you're much better to break off the attack and come back for another pass later. Be very careful with the quick turn-rate and small turn-radius of the Il-2, it can surprise you like a Zero and you can find yourself facing an unwanted Head-On. If you do manage to saddle up on an Il-2, don't be too worried about the single 12.7mm rear gun, but also don't plan on exposing yourself to it for long. It's not the type of weapon that will knock off a wing, but it will damage your plane and force you to rtb. Often a quick burst to the tail will knock it off, or kill the tail gunner anyway. Look for the Il-2 pilot who decides to rely on armour and the rear-gun for defense, they are easy to kill with almost no risk and a lot of people fly the Il-2 like this.

Some additional points, slowing down to fight an Il-2 often leaves you very vulnerable to almost any other enemy in the area, so is not advisable. If you get that slow and low you are just as likely to find yourself in trouble before you even really get a good shot in on the Il-2. Il-2s are actually used like bait sometimes. Also, watch for the overshoot and try to escape upwards if you see one coming. When fighting something so slow it is easy to misjudge and overshoot so quickly that you find yourself out in front before you react. The Il-2 can make you pay dearly for this mistake so you need to ensure it doesn't happen, and if it is unavoidable that you take quick defensive actions.

===External Links===
[http://members.shaw.ca/soda_p/models.htm Soda's Aircraft Evaluations]

</div>

[[Category:Aircraft of WWII]]
[[Category:Aircraft of Aces High II]]

20 mm Hispano

2008-07-31T14:41:35Z

Yossarian: Fixed a typo, "altitiudes" to "altitudes"

[[Category:Armament]]

{{Infobox Gun
|name =20mm Hispano
|image =
|type =Autocannon
|cartridge =20×110mm
|country =France, UK, US
|manufacturer =Hispano-Suiza
|weight =93lb
|length =9'1"
|rateoffire =700 rounds/min
|muzzlevelocity =2888ft/s (880m/s)
|damagevalue =4.03lb
}}

The Hispano-Suiza '''HS.404''' 20 mm autocannon was one of the most widely used aircraft weapons of the 20th century, used by British, United States, French, and many other military services. Firing a 20 mm diameter projectile, it delivered a useful load of explosive from a relatively light weapon. This made it an ideal aircraft weapon, replacing the multiple 7.62 mm (.30 caliber) machine guns commonly used in military aircraft in the 1930s.

==Development==
It was based on the earlier Swiss Oerlikon FF S weapons, which Hispano-Suiza manufactured under license in France as HS.7 and HS.9. In the late 1930s engineer Marc Birkigt designed a new and much improved version with a revised action, much faster rate of fire, and somewhat higher [[muzzle velocity]]. The result was the '''Type 404''', or '''HS.404''', which was widely considered the best aircraft cannon of its kind. The 404 was widely used on pre-war French designs, notably in installations firing through the drive shaft of the Hispano-Suiza 12Y engine, a system known as a ''moteur-canon''. The HS.404 was fed by drum magazines that could accommodate at most 60 rounds. Since in most installations the magazine could not be switched during flight, the small ammunition capacity was problematic. In 1940, Hispano-Suiza was developing a belt-feeding system, as well as derivatives of the HS.404 in heavier calibres such as 23 mm, but all these projects were halted with the German occupation of France.

In the meantime, Great Britain had acquired a license to build the HS.404, which was first used in a British fighter as the '''Hispano Mk.I''' with the Westland Whirlwind of 1940. British engineers developed a belt-feeding mechanism. The new design was adopted by the Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm in 1941 in a slightly modified form as the '''Hispano Mk.II'''. Four cannons replaced the eight [[Browning Model 1919 machine gun|Browning .303]] machine guns in the [[Hawker Hurricane]] and in tropical versions of the [[Supermarine Spitfire]], and became standard armament in later fighters. Most other Spitfires had only two cannons, because of technical difficulties (i.e., inadequate gun-heating capacity for the outboard cannon leading to the gun freezing at high altitudes), along with four 0.303 calibre or two 0.50 calibre machine guns.

The gun was also licensed for use in the United States as the '''M1''', with both the [[United States Army Air Corps]] (USAAC) and U.S. Navy planning to switch to the 20 mm as soon as sufficient production was ready. A massive building program was set up, along with production of ammunition, in 1941. When delivered the guns proved to be extremely unreliable and suffered a considerable number of misfires due to the round being "lightly struck" by the firing pin. The British were interested in using this weapon to ease production in England, but after receiving the M1 they were disappointed. In April 1942 a copy of the British Mk.II was sent to the U.S. for comparison, with the differences being primarily that the British version used a slightly shorter chamber that they believed was the cause of the U.S.'s problems.

