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Introduction
Engine Performance
Firepower
Maneuverability
Flying the P-47N
Fighting the P-47N
Summary
Engine/Range Info
Fuel Tankage: 138 gallons
1/4
275 gallons 1/2
415 gallons 3/4
550 gallons full
+375 gallons droptank
Engine Settings:
WEP:
2800rpm/72 mp 552 gall/hr
Military: 2800rpm/54.5 mp
580 gall/hr
Normal:
2600rpm/43.5 mp 436gall/hr
Max Cruise: 2250rpm/32 mp 263gall/hr
Calculated Ranges
(Internal Fuel Only):
Military: 311 miles
Normal: 370 miles
Max: 450 miles
(External Fuel)
Military: 523 miles
Normal:
623 miles
-Soda
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Introduction:
The P-47N was a new introduction in version 2.04 and the
expectations were very high that it would up a new top-end aircraft
option for P-47 fans.
Initially, it appears that they got quite a bit of what they
expected, the P-47N is certainly the best P-47 model in the game and
quite competitive. Under
some circumstances it might even be considered dominant, especially at
high altitudes, although typically most AH fights are under 10K, an
area where it can only be considered good.
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Engine Performance:
Good down-low, exceptional up-high. The P-47N really isn't
intended for the low-medium altitudes of most AH combat but certainly
isn't out of place against the vast majority of opponents. While low level military power
speed seems low, 328mph, the addition of fantastic WEP improvement adds
a full 37mph to that yielding 365mph for sprints. That is a good number
and compares favorably to most aircraft except the real low-alt speed
demons. Speed increase with altitude gain is linear at 3-4mph/1,000ft
while WEP gains are similar if slightly more. 5K gives 344mph (382mph WEP), 10K 361mph (400mph),
15K 378mph (411mph WEP), all the way to 30K 433mph (474mph WEP). Notice
that up high the P-47N is probably the fastest perk-free propeller
driven aircraft in the game. First impression of acceleration/climb is
that it is good at low levels and only gets better with altitude, not
unexpected. Over 20K and it's probably the match for anything in the
game and significantly better than most.
Fuel duration is exceptional, the P-47N has increased internal
fuel tankage to a total of 550 gallons due the inclusion of wing tanks yielding
a duration of slightly over 57 minutes. The option to add wing tanks can increase that to
925 gallons and over 2 hours. Rarely should drop tanks be required to
extend range although they are useful to allow lighter internal fuel
loads for combat. Fuel burn order is AUX, RW/LW and then Main with 100
gallons (18%), 180 gallons (33%) and 270 gallons (49%) respectively. The fuel gauges can be a bit
confusing also, the left-hand gauge represents total internal fuel %
remaining while the right-hang gauge shows fuel in the currently
selected tank. Fuel burn
is constant at 580 gallons/hr, except while using WEP that drops
slightly to 552 gall/hr, otherwise altitude makes no difference in
regards to fuel burn.
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Firepower:
Essentially unchanged from the earlier P-47 models, you have the
choice of either six or eight gun .50 cal packages with the option for
267 rounds/gun or 425 rounds/gun.
With earlier P-47’s I tended to favor the 8 gun, light ammo,
package as a trade off for performance yet good hitting power. The short range/duration of the
earlier P-47’s simply meant I tended to run out of fuel before
ammunition but that has changed with the P-47N. The high ammo package provides
a full 30 seconds of firing, exceptional, while the light ammo load
still provides ~19seconds worth of firing. The impact of the extra weight doesn’t feel as
significant probably due to the increased wing area and engine power.
Convergence is a matter of preference but in general in AH2
shorter ranges are better.
If you are very consistent in target range then set it
short-medium, D400 or less, at a point. This will give very good hitting power as the volume
of fire from 8 guns is incredible. If you tend to get inconsistent distanced shots then
setting a convergence zone by spreading the guns over a small range
(D100 or so) is a good tactic as it gives a decent shot-gun
effect. It is also
possible, if intending to strafe or attack bombers, to set the
convergence out of maximum at D650 to give some standoff. Velocity on the guns is very
good so there is little appreciable drop in round flight, aiming tends
to be quite easy and flat.
P-47’s have always been great jabo aircraft and the P-47N is
probably the best of the bunch for a number of reasons. Primarily, it has the extra
engine power to handle the heavy load-outs with much less
difficulty. It also has
the internal fuel capacity to avoid having to take external drop tanks
over medium ranges, something other P-47’s had trouble with, thus
freeing up all the weapons pylons for ordnance. Externally, the P-47N has the
same options as other P-47’s, up to three external bombs (two 1,000lb
and a 500lb) plus ten 5 inch rockets. The pylons mounted to the wings are also standard so
you don’t really add any additional drag because of them once the
bombs/rockets are dropped.
This is unusual and most aircraft experience serious performance
impacts due to residual pylons but not the P-47N. Add the bombs o the strafing
potential and you have a top 5 attack aircraft with the ability to
quickly convert back to fighter use once the ordnance is dropped.
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Maneuverability:
Great. For an
aircraft so large and heavy, the P-47N is remarkably maneuverable. The P-47N did introduce a few
changes in a larger wing and a fillet extension to the tail, both of which
have positive impacts. The
stability, especially in yaw, are quickly noticeable compared to older
model P-47's which had a tendency to wander a bit. The P-47N also doesn't seem to
get quite the same wallowing, mushy or heavy feel that late model D versions
had. You still need to be
careful, there is nothing lightweight about the P-47N and it can take
time to overcome a high sink rate at the bottom of a loop or to push
through a corner. Stalls
in general are also more benign, stall speed decreasing to under 80mph
with flap, stall stability improving, and high speed stalls seeming to
be less common. Roll rate is excellent, maybe not elite like a 190 but
better than most everything else.
