How to Compare Planes
by Hammer

Most on-line sims model many different planes. While there is sometimes debate about the historical accuracy of the flight models, the important thing for you is understanding how the planes you are going to meet in the arena compare to each other in performance. The purpose of this write-up is to give you an idea of what performance characteristics you should look for when reading descriptions of the planes you will be flying and facing and to give you some idea on how you can test the performance envelope on a plane so you may accurately compare capabilities.

The main performance characteristics that you will initially be interested in when comparing fighters are:

  • Speed - Level speed. This varies with altitude. The fastest plane on the deck is not always the fastest plane at 20k. You can find information about speed from the in-game charts, the HiTech Creations' website, or from these printable speed charts.
  • Rate of Climb - The sustained rate which a plane can gain altitude. Again, planes can lose or gain based on altitude. You can find information about speed from the in-game charts, the HiTech Creations' website, or from these printable climb charts.
  • Acceleration - The rate at which a plane gains speed. Usually a concern at the lower end of the speed range. You can find information on acceleration at DokGonzo's site.
  • Lethality - The strength of the guns. Basically, the ability of the plane to destroy other planes. You can find information on a plane's guns from the Weapons Page on this site or from DokGonzo's site.
  • Sustained Turn Rate - The best rate of turn the plane is able to maintain. You can find information on a plane's turn rate from DokGonzo's site.
  • Sustained Turn Speed - Different planes turn best at different speeds. Some turn best at higher speeds while others turn best at very low speeds

There are, of course, other performance characteristics which can be compared. Consideration of these characteristics are generally more advanced. Some of these are:

  • Instantaneous Turn Rate - This refers to a plane's initial turn rate, usually from high speed. Many planes have the ability to out-turn a plane with a better sustained turn rate during the initial turn from high speed. This advantage usually only lasts for a circle or two.
  • High Speed Maneuverability - Many of the planes with the best sustained turn rate lose the advantage when speed increases. Roll rates of most (but not all!) planes decrease with speed, also.
  • Compressability - Kind of a sub-category of high speed maneuverability. Many planes' controls actually freeze above certain speeds while others are less affected. Often, trim can be used to offset this problem.
  • Structural Strength - Some planes wings will rip at high speeds or while pulling high gravity loads (G's).
  • High Altitude Performance - Many planes which perform well at low altitude perform poorly at higher altitudes. The P-47's performance is actually better at high altitude!
  • Ammo Load - Some of the more lethal planes in the arena have small ammo loads. A good thing to consider.
  • E-Retention - How well a plane holds on to energy while pulling G's.

Remember, a plane's capability is the sum of its parts. The best turner in the game (the Zero) lacks just about all of the other characteristics needed to survive and consequently is not flown much in the arena. It normally takes more than one "strength" for a plane to be viable. Consider them carefully. As I noted in an earlier write-up, the Spitfire Mk VIII is an excellent plane to learn in, but you still have to understand your opponent in order to use the Spitfire's strengths against his weaknesses and to prevent your opponent from using his strengths against your weaknesses. "What weaknesses?" you say. The Spit8 is the super-plane! Well, consider the following:

The spit8 has very good E-retention. "An advantage!" says you. Yes and no. Look at the following diagrams:


Let's say the diagram on the left represents a Spit8 entering a turn at 400 kts and the one on the right represents a Fw 190A-8 entering a turn at 400 kts. Everyone knows a Spitfire will out-turn a Fw but, with its excellent E retention, the spitfire slows very slowly and so only gradually slows down to a good sustained turn rate. The Fw bleeds E quickly and therefore slows quickly. The result of this is that the Fw's turn radius becomes smaller much more quickly than the Spit's. The Fw actually out-turns the Spit until the Spit gets slowed down. The Spit's final turning radius is smaller than the Fw, but a good Fw pilot will have used the 20mm cannons to send you back to base by then! Keep in mind that the illustrations are just an example and in no way represent the actual number of turns required by either plane but it illustrates the thinking that has to go into comparing your planes!