The U.S. declined to modify the chamber of their version, but nevertheless made other different modifications to create the no-more-reliable '''M2'''. By late 1942 the USAAC had 40 million rounds of ammunition stored, but the guns remained unsuitable. The U.S. Navy had been trying to go all-cannon throughout the war, but the conversion never occurred. As late as December 1945 the [[United States Army|Army's]] Chief of Ordnance was still attempting to complete additional changes to the design to allow it to enter service.

Meanwhile, the British had given up on the U.S. versions and production levels had been ramped up to the point where this was no longer an issue anyway. They upgraded to the '''Hispano Mk. V''', which had a shorter barrel, was lighter and had a higher rate of fire, although at the expense of some muzzle velocity. One of the main British fighters to use the '''Mk. V''' was the [[Hawker Tempest]] '''Mk. V Series II''', which mounted a total of four. The U.S. followed suit with the '''M3''', but reliability problems continued. After [[World War II]] the United States Air Force (USAF) adopted a version of the M3 cannon as the '''M24''', similar in most respects except for the use of electrically primed ammunition.

The Hispano fired a 130 gram (4.58 oz) 20 mm × 110 mm projectile with a [[muzzle velocity]] between 840 and 880 m/s (2,750 and 2,900 ft/s), depending on barrel length. Rate of fire was between 600 and 850 rounds per minute. It was 2.36 m (7 ft 9 in) long, weighing between 42 and 50 kg (93 and 110 lb). The British Mk V and American M3/M24 weapons were lighter with higher rates of fire than the early HS.404 guns.

In the post-war era the HS.404 disappeared fairly quickly due to the introduction of revolver cannon based on the German [[Mauser MG 213]]. The British introduced the powerful 30 mm ADEN cannon in most post-war designs, and the French used the very similar DEFA cannon, both firing the same ammunition. The USAF introduced the 20 mm M39 revolver cannon to replace the M24, while the Navy instead combined the original Hispano design with a lighter round for better muzzle velocity in the Colt Mk 12 cannon.

==Usage==

===France===
;HS.404

* [[Morane-Saulnier M.S.406]]
* [[Potez 631]]
* [[Bloch MB.152]]
* [[Breguet 693]]
* [[Dewoitine D.520]]
* [[LeO 451]]

===United Kingdom & Commonwealth===
;Hispano Mk. I
* [[Gloster F.9/37]] -a design not taken into service
* [[Westland Whirlwind (fixed wing)|Westland Whirlwind]] - the RAF's first cannon armed fighter.

;Hispano Mk. II
* [[Blackburn Firebrand]]
* [[Bristol Beaufighter]]
* [[CAC Boomerang]]
* [[Liberator B Mk I|Consolidated Liberator GR I]]
* [[de Havilland Mosquito]]
* [[A-20 Havoc|Douglas Boston III (Intruder)]]
* [[Fairey Firefly]]
* [[Gloster Meteor]]
* [[Hawker Hurricane|Hawker Hurricane Mk IIC]]
* [[Hawker Tempest|Hawker Tempest Mk V Srs I]]
* [[Hawker Typhoon|Hawker Typhoon Mk IB]]
* [[P-51 Mustang|North American Mustang IA]]
* [[Supermarine Spitfire]] to Mark 20

;Hispano Mk. V
* [[Bristol Brigand]]
* [[de Havilland Hornet|de Havilland Hornet & Sea Hornet]]
* [[de Havilland Vampire]]
* [[de Havilland Venom|de Havilland Venom & Sea Venom]]
* [[English Electric Canberra|English Electric Canberra B.Mk.6 & B(I).Mk.8]]
* [[Hawker Sea Fury|Hawker Fury & Sea Fury]]
* [[Hawker Sea Hawk]]
* [[Tempest_Mk_V|Hawker Tempest Mk V Srs II]] and subsequent [[British_military_aircraft_designation_systems#Mark_numbers|Marks]]
* [[Martin-Baker MB 5]]
* [[Supermarine Attacker]]
* [[Supermarine Seafang]]
* [[Supermarine Spiteful]]
* [[Spitfire|Supermarine Spitfire]] - Marks 21 and later
* [[Westland Welkin]]
* [[Westland Wyvern]]

===United States===
;M1

;M2
* [[Bell P-39|Bell P-400 (P-39 Airacobra diverted from export)]]
* [[Boeing B-29 Superfortress]]
* [[P-38 Lightning | Lockheed P-38 Lightning]]
* [[P-61 Black Widow|Northrop P-61 Black Widow]]
* [[F4U-1C|Chance Vought F4U-1C Corsair]]

;M3
* [[F4U Corsair|Chance Vought F4U-4B Corsair and all following versions]]
* [[F6U Pirate|Chance Vought F6U Pirate]]
* [[F7U Cutlass|Chance Vought F7U Cutlass]]

