so with the F/A-18 and the F-14 comming out soon (TM), how will it play out in multiplayer? will i have a chance against the F-15 and the SU's? my little F-5E cannot keep up with the FC3 modules.

Because the F/A-18 has a much better instantaneous turnrate and low speed handling than the F-15 or F-16, due to the aerodynamics and flight control system allowing it a high degree of control at high angles of attack. However, it has a much lower thrust to weight ratio, and the same aerodynamics that allow it to handle well at low speed also means it has more drag than an F-15 or F-16, which means that any energy you expend in the initial turns will be forever lost, while the F-15 and F-16 have the thrust and aerodynamics to keep their speed up throughout a prolonged engagement, and even to regain speed if they bleed it excessively in a way that the F/A-18 simply cannot hope to do.

As a result, the objective of an F/A-18 pilot is use his immediate advantage in initial turning performance to get inside his opponents circle, and kill him within the first two turns of the fight, or the sustained turn performance of the F-15 and F-16 will allow them to maneuver into a killing position. It also means that the Hornet simply has to commit once it's in a merge, because on account of it's lower acceleration and top speed it simply won't be able to retreat from the fight.

To use an analogy, if the F/A-18 was a snake, it would be the venomous kind with a deadly bite, but if you manage to get close enough to grab it by the tail and hold it up, it's helpless. It simply doesn't have the muscle to lift itself high enough to attack you, and you're (relatively) free to do whatever you want to it.

On the other hand, the F-16 or F-15 would be a Python. They won't kill you immediately, but the more you struggle, the more they tighten their grip, grinding you down and squeezing the life out of you until you can no longer defend yourself.

This is purely from a 1v1 PoV obviously, and modern weapons like the AIM-9X does make that initial turn a really really deadly proposition for anyone on the wrong side of it. Also, knowing the skill discrepancy between DCS pilots, I wouldn't expect the outcome of Hornet versus Eagles in-game to be quite as clinical as this post makes it out to be. I wouldn't be surprised if we see a good bunch of people losing their Eagles in sustained fights against Hornets simply down to not being able to fly them properly

You can see the difference in performance between the F-16C and F/A-18C in this video right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8CAQ2HQQiw

Excerpts:

Acceleration In Level Flight Angle of Attack Sustained Turn Rate Instantaneous Turn Rate

/r/hoggit Thread Parent