G.91 R/4 (Germany)
Contents
Description
The ◄G.91 R/4 is a premium rank V German jet fighter with a battle rating of 8.3 (AB), 8.7 (RB), and 9.0 (SB). It was introduced in Update "Starfighters" as a premium purchasable in-game for Golden Eagles . It was later added to the store as a premium pack in Update "Ixwa Strike" until it was removed after the 9th Anniversary Sale, but was later re-introduced as a regular in-game premium for .
The R/4 is a variant of the G.91 jet fighter that has been modified for ground attack, allowing it access to a competitive selection of air-to-ground ordnance such as bombs, rockets, and high-explosive air-to-ground missiles. The R/4 also has the option to equip two different types of air-to-air missiles; the IR-tracking AIM-9B Sidewinder missile, or the command-guided AA-20 Nord missile.
The G.91 R/4 is a very nimble fighter with relatively average top speed and fairly good acceleration. Best played as a support fighter, the G.91 R/4 can use its incredible roll and turn rates to quickly get guns on target, as well as to dodge the typically less manoeuvrable fighters that it shares its battle ratings with.
The main difference between the R/3 and the R/4 is the armament choice. While the former has more powerful cannons, it lacks the capability to mount air-to-air missiles while the later is the opposite, weaker machine guns but it is able to use air-to-air missiles.
General info
Flight performance
The G.91 was intended to replace the F-86A Sabre in German, Portuguese and Italian service and it shows. With an empty weight of only 3,100 kg (6,800 lbs) and a takeoff weight of 5,500 kg (12,100 lbs) the Gina is in the weight class as the P-51D and MiG-9, yet severely lighter than most other jets and losing about one and a half tonnes compared to the Sabre A.
Although only outputting a meagre 22 kN of thrust, this first look disadvantage is literally outweighed by the high thrust to weight ratio of 0.73 empty (0.41 full). This makes the Gina an excellent dogfighter as jet fighters maintain both their top speed, climb and sustained turn-rate by their engine power rather than other flight characteristics. It can easily reach its own terminal speed (1,011 km/h, 921 ft/s) and self-destruct in level flight.
Lacking in straight wings and leading wing slats, the stall speed for the G.91 is higher than the low weight leads one to assume. One should hence be wary of many older jet types with said features, as after bleeding too much speed they can easily out-manoeuvre the Gina.
Starting with 20 min of fuel, gaining the climb speed of 800 km/h IAS (sustainable @ 7-8°; 730 ft/s) takes a mere ~80 seconds with 20 predicated for taking off at 230 km/h or 210 ft/s IAS. An Immelmann at 800 km/h will gain 1000 m and lose 300 km/h. A hard 180° turn at the same speed takes >100 km/h and may lose up to 60 m.
Characteristics | Max Speed (km/h at 0 m - sea level) |
Max altitude (metres) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (metres/second) |
Take-off run (metres) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | |||
Stock | 1,066 | 1,042 | 11000 | 27.4 | 28.0 | 30.4 | 29.5 | 850 |
Upgraded | 1,097 | 1,084 | 24.7 | 26.0 | 48.8 | 39.0 |
Details
Features | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Combat flaps | Take-off flaps | Landing flaps | Air brakes | Arrestor gear | Drogue chute |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ |
Limits | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wings (km/h) | Gear (km/h) | Flaps (km/h) | Max Static G | |||
Combat | Take-off | Landing | + | - | ||
1128 | 345 | 589 | 550 | 345 | ~11 | ~5 |
Optimal velocities (km/h) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Ailerons | Rudder | Elevators | Radiator |
< 800 | < 650 | < 660 | N/A |
Engine performance
Engine | Aircraft mass | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Engine name | Number | Empty mass | Wing loading (full fuel) | ||||
Bristol Orpheus MK.803 | 1 | 3,477 kg | 289 kg/m2 | ||||
Engine characteristics | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) | Max Takeoff Weight | |||||
Weight (each) | Type | 9m fuel | 20m fuel | 30m fuel | 32m fuel | ||
380 kg | Axial-flow turbojet | 3,837 kg | 4,269 kg | 4,662 kg | 4,740 kg | 5,800 kg | |
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB) | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (101%) | ||||||
Condition | 100% | 101% | 9m fuel | 20m fuel | 30m fuel | 32m fuel | MTOW |
Stationary | 2,212 kgf | 2,234 kgf | 0.58 | 0.52 | 0.48 | 0.47 | 0.39 |
Optimal | 2,212 kgf (0 km/h) |
2,234 kgf (0 km/h) |
0.58 | 0.52 | 0.48 | 0.47 | 0.39 |
Survivability and armour
- 40 mm Bulletproof glass in front of the pilot
- 6.5 mm Steel plate, starts in the pilot's seat, goes below the pilot, ends in front of the pilot
- 6.5 mm Steel plate below a fuel tank in the centre-front of the fuselage
- 6.5 mm Steel plate below a fuel tank in the centre-rear of the fuselage
Though the G.91 R/4 does have a decent amount of armour spaced out between the centre and front of the fuselage, the steel plates will only be sufficient to protect the pilot and aircraft from lower calibre fire (7.92 mm to 7.62 mm machine guns will only penetrate at very close ranges). And, thanks to the sacrifices made to lighten the aircraft, the airframe is not particularly reinforced. The wings are very thin, and susceptible to being out-right broken off by most-all primary armaments the G.91 will face at its tier, and the fuselage is full of juicy fuel tanks as well as the single engine of the R/4. Even more so than most planes, the G.91 R/4 is not capable of taking any hits. Even low calibre fire, such as that from .50 calibre machine guns, can cripple an R/4 nigh-immediately, and necessitate an immediate return-to-base.
