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[Content_WG]

Get the Grumman XP-50 American heavy fighter for your collection!

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Historical perspective

https://worldofwarplanes.com/news/summer-wind/

 

http://forum.worldofwarplanes.com/index.php?/topic/35196-trial-by-magus-triple-threat-xp-50/

[CorvusCorvax]

As both a collector and a heavy fighter player, I'd say save your US$40 unless you desperately need to have every plane in your collection, OR you need a 6-point pilot and some ultimate equipment for Period II.

[Corsair4790805]

CorvusCorvax, on 20 June 2022 - 06:44 AM, said:

As both a collector and a heavy fighter player, I'd say save your US$40 unless you desperately need to have every plane in your collection, OR you need a 6-point pilot and some ultimate equipment for Period II.

 

Or if you just want the plane itself, you still have a day to buy it for gold for 50% off.

 

I opted for the XP-75 myself - need to train my 38J driver in it before he goes tot he Tigercat.

[wylleEcoyote]

What to say about the XP-50?  
TL;DR
Do you ever wonder what it would be like if you could specialize a P-38 that still equips the much easier to use  20mm cannons? 
The XP-50 (and its down tier counterpart the F5F)  is the answer to that very important (to some of us) question.

The devilish details:
It is an up-tiered F5F. But without the bonus 20% to crew xp gain from its unique nose art. 
Both of them fly the same sort of way, in that they have Incredible Boost performance that sets it well above other heavies in their tiers. (even the Goose)
They can climb like the high altitude light fighters that you see from time to time as a heavy.
Everything is trade off however.

The bad news

 Both of them suffer Firepower that trades off the usual heavy fighter alpha damage (in a noticeable way its almost more like a MultiRole in this regard) for longer effective range.
But at least they still uses its Heavy classification to get much more forgiving burst lengths and cooldown cycles, the guns are all nose mounted for enough native accuracy that Marksman is not needed, and access to a weapon slot.  
The Ordnance package similarly trades off alpha damage (it is good for one small or medium target, even using Mary Loveheart) for a 60 second reload time you wont find anywhere else but in MultiRoles

What does it fly like? 
The XP-50 is about as maneuverable; and as fast, as a P-38J in level flight. Same Roll rate as well.
The P-38J however beats it in Dive speed (+100kph) and max altitude (+200m). While you edge it out in Rate of Climb. Barely.

So how do you use it? It is an opportunistic heavy fighter. 
so you use it very carefully ...

 Get high and stay high. find bombers delete them as you do in any heavy. For everyone else though ... 
Once you are up to speed  Use Cruise flight and Eagle-Eyed to see others before they see you.
Pay attention to your minimap. When you see aircraft that are not paying attention to you, use that boost to vector in and get the jump on them.
Your guns long(er) range lets you start getting your licks in early and often. After that first pass they should have enough crits that you can circle around to finish them off. 

If you were extra smart the target in question as already hurt and you may have eliminated them in one pass.
Yes. Your guns are somewhat weak, (many would say trash) but that is only when compared to other heavies that use 30+mm cannons.
Light fighters and most MultiRoles can still be deleted in one go.  Additionally (unlike every heavy that is not a P-38) you can drop down into medium and low altitudes to take your shot and climb away from everything else with relative.
(just dont fly away in a straight line and you should be fine)

Oh and one more thing ... 
You are even more fragile than the Goose. Do NOT Go Head On against Anything  (that is not almost dead) if you can at all help it. 

Ok but what about the Goose?
You are still a multi engine aircraft so a Goose will give you the same problems that it gives to everyone else. 
The only thing you have over a Goose is 30% extra Rate of Climb.  Spot him before he spots you and/or wait until he is distracted by shooting at something else.  (like you should do with any other plane really)
Then use that boost to pounce upon him. A healthy goose will out fly you. A Goose you put a bunch of crits into is a much more manageable target.


Build recommendations:

Cockpit: Gunsight.
Yes the guns shoot straight enough as is ...  but what you want is that extra Crit Chance. Third option is up to you Accuracy vs manuvering targets or More fire chance (because fires are extra damage and that is definitely a thing you want)
Weapon: Gas-operated action.
Not only do you get more raw DPS but the bonus fire chance traits are great for that last bit of damage you need to make a 2 pass target into a one pass target.
An extra 10% gun cooldown is also good thing to have for that third bonus.
Engine slot 1:  Engine Booster.
Take what your best at and make it even better. For bonus traits, both Engine cooldown bonuses are vital. Without boost available you are without your special edge. For your third bonus go with boost availability for the same reason.
Engine Slot 2: Uptuned engine.
More horse power and cruise speed  enhances your high altitude performance and is an all around help to all the things you should be doing in a heavy. The bonus engine cooldown is; again, vital. As for your other bonus skills... Fire resistence is a good idea. There are LOTS of heavy machine guns shooting around in tier 6. And they are good at starting fires. 
OR

IF and Only IF you are the sort of player that knows how to make the most out of manual rudder inputs ... then go for broke and use the Light Weight Engine.
The natural rudder authority is actually pretty good and maxing it out may come in handy in special circumstances 

A useful plane for stuffing that XF-90 pilot into fpr that premium xp. because of the similar opportunistic play styles.
Aerodynamic Expert, Engine Guru 1+2, Cruise Flight, and Eagle-Eyed, are all basic skills that will come in handy. 
And if you are feeling extra cheeky ... Falcon Strike for that extra 50% fire and crit chance (above and beyond the normal maximum) when you nose dive is a fun little thing to do. 
Because the XP-50 at least can get yourself out of the trouble that nose diving usually puts you into.   

Edited by wylleEcoyote, 23 June 2022 - 06:43 PM.

[wylleEcoyote]

CorvusCorvax, on 20 June 2022 - 09:44 AM, said:

... OR you need a 6-point pilot and some ultimate equipment for Period II.

That s enough of a reason for some folks to drop $40 

[Captain_Underpants53]

I bought their latest crate offer and wound up with FOUR 5 point pilots, plus over 100 bucks worth of gold.

[Ace_BOTlistic_Cosmo]

Captain_Underpants53, on 23 June 2022 - 08:35 PM, said:

I bought their latest crate offer and wound up with FOUR 5 point pilots, plus over 100 bucks worth of gold.

what?

you got over 25,000 gold in those 5 crates?

huh?

25,000 Gold

$99.99

wow

IDK???

https://worldofwarpl...tes-prize-list/

Edited by Ace_BOTlistic_Cosmo, 24 June 2022 - 02:42 PM.

[Captain_Underpants53]

It was forty crates total.  I kept getting planes I already had = gold.  Bunches of free XP, too.

[Ace_BOTlistic_Cosmo]

Captain_Underpants53, on 24 June 2022 - 01:21 PM, said:

It was forty crates total.  I kept getting planes I already had = gold.  Bunches of free XP, too.

ahhh... so sorry,

I made a quick and uninformed assumption

good on you tho