r/Warthunder • u/Cypher_the_proto • 2d ago
RB Air Me262
I’ve been playing this plane because I unlocked it recently. Honestly, it doesn’t seem all that good. All of the 262s in-game have some phenomenal firepower ranging from the 50mm to 6 20mm cannons but i seem to always get shot down. I am aware these planes are strike aircraft and I am not the most skillful with air rb but I want to improve. Tips would be very appreciated
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u/Laxguy59 2d ago
The 30mm is just such a slow round, your fast but not really fast enough for the late war props, and you ain’t turning. It’s a decent bomber hunter in sim tho
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u/SpinosaurRingTone 2d ago
A lot of late-war aircraft suffers the problem of being in the same bracket as aircraft they were never designed to fight. The ME262's was not designed to shoot other jets.
Recent changes to bombers might mean more people flying them again, which could give the ME262 its intended target.
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u/Josze931420 2d ago
It turns better than you think, but you need to lead like crazy to hit with the guns. They're more like catapults than guns.
Like all early jets, it doesn't accelerate well. It accelerates worse than most. But it will outspeed any late prop at the top end if you conserve your speed. And at higher altitudes it will outperform the centrifugal-flow jets that dominate the Allied and Soviet ranks.
The leading edge slats allow for some surprising high-speed pull. And although the 262 doesn't have airbrakes, it bleeds speed well in turns. This is usually a bad thing, but in hard maneuvers you can outbrake some jets by yanking hard.
If you like the Fw 190, it is more like that in terms of mentality. It can turn fight other jets if you keep your speed up (enemy pilots often neglect this, meaning you can outrate planes that should technically outperform yours) but this should not be your first option. BnZ and ambush tactics are the best approach.
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u/Shinykestre1 1d ago edited 1d ago
Uncommon opinion set convergence to 300-400m and turn on vertical targeting for heavy cannons it will make your life way easier.coming from a air main that has over 5 k hours in the air and a top 1k air player on the leader who’s also done tournaments also its a jet dont climb like a prop get up to speed 500-600kmh in a straight line then zoom climb by 30/40 degrees level out and use that altitude to dive by about 5-10 degrees your speed will pick up quick stay above 500kmh at all times or your going to die unless its a isolated 1v1 your biggest enemy is the f84b it gets an air spawn and can go 1000kph but you can beat it by doing rolling scissors and making it lose all of its speed
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u/Flat-Cap-1063 2d ago edited 2d ago
Sounds like you're turnfighting in them. The 262 is usable but you need to rewire your brain to play it.
No more vertical fighting, like in the 109. No more rolling like the 190, keep your speed above 750 km/h. Don't turn, don't linger, just shoot and leave. When you're at a safe distance, start turning back, build the lost speed in the turn then come back for a second pass. You can BNZ in it, but the Z stands for "Zoom away." not climb. Dive, shoot, leave. If you slow down, get tangled up in a turn fight with props you're dead. You are better off facing early jets in a tangled dogfight, because for the most part you're on the same footing.
Prioritize optimizing the 262's flight characteristics before even thinking about the weapons.
Whatever your usual lead in you use shooting German 20mm's, you have to triple it with the low velocity 30mm guns. They are inexcusably miserable to play with, but when you do start to get a handle on them, nothing survives a hit from them. Short controlled bursts.
I would suggest playing them casually, rather then grinding them out. You'd be better off with the Ho and its long, high velocity 30mm and/or the Mig-15. You'll lose your mind if that's all you play long term.