The roll-rate also seems to be good over a slightly larger range
of speeds from slow to very fast.
The P-47N loves speed too so don't be afraid to push it very
hard, the only barrier it should fear is the sound-barrier. The flaps are combat capable
and can be used to improve turn-rates at medium speeds. They should be handled
appropriately as the drag produced tends to have negative long-term
impacts for short term turning gains.
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Flying the P-47N
The P-47 was always
better than it was given credit although to be good in one took some
practice and understanding. It didn't help that most P-47's were
used like guided missiles or bomb-trucks, not fighters, giving a poor
impression of the full capabilities the P-47 possesses.
The P-47N is simply
better in almost every way than the earlier models. It is a competitive
ride and more likely to catch on in the Main Arena, pretty much putting
the earlier models into obscurity. The P-47N addressed the issue
of engine power, range and stability, all of which are much improved.
The P-47N's improved speed, climb and acceleration all give it a better
energy potential and can allow it to play an energy fight much better.
Fuel capacity of the P-47N was increased significantly to improve
endurance and make external fuel carriage almost unnecessary.
This did come with some weight penalty but a larger wing and extended
tail fillet improved stability, making it a much better gun platform.
Standard P-47N use
will probably be as a BnZ fighter but the P-47N can be pretty good in
close also. Just ensure you start out from a decent energy
position and plan not to fight uphill for very long. Typically
this would mean entering the fight slightly high and then working your
way down until you reach your exit altitude and egress. No need
to climb ultra-high unless the enemy is up that high also. The P-47N is
great up high of course but typically that's not where the main fight
is. Use your speed, energy retention, roll and great firepower to
hammer people. Given a short dive the P-47N can pick up a lot of
speed and maneuver hard, using short bursts of flaps to gain angles for
shots. Don't been cheap on the ammunition either, take every shot
you can and hold your trigger just that little extra to ensure you land
hits. Roll rate and high speed handling in general are excellent,
as is stability, at most fuel weights. The mass of the P-47N
allows it to hold energy better while the vastly improved power buys
back energy more quickly. You still don't want to get into a pure
energy fight though unless you are at very light internal
weights. Once you start to feel some pressure, roll out into a
vertical dive and egress to re-build energy.
Defensively the
P-47N can hold a lot of tricks. The standard dive and run should
be more effectively with the improved deck speed on WEP of the P-47N
but you are still slower than quite a few opponents so expect to mix it
up more. I generally would try and extend to simply thin the herd
following you as some guys drop off rather than chase. Use the
P-47's mass to hold energy and use the great roll and instantaneous
turn to make for a difficult target to hit. The P-47's were
always good overshoot creators given their ability to dump speed under
power cuts and flap usage, just be careful because this can also lead
you very vulnerable if the enemy recognizes the bait and doesn't bite.
The P-47N can take a hit too, a couple of stray rounds are not likely
to cause any serious damage, even so, I tend to recommend saving a
couple of gallons in the wing tanks (maybe 10/tank) before running the
MAIN tank all the way. This gives a short reserve for rtb when
the MAIN runs out and also gives you a bit of range should your MAIN
get holed and leak dry. Be aggressive in your defense though, the
P-47N can be man-handled a bit more and might just surprise some
opponents by it's ability to maneuver in such a large aircraft.
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Fighting the P-47N
The P-47N is
a totally different beast from earlier models and will likely comprise
90%+ of all P-47's you encounter. It is very dangerous, capable
of maneuvering beyond most expectations and the upgraded power grants
it the option to now get into more vertical or upwards engagements.
Be aggressive with
a P-47N and try to get them slowed down. You are unlikely to win
angles on one at high speeds and they simply have better than average
capabilities in most maneuvering characteristics at medium-high
speeds. While the P-47N was a great leap in engine performance
there are still several aircraft who can do better in climb and
acceleration. Watch out for overshoots, a classic P-47 tactic,
the P-47N might be one of the best scissoring aircraft in the game
though it is still large and generally an easy target. That
doesn't make it an easy kill, the P-47 can often take massive
punishment and fly away. I've been in P-47's hit by a dozen or
more 20mm rounds and still be entirely able to fight. If the
P-47N heads into a vertical dive and you can't catch it in the initial
acceleration then it is likely to escape unless you are committed to
the long chase.
Defending against a
P-47N can be tough, they typically carry a lot of speed on their
attacks and any sort of shot opportunity you give up is likely to be
met with a hail of .50 cal rounds. Exploit it's less than stellar
turn radius to get inside of it and cause it trouble. The P-47N
can balance this issue with use of flaps in the short term but the
longer the fight the more the flaps will hurt the P-47N. Don't try and
out-dive the P-47N and be really cautious using rolling techniques to
defeat one. The P-47N is still heavy and pushes a bit through the
corners when loaded with fuel. Don't count on this though, a
light P-47N is a different beast, able to shed massive weight as fuel
load lightens. Hard break turns at off-angles can be tough for a
P-47N to adjust to though, the extra speed most P-47N pilots are
carrying can cause them issues with G blackout or inability to pull
enough lead angle.
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Summary
The P-47N addressed the main shortcomings of the prior models
and is a very capable MA aircraft. It's maybe not the best for
someone who's tool-kit of offensive and defensive maneuvers is tailored
to only flying the fastest aircraft, but if you spend some time in one
you can learn to love it. The ability to take a hit and continue
on fighting is second to none plus the chainsaw effect of the eight
guns is effective against just about everything, even not at perfect
convergence settings. The P-47N is probably going to stay popular
in the MA as probably the ultimate swing-role aircraft, capable of
carrying a large ordnance load over a long distance and then converting
into a very capable fighter.
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