;M24
* [[Convair B-36]]
* [[F-89 Scorpion|Northrop F-89C Scorpion]]

==Specifications==
* '''Type''': single-barrel [[automatic cannon]]
* '''Caliber''': 20 mm × 110 (0.79 in)
* '''Operation''': [[gas operated]]
* '''Length''': 2.36 m (7 ft 9 in)
* '''Weight (complete)''': 42–50 kg (93–110 lb)
* '''Rate of fire''': 600–850 rpm
* '''Muzzle velocity''': 840 to 880 m/s (2,750 to 2,900 ft/s)
* '''Projectile weight''': 130 g (4.58 oz)
* '''HE round explosive filler''': ~6 g

==References==

Ar 234B

2008-07-30T21:02:25Z

Yossarian: Changed "perk" to "perked planes"

{{AHII Aircraft pagesections}}
{{Infobox Aircraft
|name = Arado 234B
|image = Arado 234B 2.jpg
|type = Bomber
|variantof = Ar 234
|country = Germany
|manufacturer = Arado
|crew = Single-seat
|wingspan =14.10 m (46 ft 3½ in)
|length =12.63 m (41 ft 5½ in)
|height =4.30 m (14 ft 1¼ in)
|internalfuel =1,004 Gallons
}}
__TOC__
==The {{PAGENAME}} in World War II==

The '''Arado Ar 234''' ''Blitz'' (Lightning) was the world's first operational jet powered bomber, built by the German Arado company in the closing stages of World War II. In the field it was used almost entirely in the reconnaissance role, but in its few uses as a bomber it proved to be nearly impossible to intercept.

===Development===

===Unit Deployment===

===External Links===

<div style="clear:right;background-color:#F3F3E0;padding:1em;border:1px solid #999">
{{Infobox AH Aircraft
|name = Ar 234B
|image =
|type = Bomber
|variantof = Ar 234
|crew = Single-seat
|loadout1-1 = 2x 20 mm cannons
|loadout1-2 =
|loadout2-1 =
|loadout2-2 =
|options1 =2x Ri202 RATO units
|options2 =3x 250 kg bombs
|options3 =3x 500 kg bombs
|options4 =3xDrop tanks
|options5 =
|options6 =
|options7 =
|earliestMA =LW
|perkcost =50
|LWENY =5
|carrier =no
}}
==The {{PAGENAME}} in Aces High II==

The Arado used to be far more popular that it is in the current form. Much of this has to do with the perception that bombload is the most important factor for a bomber and survival is really a distant second. That's too bad, as the Arado is an excellent aircraft and the best solution to pin-point bombing situations where you need to get in quickly, hit something, and then escape. As a hit and run aircraft it can be almost unstoppable.

===Engine Power===

The Arado is a very interesting aircraft: a perked jet bomber that can be flown such to be almost untouchable by any normal aircraft. Its sole credible defense is speed, though it has that in droves. Sea-level cruise is an astonishing 435mph with slight improvement with gains in altitude to a maximum of 455mph at 20K. That clearly places the Arado in a category that few aircraft can ever hope to duplicate in level flight. Acceleration is not brisk, the engines require a fair amount of time to build up to full [[RPM]] and even in level flight you are not going to be overwhelmed with acceleration as in a fighter. Once at speed though the Arado retains it very easily and it can be difficult to bleed that speed even when you want to. Fuel range is a little disappointing at only 40 minutes on full internal fuel. A drop tank option exists to add +5 minutes but is never used as it takes up room in place of some bombs. Most of your time will be spent initially investing in some altitude though and the actual transit times to and from a target tend to be very short. Climb rates are not all that bad at 2,100ft/minute at sea-level but decrease with altitude to only 1,700t/minute by 10K with a full load of bombs. Interestingly, a unique feature of the Arado is the RATO (Rocket Assisted Take-Off) units that are an option (almost mandatory). They add terrific amounts of thrust for a short period of time (10 seconds) that can greatly aid acceleration or climb. Once expended, they drop away automatically and no longer detract from the aircraft in any way.



===Firepower===

The Arado can carry up to three 500kg bombs - one under the fuselage and one under each wing (engine nacelle). The 500kg bomb is actually equivalent to roughly a 1,100lb bomb, making the total bomb load in the range of 3,300lbs, which is pretty good. That allows a single drop to take out any hanger in the game or the combination of 3 individual bombs to do quite a bit of damage to supporting airfield structures. I think people underestimate the conversion factor involved and think a 500kg = a 500lb but that is very far from the truth. Still, the bombs are externally hung and are best released as a package or all in one pass for a number of reasons that will be described below. An interesting feature of the Arado is a pair of rear facing 20mm cannons mounted in the rear fuselage. The guns offer more of a fear component to anyone pursuing you than an actual defense and aiming them is very difficult. As there is no turret for them, you must enter your external view (F3) and look backwards using your views (numberpad-2) and then use your secondary trigger to fire the weapons while trying to fly the aircraft in such a way as to point the tail at the enemy. Typically this is totally unsuccessful and bleeds speed which is better retained to just try and run. If you know you can't run though then the tail guns may at least provide some dissuasion from a rear aspect attacking enemy.

