Focke Wulf Ta-152H

In Aces High, the Ta-152H costs 20 perk points to fly, making it among the cheapest of the perk planes. Compared to the 10 perk F4U-C variant, you get way more bang for the buck in the Ta-152H. Here's why, and how to make sure you get your 20 perk points back every flight.

Climb: The most noteworthy characteristic of the Ta-152H is its ability to climb to 40,000 feet and beyond, level for speed, and then break 450 mph (true air speed - the red tick mark on the airspeed indicator). There are very few aircraft in this game that can follow a Ta-152H in a climb, as long as you keep your indicated speed at 200 mph indicated (+/-10 mph). Once you reach about 32,000 feet, hi- altitude props like the P-51 and P-38 can either fly at 200 mph indicated and keep you in sight; or they can match your rate of climb (about 1250 fpm or better at 32,000+ altitude) -- but not both. Patiently use this to your advantage, either as an escape mechanism, or to set up an attack on your pursuer: Level for speed to attain 200 mph indicated; use the radio window to type ".speed 200" and then use the ALT-X autopilot. It'll take a few minutes, but you'll either be out of sight, or way high on your enemy. Both get you cleanly out of danger.

Dive: The Ta-152H can out dive anything in the game, even the P- 47. This bird picks up E so fast in a dive, that if you exceed about 35-degrees nose-low with power, you will quickly compress (discussed below). Prevent this by keeping at least 1/2 of the blue field in the artificial horizon visible in a dive. Do not violate this guideline under any circumstances, unless you have practiced a maneuver in the Ta-152H offline or otherwise really know what you're doing. She'll get away on you, guaranteed, and there goes 20 perk points. Tactically, the Ta-152H out climbs everything else in the game so efficiently that I reserve dives STRICTLY for emergency egress into a capped base in a low-fuel situation.

Firepower: The Ta-152H features an all-cannon load out and no capability to carry bombs. The single 30mm cannon fires through the propeller hub, while the two 20mm cannon fire off the wings - so check your convergence. I run my convergence all the way out, since the 20mm cannon seems to fire too slow to take advantage of any particular convergence point like, say, 8 50-caliber machine guns on a P-47 does. The recoil of the Ta-152H guns is rather dramatic; use tiny, 1/8-second bursts, with 1/2-second cool-downs, repeated aggressively. "biddip! biddip! biddip!" Like that. I don't care what you shoot at - a single hit from that 30mm cannon or just a shell or two from those 20mm cannon will ensure that your victim will not be landing. Let them limp away; you'll often get kill messages 15 minutes later when they crash on landing.

Duration: With full tanks and a drop tank, the Ta-152H can comfortably sail about 12 sectors - including a climb to 38,000 feet with a 30 minute IFR reserve. Burn all tanks but the FWD tank first. Once you're flying on your FWD tank, immediately head for home. The FWD tank is deceptively small. Definitely don't engage the enemy if you're down to 3/4 FWD tank and more than two sectors from safety - and that's if you're at altitude.

Compression: The Ta-152H compresses readily, and is such a streamlined bird, that chopping the throttle with full prop does nothing - once the Ta-152H compresses, it will usually continue to accelerate, uncontrollably nose low. You'll be doing well over 600 mph true as you watch your 20 perk points crater the soil somewhere. I cannot over-emphasize this: Do not allow more than 1/2 of the blue field in the artificial horizon to disappear. This is a good starting point; as you learn the Ta-152H, you can push this envelope somewhat - especially at lower altitudes - but don't play games. Play it safe.

Gun shudder: The Ta-152H shutters dramatically when you fire the guns. Short bursts with slightly longer cool-down periods work best for me, but that kind of self-control takes practice and discipline in the heat of battle.

Ammo load: The Ta-152H carries very, very little ammunition. A disciplined and accurate shooter can easily score a half dozen kills with one, but that's not very likely to happen.

Perkies: You can forget earning perk points with the Ta-152H. Because of the gun shutter, and it's natural Focke Wulf vulnerability in any turn fight, it is a dedicated boom-and-zoomer that basically requires an enemy to lose sight of you to allow a kill.

In combat, the Ta-152H is a sore turn-fighter and bleeds energy readily during boom-and-zoom fighting. Never turn fight in a Ta- 152H. It is best that you never bank far enough to lose altitude. Never split-S, except in the most dire of circumstances, because you will lose too much altitude and energy avoiding compression - use a zoom climb instead, keeping your speed at about 200 mph if possible. Drag your enemy (especially P-51's) to about 35,000 feet, where they can scarcely climb any more. Once you hit about 38,000 feet, do a very shallow turn to the left - just enough to bring on the stall horn, but not enough to lose altitude. Most P-51 and P-38 drivers will try to get a snap shot, and at 35,000 feet, they'll stall away. Pursue them GENTLY; you'll usually get on their six, unless they've given up altitude to turn and face you. That'll put them down to about 30,000 feet or less. DISCIPLINE YOURSELF: Climb back to 36,000 feet or so, and continue to turn; eventually, you'll find an angle you can dive in with. Be patient, very patient. And if it doesn't look like you can do it, just level the wings, stabilize 200 mph, and use the .speed 200/ALT-X climb out of danger.

Remember, the Ta-152H is a high-altitude combat plane. DO NOT furball with one. In fact, don't even fight below 26,000 feet with one, unless you have a powerful force of friendlies within one sector and friendly bases you can dive for. Even then, you're taking a risk.

Plan on long, boring climbs, a lot of high altitude searching, and a huge adrenaline rush as perk-hungry enemies trail you all the way home - just like your Me-262 missions.

Reconnaissance: This bird is 2nd to NONE for high-altitude reconnaissance. Once it's over about 36,000 feet, nothing - absolutely nothing - is a threat to her.

La7/Me-262 killer: Neither can outrun the Ta-152H in a dive. La7's have much greater elevator authority at near-compression speeds, so they'll usually loop on you to escape. Just casually establish a nose-high attitude and climb away from him. He'll come out of his loop too far back for a shot with too little energy after the loop to chase you. Work you way over the top of him, and come around again. Eventually, you'll drive the La7 low and he'll have to run low. It's bad to follow; let your teammates deal with him. Me- 262's can outpace the Ta-152H, but only if they engage with more speed or altitude. If you're even 2000 feet higher than a Me-262, your ungodly dive acceleration will put you right on top of him. He's definitely in trouble. Unless another prop comes in higher than you to defend the Me-262, that Me-262 will never see home again.

High Escort: The Ta-152H performs in the 30,000 - 39,999 feet range of altitudes like most other planes in the 20,000 - 29,999 feet range. Loiter about behind and high on bombers, and as the enemy sends aircraft in to attack the bombers, buzz them. They'll either fixate their targets and allow an easy Ta-152H kill, or they'll loop, split-S, or break. All three maneuvers will leave them wanting for speed or altitude or both. Either way, they can't get their shots off on the bombers. Even without bombers, the presence of the Ta- 152H is highly discouraging to enemy alt-monkey tactics. You can work high bandits until they lose altitude or run low. Not great for your kills/flight ratio, but tactically, keeping the enemy low can be a wonderful thing.

Special Thanks goes out to Casper of the 327th Steel Talons for this great write up on the Ta-152H!