This plane was hilarious a few years back, you could quite easily plap someone from 2km+ with the turret accurately. It was basically invincible at 6km alt (no props could catch you) Now it overheats quickly and the gun is a water pistol 😢
it was also hilarious when you got the radar and *when* clouds would taken more than half of the air map so you were blind without the radar. That was fun hunting down the blind pilots in cloudbanks.
Controlling this thing in WT feels like piloting the Millennium Falcon: Large, but packing serious firepower. It’s one of the few prop planes I got a successful ace with in Air RB, so despite its notorious performance, it holds a special place in my heart…
I love my Black Widow, and it's one of the lowest BR planes I take out into Air RB consistently thanks to the turret, the bomb load, and the heavy firepower on those cannons. The Star Wars comparison is actually kind of funny, because the P-61 was actually the inspiration for the ARC-170 heavy fighters seen in the opening of Episode III. Of course, if the ARC-170 had a turret with coverage over the entire dorsal hemisphere and the ability to shoot straight ahead like the P-61's rather than a tradition tail gun, they MIGHT have done a bit better in that battle. :P
"A lot of bombers will be able to stay above you" - i dare to object. I have 2500+ Kills with the P-61C and there is NO bomber that ever managed to outclimb or stay "too high" for me. Not a single one. (Applies to RB only)
Fun facts: P-51 and P-47 pilots would call Blackwidow crews "Bomber Pilots" just to piss them off. I remember reading a story where a Jug and a Widow got into a mock dogfight, and the Blackwidow proceeded to beat them. How true that is, I have no idea. Also, during the POW camp raid ("The Great Raid") with the Army Rangers and Phillipine guerrillas, a lone P-61 Blackwidow (Named Hard to Get) provided air cover for the Rangers and prisoners. It shot at anything that was even remotely a threat and protected the guys on the ground.
The best aircraft for hunting bombers in Air SB. 2:52 Mark Ten, not X, it is a British design, the US designation was SCR-720. 3:21 Good thing that since then Real Shatter has been fixed and HE shells do proper damage now. 3:45 Sadly Gaijin has promised us the ability to lock the turret and fire it via the pilot but hasn't delivered it yet. 3:55 Four 1000 lb ends up being more bombs than a B-25 can carry, which is impressive. 6:30 Bomber staying above you isn't an issue as the turret was literally designed as Schräge Musik equivalent, use it to shoot bombers from below, aim for engines. 8:25 There also was another marketplace skin in the past, but it was removed for being racist.
The only plane I fear in the game and I'll just run away from. P-61 served longer after WWII than most other piston aircraft, serving as an all weather air defense interceptor for CONUS in the early Cold War until the jets came into service.
I've been hoping for this video for quit some time. i love the p-61 especially in a close air support role. its not too pricy on spawn points and you can take 4 1000lb bombs but it can be a little tricky to aim bombs in such a large aircraft
I had the oppurtunity to see this in Duxford air museum north of London where I live. They look AMAZING in real life and are one of my favourite planes. Thanks Tim, have a good one
IRL the gunner could lock the turret pointing forward and hand the control of the trigger over to the pilot. I assume the command for this was “More dakka!”
The tech tree variant has way better engines than the premium one, and I like that the black widow is actually black with a touch of red in the tech tree variant.
This thing used to get a bomb sight when it was first introduced, I spaded it using it as a medium bomber that could kill stuff after dropping payload. it was pretty funny.
In ground RB this things is a beast. You carry wonderful amount of bombs and can outrun most props at its BR that people waste their time in a match just trying to catch you.
I take this fat beauty out into Air RB whenever I have a daily task to destroy bombers. Usually, I'll stick around and do whatever I can to win the battle, and I've gotten easy aces in this thing purely due to the quad 20mm cannons, quad .50 cal turret, and surprisingly good speed and maneuverability. People will fly directly into your guns or stick on your tail, and you can shred them either way. I absolutely love this thing. Haven't taken out the premium P-61A very much, but I gather it's just a little bit worse at a slightly lower BR.
Google 'Mid Atlantic Air Museum'. They are in the process of restoring a P-61 Black Widow. When finished it will be the only flight-capable P-61 in the world.
The p61 ended up being my first "favorite" plane to fly. In air rb i just put the nose up at 11° and let her eat with the web on. I always end up above 5,000m by the time i run into bombers. Not many bombers climb above me for the first pass
Once clutched a 1v4 in this thing, ended the match doing a broadside attack against a Japanese bomber, the engines were shot by the end of the match but it was still chugging along. Ended up being a 6 kill match
This plane is rly rly good in enduring confrontation naval battles for finding other players and those ai groups and you can bomb ships effectively if need
One of my favourite plane in arcade 4.0. 4x1000lbs = 4 pillboxes. With some luck my gunner takes 1-2 enemy planes. Sometimes I fly just around and let my gunner do the job.