===Maneuverability===

===Flying the {{PAGENAME}}===

The Arado is a very tricky plane to fly properly and that is likely the reason it is so seldom seen. I think a lot of people crash their Arados or are overwhelmed by it so don't try and fly it (or maybe lose the perk points and can no longer afford to fly it). The keys of the Arado attack though are to set up nice and early outside of the enemy area, race in at top speed and drop your bombs in a single pass, then leaving at even higher speeds. You cannot afford to get caught slow or climbing, it is suicidal as your only real defense is speed. Altitude is only reasonably important as you want to keep the number of enemy aircraft that could dive on you to a moderate level. Typically any more than 14K of altitude is a waste while a level right around 10K will put you out of [[ack]] range and keep the majority of enemy aircraft below you by default. As with other perked planes like the [[Me262]] and [[Me163]], things just happen so quickly in an Arado that you need to try and prepare yourself beforehand so you have time to react.

Knowing how to use the Arado is important right from the start. The first mistake is to take a formation - don't. They offer more bomb load, true, but if you want real bomb load then you should be considering another aircraft. As a single Arado can take out the largest airfield target in 1 pass there is no point to take more than that. In doing so you are risking more perks (each aircraft costs perks so a formation of three is 3x the cost, thus 3x the risk) and you are setting yourself up to make a fundamental mistake in your attack profile. Always include the RATO units in your loadout as they do not impose any significant penalty yet offer a few very positive options. Take-offs in the Arado are difficult, the aircraft has very sluggish acceleration so try and hold the brakes on while the engines move to full RPMs. Once at RPMs, let the aircraft roll and retract any flaps as your key is to get as much acceleration as you can. The Arado can be difficult to control at under 125mph and feels quite heavy and can easily start a sinking feeling. The RATOS can be used on the runway (with about 1/3 remaining) to quickly boost your speed and make your initial climb very easy though some people try and save the RATOs for later in the flight (described a bit further down). You may have to deploy 1-2 notches of flap on take-off if you do not have sufficient speed (use of RATO typically means it's not necessary). Do not try and climb too much in the Arado to start with, the key is to gain speed so you have better control. Try and ensure you climb at a very high speed if at all possible.

While you are still at least a sector away from the enemy target, ensure you accelerate to attack speeds. If you have used your RATO rockets you will also want to make sure you select your bombs (it stays on RATOs even though they may already be used). In some bombers you can calibrate on the way inbound to your target but not in the Arado, it simply travels too quickly and your timeframe will be too short. I tend to get to almost top speed while still up to two sectors distant, use the first sector as acceleration time. Calibrate once you feel you have reached top speed and being your run into the target. If you have RATOs onboard you can not use them until after you drop your bombs as they would create too much speed variation and throw your calibration off. Drop in 1 pass, don't plan a second pass and use RATOs if you kept them on to help you accelerate away from enemy trouble.

The final issue is landing, the Arado is very hard to slow down so start bleeding speed as soon as you can see your airfield. The flaps will extend at higher speeds than on many aircraft so you can start to use them to create drag. Turns, sideslipping with your rudder, and possibly some weaving may be necessary in order to slow down enough to land. You need to land at reasonable speed because the roll-out is quite long and you may not be able to brake to a stop if you land too fast.

The defense of the Arado is simple: run. If you have bombs and you feel an enemy may catch you (by diving), then you may consider aborting the attack, dropping your bombs, using your RATOs (if you have them) and simply running away. The Arado, without bombs, is about 30mph faster which makes an improbable intercept almost impossible now. A shallow dive can push you easily over 500mph and the Arado is a pretty tough plane and can take a little punishment in order to escape.

===Fighting against the {{PAGENAME}}===

The only real problem with killing Arados is catching them. If you don't have an altitude advantage in any non-perk plane then you are out of luck. Even with some altitude advantage you should try and maximize the angles so they favor any approach. Realistically you will have to maintain at least 475mph in order to catch one under most situations. If you have the correct geometry to make an intercept, get in quickly and attack at any range inside effective guns though preferably within D650. Be slightly careful of the tail mounted cannons though most players don't know they are there or don't understand how to employ them. If you note the Arado slewing a bit when you approach then maybe the enemy pilots knows how to employ the guns properly and they might be a little more dangerous. Other than those two factors though the Arado is totally defenseless and should be an easy kill. Often, if the enemy has made the mistake to take a formation of Arados instead of only a single, you can actually kill all 3 in one pass as an overshoot is terribly unlikely as you will all be travelling in the same direction at very high speeds.