Modifications and economy
Armaments
Suspended armament
The G.91 R/4 (Germany) can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
12.7 mm M3 Browning machine guns (300 rpg) | 2 | 2* | |||||
500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs | 1 | 1 | |||||
500 lb Mk 82 Snakeye bombs | 1 | 1 | |||||
Aerea 559G1 incendiary bombs | 1 | 1 | |||||
FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets | 19 | 19 | |||||
AA-20 Nord missiles | 1* | 1* | 1* | 1* | |||
AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
AS-20 Nord missiles | 1* | 1* | 1* | 1* | |||
Maximum permissible weight imbalance: 390 kg | |||||||
* MCLOS missiles cannot be carried in conjunction with machine guns on hardpoint 4 |
Default weapon presets | |
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|
Featuring a wide range of ordnance, the G.91 R/4 can be equipped for any role from ground to air combat, though it prefers air superiority.
The M3 Browning is a new weapon in the German arsenal at rank V and compared to the previous experiences a let down. The rate of fire is phenomenal, but the small calibre and ammo size put a serious damper to the mood, that is in comparison of course. In practise and with good aim, it can easily shred fighters. The high bullet velocity and fire rate is quite the advantage in the fast pace world of jet combat, ensuring hits in deflection shots were the lower rate of fire found in the Soviet jet fighters might have failed the pilot.
Yet one will always look onto greener pastures, especially as the Gina only has four guns unlike all other Browning armed jets. No matter how you turn it, the armament is only manageable with skill and outright bad for a beginner.
For air-to-ground purposes, the G.91 R/4 is similar to the G.91 R/3 in loadout options, sharing the same FFAR Mighty Mouse rocket option as well as the choice of a pair of 500 lb bombs. However, the G.91 R/4 must sacrifice half of its machine guns to carry 4 x AS-20 Nord air-to-ground missiles.
Air-to-air ordnance selection is where the G.91 R/4 stands out from its brethren; the G.91 R/4 is able to load the unique AA-20 Nord air-to-air missiles; keyboard guided missiles with a 15 metre proximity fuse. Unlike infrared-guided missiles in War Thunder, the AA-20 Nords do not warn targets of a missile launch giving R/4 pilots the element of surprise, and the Nord's proximity fuse increases the chance of long-range launches striking a target as well as successful head-ons, though these perks come at the demand of a much higher skill floor for usage.
Usage in battles
Due to the G.91 R/4's notably lower speed and high-end acceleration as compared to its contemporaries, the R/4 should be played as a support fighter; meaning the pilot should seek to stick near teammates rather than hunting targets solo, and opt to pick off hostile aircraft that are engaged and distracted with/by allied fighters. The G.91 airframe is exceptionally agile, and the R/4 is no exception; even heavily manoeuvring targets are easy for this plane to keep the nose on. The plane's exceptional roll and turn rates are its biggest strengths, and the pilot should seek to use that to their advantage rather than attempting to fight speed or energy battles.
Make use of the G.91 R/4's varied suspended armaments to dispatch a variety of targets. The AIM-9B is very easy to use missile and can force faster targets to manoeuvre, slowing them down, and can sometimes even net target destructions. Be careful when using this missile around friendlies though, as a misguided Sidewinder will destroy allied aircraft. The AA-20 Nord is a much more difficult missile to use, but it has a far longer effective range and can often surprise enemies who expect a warning from enemy missile launches. Use the massive range and proximity fuse to take down faster targets flying away from you, and consider using them to destroy bombers such as the often-seen Vautour IIB, Vautour IIA, and Israeli Vautour IIA, who not only are far less able to dodge missiles but also have larger airframes that trigger the proximity fuse from longer distances.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Exceptional manoeuvrability, with very high roll and turn rates
- Varied and effective suspended armament choices
- Access to air-to-air missiles, including the AA-20 Nord
- Access to 4 x AS-20 Nord like its predecessor
Cons:
- Relatively low calibre primary armament (four .50 cal Brownings)
- Slower than most of its contemporaries
- Very fragile airframe
- Poor energy retention
History
The G.91 R/3 was the primary West German variant of the Fiat-made light fighter, with 50 built in Italy and another 294 under license in West Germany. It had more powerful armament, added two wing hardpoints, and improved avionics compared to the Italian G.91 R-1s. The 50 R/4 that followed were identical to the R/3 other than in terms of armament. The R/4 supposed to have been sold to Greece and Turkey, but after that sale fell through they entered West German service instead.
Media
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See also
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- reference to the series of the aircraft;
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External links
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See also | North American Aviation · Lockheed Martin |
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