I really like this plane, Air Spawn and bombs if you like and the premium one is nice as well P-61A-11 perfect for BP mission to kill bombers and creep up on top of every one. Just to bad we don't get night matches in AirRB 😥 But the Rear Gunner does some good work nailing enemy planes that are near you and rips em apart with the universal belt. When I play this or the premium one easy 3 or 4 kill game minimum every game unless i feel like playing stupid. But it is pretty strong for Air RB ngl.....
it is actually really good in dogfight IF -you concentrate on keeping the ennemy in your turret angle -shoot manually with your turret during the dogfight will using you keyboard to control the aircraft
You forgot about the other skin you can buy (The Spook) I'm sure there is a reason why you didn't mention that that's if you know the story which I'm guessing Tim probably does cause he seems like he's on the ball with knowledge about military vehicles.
Now with the giant clouds, the radar is even more viable, and I was able to chase a B-25 through a giant cloud and suprise attack him with the 20mm, he thought I was off him but radar clutches
if you get in a dogfight in a p61, you can actually turn on the "simplified" control mode and swap to your turret to get shots on target while still being able to maneuver I'm still waiting for gaijijn to let us lock the turret forwards to use it as normal guns
yes it doesnt turn well... but if you bate people into turn fights and then use your keys to keep turning while hopping into your turret you can actually get alot of turret kills through that tactic... its also really funny. XD
P-61s definitely still work as heavy fighters or light bombers. @timsvariety Interestingly, a spiritual successor to this aircraft can be found in the French tree: the Vautour IIN (late). Unlike the other models, the IIN(late) loses all ground ordnance but gains an airspawn and functional air-to-air missiles at 8.3. I would (almost) suggest a quick review of that plane independent of the previous Vautour series review since it plays significantly differently from the others.
@@johnroscoe2406 I'm 24 for one. And secondly everytime I attempt to intercept bombers in the P-61 and there are xp-50s on my team they beat me to them everytime. I'm not talking out of my ass I know from experience. If anything you should grow up since you got so offended from my own personal input.
@@johnroscoe2406 it's 100% not from ignorance I've played the P-61 A LOT I even put a talisman on it. XP-50s, cause there is almost never just 1 of them. Out speed you to bombers 90% of the time they are on your team. Also 24 is an adult it basically every culture and country and physically an adult after puberty. Quit talking out of your ass just because you are older. Either that or you are just a troll which wouldn't surprise me cause warthunder is full of them.
I am still waiting for the promised "Lock turret forward" modification mentioned with its release.
This plane was hilarious a few years back, you could quite easily plap someone from 2km+ with the turret accurately. It was basically invincible at 6km alt (no props could catch you) Now it overheats quickly and the gun is a water pistol 😢
i use manual engine control and i nerver overheat, the cannons are still usable with the rework they did with realshiter
it was also hilarious when you got the radar and *when* clouds would taken more than half of the air map so you were blind without the radar. That was fun hunting down the blind pilots in cloudbanks.
*plap*
@@alexhurlbut I've gotten a few blind intercepts using the radar. Always joyful.
plap
Controlling this thing in WT feels like piloting the Millennium Falcon: Large, but packing serious firepower. It’s one of the few prop planes I got a successful ace with in Air RB, so despite its notorious performance, it holds a special place in my heart…
I love my Black Widow, and it's one of the lowest BR planes I take out into Air RB consistently thanks to the turret, the bomb load, and the heavy firepower on those cannons. The Star Wars comparison is actually kind of funny, because the P-61 was actually the inspiration for the ARC-170 heavy fighters seen in the opening of Episode III. Of course, if the ARC-170 had a turret with coverage over the entire dorsal hemisphere and the ability to shoot straight ahead like the P-61's rather than a tradition tail gun, they MIGHT have done a bit better in that battle. :P
"A lot of bombers will be able to stay above you" - i dare to object.
I have 2500+ Kills with the P-61C and there is NO bomber that ever managed to outclimb or stay "too high" for me. Not a single one. (Applies to RB only)
Oh yeah you can get bombers easily... If there isn't an XP-50 then don't waste the time climbing
Fun facts: P-51 and P-47 pilots would call Blackwidow crews "Bomber Pilots" just to piss them off. I remember reading a story where a Jug and a Widow got into a mock dogfight, and the Blackwidow proceeded to beat them. How true that is, I have no idea.
