JayDee

Which brings up a question i have long pondered. If you were to put a Grade a pilot in say a P51D and put a grade C pilot in any fighter jet, which one would win?

I mean youw ould think the jet would win hands down. But, would it be able to stay behind the slow prop job long enough to get a lock? And Would the Stangs guns be able to bring it down?

USMCFLYR

Well in the case above - the JET could easily stay out of the Stang's range and staying *behind* the prop wouldn't be too hard working in the vertical either. Getting a radar lock can take a second if everything is working right!

Now - tight turning prop jobs or slow but tight turing jets can be troublesome if you are using the same weapons (guns) or if your hands are tied with certain restrictions or weapons. I've fought A-10s before that can turn on a dime and if you only have weapons that can shot them from behind then it is hard to get the shot.

As far as the Mustang's guns bringing down a jet - well there is evidence of this in the Vietnam war. Also - no aircraft wants .50 cal rounds ripping through it!

There was part of a book that I wish I could remember the name of it that tells a good story relating to what you are asking. It is a story about the formation of TopGun basically. In the book a story is recounted of how this new guy (Grade C pilot) was out in either the F-8 or F-4 (the newest thing on the block at the time) and was out in the working area and along comes a F-86 (I think the story goes) and jumps him (ah...the good old days eh?). They set up multiple fights and everytime the F-86 comes out on top.

In the end during the phone debrief - the Grade C new guy finds out that he has just been tangling with a Korean War ace (Grade A pilot) who has thousands of hours and obviously a lot of combat experience to fall back on. This storyline serves to remind us that often old age and experience will outgun youth and enthusiasm

USMCFLYR

Spaceman Spliff

Since when does "the world" have a say in what's best for our country?

If it wasn't for us, most of the world would be speaking German, Russian, or subjected to sharia law right now.

If you're unfamiliar with sharia law, move to Saudi Arabia and get caught stealing. That should get you up to speed. See you in chop chop square....

gtippin

The very first 2 ME262's shot down in WW2 were shot down by A P-51. They jumped him overshot and in an effort to get back on his 6 he was able to turn inside of them and took out the first and when the second reversed he got it just before it got out of range. Most ME262 that were shot down were jumped just after rotation or on final approach

Spaceman Spliff

Das ist schade....krauts.

gtippin

If hitler hadnt been hung up on making his jets bomber instead of fighters might have been real problem.

rickair7777

Tactically, the ME262 fully deployed could have shut down 8th air force...at least until the boys at Los Alamos finished up THEIR new toy

JayDee

Very nice explanation. I was thinking more of them being equally armed, like gun to gun. But also if there would be time between engage, lock and fire for a clean missle lock to be achieved... Apparrntly it is plenty of time.

Yea 50 cal is nothing to laugh at, My dad, whom is also a Marine, just bought a 50 cal single shot rifle... That thing is crazy.

reCALcitrant

Wholeheartedly agree with the first thing I bold faced. The 2nd is true. However, occasionaly there is a young man that plays chess very well!!

FlyJSH

If Hitler had kept attacking the British airfields and left London alone, he could have had complete control of the sky in a few weeks. Without airfields in the UK, the Brits and the US cannot launch heavy bombers.

It could habe veen a very different world.