How to A-5C?

[Akagi]

I genuinly can't figure out how to play this thing. Like, everyone says it's OP because Matra Magics but with the spam of A-10s, Su-25s, AV-8s and F-5Cs at this br they feel obsolete if a person decides to look behind or above and presses flare once. My tactic of climbing and diving downalso gets hindered by Mig-21s and F-8s who I have no chance engaging in a 1v1 and should I dive down i'll have the issue of wing rip at 1400-1500 kph as well as such stiff control surfaces that I basically loose my entire speed advantage or zoom by without getting my guns lined up for a shot.

I'd appreciate any help and good advice that could help me understand this plane and git gudder at it

[Colonel Jason]

Use boom and zoom,thats all you can do really.Magics are good on paper but they are flare hungry so try to launch them at the people who don't pay attention and dont even try to missile the A-10s as you can gun them very easily,even though you fail don't get in the dogfight with them.As for F-5Cs,I can't give any advice as they are pain in my ass too.

[Dimebag]

Use it to bomb + missiles and try to get kills on easier targets.
I average 20k a match (Though as China I only win 1/7 games)

[nirvana_sth]

Originally posted by Akagi:

I genuinly can't figure out how to play this thing. Like, everyone says it's OP because Matra Magics but with the spam of A-10s, Su-25s, AV-8s and F-5Cs at this br they feel obsolete if a person decides to look behind or above and presses flare once. My tactic of climbing and diving downalso gets hindered by Mig-21s and F-8s who I have no chance engaging in a 1v1 and should I dive down i'll have the issue of wing rip at 1400-1500 kph as well as such stiff control surfaces that I basically loose my entire speed advantage or zoom by without getting my guns lined up for a shot.

I'd appreciate any help and good advice that could help me understand this plane and git gudder at it

A-5C is one of my most favourite planes in the game, and the only plane in which i could do a 1v3, even 1v5 once.
when i got it first i really disliked it, as it turned like a boat and i could not understand how to engage other planes.
the best grinding method is use bombs on a base, then engage in dogfight.
how to dogfight? energy trap your opponents. how? go up. A-5C is based on MiG-19, and that means you have an excellent energy retention, other planes don't.
go up until they are stalled, then come down and get an easy kill. then repeat.
it is the best premium in the game, bar none.

[SirLlamaGeddon]

The plane has a high skill level in order to play it (besides the missiles). You use your energy and air brake to gain kills. Flaps are worthless and never dive while wepping.

[Futuristic Hexagon]

It was stronger before equals got around it, and Missiles got hard nerfs against CMs (especially R-60s and Magics.)

With that said, I'm one of the crazy folks who prefer to stock the AIM-9P on it. You get longer legs in exchange for some maneuverability. Great for sneaking in kills.

It recently got a ballistic computer with a rather full suite, so it helps it a lot when it comes to taking on ground targets (it previously got nothing, like the F-5C.)

Anyways, it's in essence a heavier MiG-19 without a radar and better missiles. I love its high thrust that lets it climb at a 40 degree angle and still accelerate (when armed with just missiles.) I found stocking enhanced flares helps against most missiles it sees. Being careful with the throttle is a must too as mentioned as it reaches top speed very easily when used as a fighter. Good throttle and airbrakeanagment is the game here.