===External Links===
[http://members.shaw.ca/soda_p/models.htm Soda's Aircraft Evaluations]

</div>

[[Category:Aircraft of WWII]]
[[Category:Aircraft of Aces High II]]

Ar 234B

2008-07-30T21:01:00Z

Yossarian: Fixed a typo

{{AHII Aircraft pagesections}}
{{Infobox Aircraft
|name = Arado 234B
|image = Arado 234B 2.jpg
|type = Bomber
|variantof = Ar 234
|country = Germany
|manufacturer = Arado
|crew = Single-seat
|wingspan =14.10 m (46 ft 3½ in)
|length =12.63 m (41 ft 5½ in)
|height =4.30 m (14 ft 1¼ in)
|internalfuel =1,004 Gallons
}}
__TOC__
==The {{PAGENAME}} in World War II==

The '''Arado Ar 234''' ''Blitz'' (Lightning) was the world's first operational jet powered bomber, built by the German Arado company in the closing stages of World War II. In the field it was used almost entirely in the reconnaissance role, but in its few uses as a bomber it proved to be nearly impossible to intercept.

===Development===

===Unit Deployment===

===External Links===

<div style="clear:right;background-color:#F3F3E0;padding:1em;border:1px solid #999">
{{Infobox AH Aircraft
|name = Ar 234B
|image =
|type = Bomber
|variantof = Ar 234
|crew = Single-seat
|loadout1-1 = 2x 20 mm cannons
|loadout1-2 =
|loadout2-1 =
|loadout2-2 =
|options1 =2x Ri202 RATO units
|options2 =3x 250 kg bombs
|options3 =3x 500 kg bombs
|options4 =3xDrop tanks
|options5 =
|options6 =
|options7 =
|earliestMA =LW
|perkcost =50
|LWENY =5
|carrier =no
}}
==The {{PAGENAME}} in Aces High II==

The Arado used to be far more popular that it is in the current form. Much of this has to do with the perception that bombload is the most important factor for a bomber and survival is really a distant second. That's too bad, as the Arado is an excellent aircraft and the best solution to pin-point bombing situations where you need to get in quickly, hit something, and then escape. As a hit and run aircraft it can be almost unstoppable.

===Engine Power===

The Arado is a very interesting aircraft: a perked jet bomber that can be flown such to be almost untouchable by any normal aircraft. Its sole credible defense is speed, though it has that in droves. Sea-level cruise is an astonishing 435mph with slight improvement with gains in altitude to a maximum of 455mph at 20K. That clearly places the Arado in a category that few aircraft can ever hope to duplicate in level flight. Acceleration is not brisk, the engines require a fair amount of time to build up to full [[RPM]] and even in level flight you are not going to be overwhelmed with acceleration as in a fighter. Once at speed though the Arado retains it very easily and it can be difficult to bleed that speed even when you want to. Fuel range is a little disappointing at only 40 minutes on full internal fuel. A drop tank option exists to add +5 minutes but is never used as it takes up room in place of some bombs. Most of your time will be spent initially investing in some altitude though and the actual transit times to and from a target tend to be very short. Climb rates are not all that bad at 2,100ft/minute at sea-level but decrease with altitude to only 1,700t/minute by 10K with a full load of bombs. Interestingly, a unique feature of the Arado is the RATO (Rocket Assisted Take-Off) units that are an option (almost mandatory). They add terrific amounts of thrust for a short period of time (10 seconds) that can greatly aid acceleration or climb. Once expended, they drop away automatically and no longer detract from the aircraft in any way.



===Firepower===

The Arado can carry up to three 500kg bombs - one under the fuselage and one under each wing (engine nacelle). The 500kg bomb is actually equivalent to roughly a 1,100lb bomb, making the total bomb load in the range of 3,300lbs, which is pretty good. That allows a single drop to take out any hanger in the game or the combination of 3 individual bombs to do quite a bit of damage to supporting airfield structures. I think people underestimate the conversion factor involved and think a 500kg = a 500lb but that is very far from the truth. Still, the bombs are externally hung and are best released as a package or all in one pass for a number of reasons that will be described below. An interesting feature of the Arado is a pair of rear facing 20mm cannons mounted in the rear fuselage. The guns offer more of a fear component to anyone pursuing you than an actual defense and aiming them is very difficult. As there is no turret for them, you must enter your external view (F3) and look backwards using your views (numberpad-2) and then use your secondary trigger to fire the weapons while trying to fly the aircraft in such a way as to point the tail at the enemy. Typically this is totally unsuccessful and bleeds speed which is better retained to just try and run. If you know you can't run though then the tail guns may at least provide some dissuasion from a rear aspect attacking enemy.

