The mustang is lovely to fly once you figure out what it likes, and what it doesn't like. I spun constantly when I first started flying them, especially since I had been flying spits.

A few tips:

In the beginning, you might want to just put the combat flaps down, and leave them there.

Be smooth and gentle on the stick. Think pressure, rather than pull.

The mustang likes speed, so don't waste it. If it is getting gray out, you are pulling too hard. If you hear the buffet you are pulling way too hard.

When you are turning hard, get the nose down. I the nose is above the horizon, you won't be able to turn for long.

When you are going over the top, think large circles. Let the airplane coast over the top. When you are slow, stay off the rudder. You can have full aileron, but don't be pulling on the stick.

If you decide to put full flaps down and turn, keep the speed at 140+ mph IAS. That is also best climb speed.

When I fly the mustang I think of the flight path as if it were a roller coaster. Smooth down for speed, smooth up for height, no abrupt changes of direction. Once you get a feel for it, it is a very graceful thing.

I hope that helps. Don't give up on this fine bird. Practice, practice, practice!

Flush

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at the zone: v1.2 no ai sweeps, 9-11pm est

thnks for the kind words.

Check Six!

flash

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at the zone: v1.2 no ai sweeps, 9-11pm est

Glad you're getting there. IAS is simply indicated air speed, which is one of the choices you have for your display. It is more useful than true airspeed because it is not corrected for air density--maneuver speeds are the same regardless of altitude.

If you have blackout/redout on, gray out is the very beginning of black out--if you are pulling smoothly--and gives you a good idea how many G's you are pulling. In a low lead turn at the merge I sometimes pull into the gray when I really want to honk it around, but it eats speed. Pulling into the black is not recommended

Have Fun,

Flush

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at the zone: v1.2 no ai sweeps, 9-11pm est

Great advice you gave up there.

I hated the Mustang when I first tried her out; kept asking myself: "This is the fighter everyone says is better than a Corsair or a Spitfire!!???"

But, as you say, appreciation only comes after you learn what she "likes." I felt so uncomfortable flying Mustangs at first, I couldn't imagine anyone charging off into combat against FW-190s or Bf-109s with confidence. But now, I don't really fear 190s unless I'm severely outnumbered.

Hang in there Tuff- I'm in the middle of a campaign with a "B" and I just got my 26th kill last night. I keep praying we'll switch over to Ds, mostly so I can get two more .50s in my wings. I got tired of looking at all those olive and white Mustangs in my squadron so I ordered them to be repainted (I downloaded new skins). Now my squadron is flying bare metal P-51Bs with blue noses- very cool.

I'm getting off the subject but...
Great EAW feature, isn't it? Get sick of one paint job, pick a new one! I already got a great metal and red scheme downloaded for if/when I get into P-51Ds.

Good hunting.

Guess we both have good taste in aircraft paint!

Did some more flying in that campaign today- 38 kills, it's August 1944- still no P-51D!

I'm not a big Mustang fan- I was into Corsairs and Hellcats until I had no choice because the best sims were Europe-based. Can some Pony fan tell me- when did Ds appear on the front lines? Were they phased in gradualy, squadron by squadron?

Thanks.

Jeez, what an "EAW-head" I am. I read your post, then went into EAW while still online, just to check the squadron ID. I saw the mission brief, it was a convoy-buster, so I couldn't resist, I had to fly the mission, while connected, with my virusscan and everything going.

Anyway, it's the 354th Fighter Group, 356th Squadron.