===Maneuverability===

===Flying the {{PAGENAME}}===

The Arado is a very tricky plane to fly properly and that is likely the reason it is so seldom seen. I think a lot of people crash their Arados or are overwhelmed by it so don't try and fly it (or maybe lose the perk points and can no longer afford to fly it). The keys of the Arado attack though are to set up nice and early outside of the enemy area, race in at top speed and drop your bombs in a single pass, then leaving at even higher speeds. You cannot afford to get caught slow or climbing, it is suicidal as your only real defense is speed. Altitude is only reasonably important as you want to keep the number of enemy aircraft that could dive on you to a moderate level. Typically any more than 14K of altitude is a waste while a level right around 10K will put you out of [[ack]] range and keep the majority of enemy aircraft below you by default. As with other perks like the [[Me262]] and [[Me163]], things just happen so quickly in an Arado that you need to try and prepare yourself beforehand so you have time to react.

Knowing how to use the Arado is important right from the start. The first mistake is to take a formation - don't. They offer more bomb load, true, but if you want real bomb load then you should be considering another aircraft. As a single Arado can take out the largest airfield target in 1 pass there is no point to take more than that. In doing so you are risking more perks (each aircraft costs perks so a formation of three is 3x the cost, thus 3x the risk) and you are setting yourself up to make a fundamental mistake in your attack profile. Always include the RATO units in your loadout as they do not impose any significant penalty yet offer a few very positive options. Take-offs in the Arado are difficult, the aircraft has very sluggish acceleration so try and hold the brakes on while the engines move to full RPMs. Once at RPMs, let the aircraft roll and retract any flaps as your key is to get as much acceleration as you can. The Arado can be difficult to control at under 125mph and feels quite heavy and can easily start a sinking feeling. The RATOS can be used on the runway (with about 1/3 remaining) to quickly boost your speed and make your initial climb very easy though some people try and save the RATOs for later in the flight (described a bit further down). You may have to deploy 1-2 notches of flap on take-off if you do not have sufficient speed (use of RATO typically means it's not necessary). Do not try and climb too much in the Arado to start with, the key is to gain speed so you have better control. Try and ensure you climb at a very high speed if at all possible.

While you are still at least a sector away from the enemy target, ensure you accelerate to attack speeds. If you have used your RATO rockets you will also want to make sure you select your bombs (it stays on RATOs even though they may already be used). In some bombers you can calibrate on the way inbound to your target but not in the Arado, it simply travels too quickly and your timeframe will be too short. I tend to get to almost top speed while still up to two sectors distant, use the first sector as acceleration time. Calibrate once you feel you have reached top speed and being your run into the target. If you have RATOs onboard you can not use them until after you drop your bombs as they would create too much speed variation and throw your calibration off. Drop in 1 pass, don't plan a second pass and use RATOs if you kept them on to help you accelerate away from enemy trouble.

The final issue is landing, the Arado is very hard to slow down so start bleeding speed as soon as you can see your airfield. The flaps will extend at higher speeds than on many aircraft so you can start to use them to create drag. Turns, sideslipping with your rudder, and possibly some weaving may be necessary in order to slow down enough to land. You need to land at reasonable speed because the roll-out is quite long and you may not be able to brake to a stop if you land too fast.

The defense of the Arado is simple: run. If you have bombs and you feel an enemy may catch you (by diving), then you may consider aborting the attack, dropping your bombs, using your RATOs (if you have them) and simply running away. The Arado, without bombs, is about 30mph faster which makes an improbable intercept almost impossible now. A shallow dive can push you easily over 500mph and the Arado is a pretty tough plane and can take a little punishment in order to escape.

===Fighting against the {{PAGENAME}}===

The only real problem with killing Arados is catching them. If you don't have an altitude advantage in any non-perk plane then you are out of luck. Even with some altitude advantage you should try and maximize the angles so they favor any approach. Realistically you will have to maintain at least 475mph in order to catch one under most situations. If you have the correct geometry to make an intercept, get in quickly and attack at any range inside effective guns though preferably within D650. Be slightly careful of the tail mounted cannons though most players don't know they are there or don't understand how to employ them. If you note the Arado slewing a bit when you approach then maybe the enemy pilots knows how to employ the guns properly and they might be a little more dangerous. Other than those two factors though the Arado is totally defenseless and should be an easy kill. Often, if the enemy has made the mistake to take a formation of Arados instead of only a single, you can actually kill all 3 in one pass as an overshoot is terribly unlikely as you will all be travelling in the same direction at very high speeds.

===External Links===
[http://members.shaw.ca/soda_p/models.htm Soda's Aircraft Evaluations]

</div>

[[Category:Aircraft of WWII]]
[[Category:Aircraft of Aces High II]]

P-40E

2008-07-21T22:36:23Z

Yossarian: /* Maneuverability */ changed a type from "or" to "of" ~~~~

{{AHII Aircraft pagesections}}
{{Infobox Aircraft
|name =P-40E
|image =
|type =Fighter/attacker
|variantof =[[P-40]]
|country =United States
|manufacturer =Curtiss-Wright
|crew =Single-seat
|wingspan =37.33 ft (11.38 m)
|length =31.67 ft (9.66 m)
|height =12.33 ft (3.76 m)
|internalfuel =
}}
__TOC__
==The {{PAGENAME}} in World War II==

===Development===

===Unit Deployment===

===External Links===

<div style="clear:right;background-color:#F3F3E0;padding:1em;border:1px solid #999">
{{Infobox AH Aircraft
|name =P-40E Warhawk
|image =Curtiss P-40E Warhawk 2 USAF.jpg
|type =Fighter/attacker
|variantof =[[P-40]]
|crew =Single-seat
|loadout1-1 =6x .50cal MG, 235 rounds/gun
|loadout1-2 =
|loadout2-1 =
|loadout2-2 =
|options1 =1x 500lb bomb, or 1x 75 gallon drop tank
|options2 =
|options3 =
|options4 =
|options5 =
|options6 =
|options7 =
|earliestMA =EW
|perkcost =0
|LWENY =30
|carrier =no
}}

==The {{PAGENAME}} in Aces High II==

Not a common aircraft in the main arena, the P-40E is just a little too out-classed from the typically most popular rides. It has a very thin margin for error and you need to be on top of your game if you want to fly one successfully because any hesitation is bad news. That's not to say the P-40E isn't dangerous, far from it. If you can pack a little excess altitude into the fight to account for your poor speed and acceleration then watch out, you can show good performance in most other areas and cause quite a bit of havoc. Just be ready to fly very smart though, not over-commit, and know when it's time to egress and build back a little bit of energy. The P-40E can be great fun though, a number of people like to take the P-40E out for a spin from time to time.

===Engine Power===

Engine power got a big boost over the [[P-40B|B model]], though is still pretty bad. Top cruise speed at sea-level is 282mph (vs. 276mph for the B model) but the E model also has WEP, adding 15mph more when used, giving a 297mph sprint speed. Increases in altitude can improve the situation by about 2.5-3mph/1,000ft with a top speed of around 340mph at 15K (350mph with WEP). Notice how low that altitude is for a top speed, the P-40E is definitely a medium altitude or lower aircraft, it does not perform well at higher altitudes. Climb rate is pretty good, 3,100ft/minute, not out of class for a lot of rides but use of WEP is very important to maximize climb. Acceleration is dreadful at any altitude, usually in the bottom 5 of all fighters, so never consider trying to out-accelerate anyone. Fuel duration is very good, 36 minutes on internal fuel with the option to extend that by another 17 minutes with an external drop tank. That gives a nice combination for flexibility yet long range, or can conversely be used to take off with less internal fuel and carry a drop tank, enabling you to lighten up quickly.

===Aces High II Performance Charts===
''speed chart''
''climb chart''

===Firepower===

The P-40E is well armed, at least as good as a majority of aircraft in the game. Three .50 cal machine guns are mounted in tight proximity in each wing, giving a total of six, but with only 235 rounds/gun. This is a good setup, common to several US aircraft, and provides a reasonable hitting power with easy ballistics and high rate of fire. Total ammunition load is certainly a bit low, making you conserve your ammunition a bit, but once you have someone in the cross-hairs they are going to quickly know you are there and be concerned. Set your convergence as with any other similar aircraft for consistency's sake but whether you set them all to a point, or whether you create a small zone convergence, is up to you. Consider that in most cases you may have to keep your guns on target a bit longer than if you have been flying a cannon armed bird for a while, the difference is noticeable, but if you are used to .50s then you can appreciate their ease of use. If you can, fire short bursts and short-medium ranges for best effect.

===Maneuverability===

The P-40E and B models both feel very similar though the B turns possibly a tiny fraction better (the E model picked up 1,000lbs of weight and no increase in wing area so it would seem reasonable). Overall the P-40E is a little more stable for shooting and a bit more pointable, possibly in part due to repositioning the weight of the guns to the wings from the cowl. You do have to be careful though, it seems the P-40s both have nasty tendancies to enter spins as this is one of the few planes that appears able to "get away" from you if pushed too far. Flat spins, upright and inverted, are entirely possible and difficult to recover from in the P-40. Turn-rate seems average, don't push your luck against a good turner but don't be too afraid against a bad one. Be careful of vertical maneuvering though, someone who ropes you in a climbing turn can be big trouble though you can probably hang in there a lot longer than if you were in the P-40B. Dive control is excellent though the P-40 starts to suffer a bit in roll above 450mph. The general controls are pretty heavy at 500mph though right through 550mph there remains enough control authority to recover from most situations pretty easily. The airframe seems strong to flight stresses though not necessarily to damage from gunfire.

===Fighting in the {{PAGENAME}}===

The P-40E can be enjoyable to fly from time to time, particularly when bringing it to a lower-intensity fight or one where you know you can pick my spots a bit better. In that setting it can be pretty effective and still survive without too much trouble. Usually you do feel that you're pushing yourself a little more though to seal up kills as every mistake you make is amplified slightly so you simply need to fly at a higher quality level.

The biggest issue with the P-40E is lack of engine performance, specifically in speed or ability to replace energy. This tends to form the basis for the offensive and defensive use of the aircraft. When flying a P-40E, build up some energy before you enter the fight, either climbing for a while or coming in at the highest cruise speed possible, saving your WEP until you really need it. The P-40E does get better at medium altitudes so try and start there and work your way down, spending your altitude as you need it. Get out before you reach the ground, setting a floor value after which you will leave, reposition, and come back. The P-40E makes a good BnZ'r as it has good ride at most speeds and sufficient firepower to damage aircraft with short shots. You can't expect instant cannon type performance but knocking off pieces with a good shot can really make the fight easier in the long run. Don't plan on extended turning fights because they can quickly bleed you out of energy that you can't easily replace. If you can get a quick situation where you saddle up though that is best, you can usually finish off most aircraft given a reasonable ranged shot with a second or so on target. Don't waste ammunition though, you don't have a terrific amount and you'd hate to run out when you actually have a quality shot.

Defensively, the P-40E is not a good escaper, for lack of a better term. You need to get out a little earlier than on some aircraft or never get overcommitted in the first place. Diving away can be fine as long as you have the altitude you need and get a good head start. The P-40E is not a great accelerator, even in a dive, so many aircraft can easily catch you if they start their dives at the same time as you do. Extreme speed dives are OK, the P-40E can handle just about any speed you can throw at it although the lower you get the less performance you actually have after you've blown your speed. The P-40E has nice direct handling though so most defensive maneuvers can be reasonably easy to perform at a quality level. Don't get hung up trying to climb with anyone though or chasing people in the vertical, that tends to leave the P-40E hung out to dry.

===Fighting against the {{PAGENAME}}===

While the P-40E is significantly more dangerous than the B model, it still can be beaten reasonably easily. You do have to respect the better climb and firepower of the P-40E though, it can quickly make you pay for being sloppy but could should be considered as only an average or worse performer.

Always try and keep your speed high enough to avoid a P-40E. That gives you lots of options in the vertical and ways to build separation quickly. Against a majority of planes you are likely to fly, you will still have a 40mph advantage over a P-40E in level flight. If the P-40E has been engaged in a long fight already there is even a chance that he will be low on WEP and you could have much more. Climbing up to higher P-40Es is not too difficult though it's usually smart to move away from the battle a bit, climb, then come back. The P-40E still doesn't tend to have a lot of roaming power to chase people around the sky. Many P-40 pilots will be a bit impatient though and over-commit to the first attack them make. A strange issue, a lot of P-40E pilots become frustrated by the longer transit/climb times to get to the fight (and watching everyone around them pass by) so they get over-anxious and immediately dive on the first enemy they see (usually also having pretty bad tunnel vision). Try and sneak up on the P-40 if you can, the lack of level speed and a somewhat restricted rear view can make this fairly easy.

If attacked, never give up shots if you can help it. The icon of the P-40B and E are the same but the P-40E has the same firepower as a P-51D so respect it the same way. Identifying which model you are up against is useful but be sure to respect both models and 90% of the P-40s you meet are likely to be the E model, not the B. Usually you will find P-40s working the edges of the fight and diving in at great speed from higher altitudes. Avoid and try to move away from them, building as much separation as you can. P-40s are not good at closing distances unless they have altitude to use for speed. Try to bleed the P-40 out of energy if you can or use vertical to maintain your own energy. High speed dives may work but the P-40s in general are excellent divers so can probably follow you given a chance. Usually the dive can build enough speed to hold separation until low altitudes where your overall advantage in top speed plays out. Lots of people simply dive away from a P-40 and then extend at low levels and high speeds. The P-40E can't generally catch you in the dive, though may match you, and once low he is out of options. Sometimes you can even reverse or zoom climb after allowing the P-40 to slow a bit, then come back as almost an immediate aggressor to the fight. P-40s do tend to draw quite a bit of "easy kill" attention though and often you can find 4 or 5 guys chasing a P-40 rather than chase a Spitfire.

===External Links===
[http://members.shaw.ca/soda_p/models.htm Soda's Aircraft Evaluations]

</div>

[[Category:Aircraft of WWII]]
[[Category:Aircraft of Aces High II]]