Also, during the POW camp raid ("The Great Raid") with the Army Rangers and Phillipine guerrillas, a lone P-61 Blackwidow (Named Hard to Get) provided air cover for the Rangers and prisoners. It shot at anything that was even remotely a threat and protected the guys on the ground.
The best aircraft for hunting bombers in Air SB. 2:52 Mark Ten, not X, it is a British design, the US designation was SCR-720. 3:21 Good thing that since then Real Shatter has been fixed and HE shells do proper damage now. 3:45 Sadly Gaijin has promised us the ability to lock the turret and fire it via the pilot but hasn't delivered it yet. 3:55 Four 1000 lb ends up being more bombs than a B-25 can carry, which is impressive. 6:30 Bomber staying above you isn't an issue as the turret was literally designed as Schräge Musik equivalent, use it to shoot bombers from below, aim for engines. 8:25 There also was another marketplace skin in the past, but it was removed for being racist.
i wonder hows the Removed skin looked like? is it some sort of Fictional skin?
@@mindyrauserovich8863 Maybe it had a caricature of the Japanese?
@@mindyrauserovich8863yes, it was a fictional country's skin, don't remember the name
Thank you o' bearer of P61 lore
@@onlyhereformoney175 ; No, was an USAAF skin with black face.
The only plane I fear in the game and I'll just run away from.
P-61 served longer after WWII than most other piston aircraft, serving as an all weather air defense interceptor for CONUS in the early Cold War until the jets came into service.
I've been hoping for this video for quit some time. i love the p-61 especially in a close air support role. its not too pricy on spawn points and you can take 4 1000lb bombs but it can be a little tricky to aim bombs in such a large aircraft
I'm trying to fit more vids of interesting/unusual prop aircraft in. Sadly, they get nothing for views, but I still enjoy making them. :-)
I had the oppurtunity to see this in Duxford air museum north of London where I live. They look AMAZING in real life and are one of my favourite planes. Thanks Tim, have a good one
IRL the gunner could lock the turret pointing forward and hand the control of the trigger over to the pilot. I assume the command for this was “More dakka!”
The tech tree variant has way better engines than the premium one, and I like that the black widow is actually black with a touch of red in the tech tree variant.
This thing used to get a bomb sight when it was first introduced, I spaded it using it as a medium bomber that could kill stuff after dropping payload. it was pretty funny.
In ground RB this things is a beast. You carry wonderful amount of bombs and can outrun most props at its BR that people waste their time in a match just trying to catch you.
Airfix Dogfighter, ah the memories.
Oj grało się kiedyś :D
I take this fat beauty out into Air RB whenever I have a daily task to destroy bombers. Usually, I'll stick around and do whatever I can to win the battle, and I've gotten easy aces in this thing purely due to the quad 20mm cannons, quad .50 cal turret, and surprisingly good speed and maneuverability. People will fly directly into your guns or stick on your tail, and you can shred them either way.
I absolutely love this thing. Haven't taken out the premium P-61A very much, but I gather it's just a little bit worse at a slightly lower BR.
my favorite and best plane
Google 'Mid Atlantic Air Museum'. They are in the process of restoring a P-61 Black Widow. When finished it will be the only flight-capable P-61 in the world.
The p61 ended up being my first "favorite" plane to fly. In air rb i just put the nose up at 11° and let her eat with the web on. I always end up above 5,000m by the time i run into bombers. Not many bombers climb above me for the first pass
Once clutched a 1v4 in this thing, ended the match doing a broadside attack against a Japanese bomber, the engines were shot by the end of the match but it was still chugging along. Ended up being a 6 kill match
This plane is rly rly good in enduring confrontation naval battles for finding other players and those ai groups and you can bomb ships effectively if need
This thing is almost as big as the top comment's mother!
Well women in our family are well endowed, thank you.
One of my favourite plane in arcade 4.0. 4x1000lbs = 4 pillboxes. With some luck my gunner takes 1-2 enemy planes. Sometimes I fly just around and let my gunner do the job.
I really like this plane, Air Spawn and bombs if you like and the premium one is nice as well P-61A-11 perfect for BP mission to kill bombers and creep up on top of every one. Just to bad we don't get night matches in AirRB 😥 But the Rear Gunner does some good work nailing enemy planes that are near you and rips em apart with the universal belt. When I play this or the premium one easy 3 or 4 kill game minimum every game unless i feel like playing stupid. But it is pretty strong for Air RB ngl.....
imagine if your gunner actually worked on his own, this thing would be even more deadly
I think it does but it’s just really rare for it to actually fire
@@GalacticTommy they only shoot within .25 km, which is what they’re talking about them not “working”
Favorite looking hidden gem twin engine
Loved this plane ever since I buzzed around with it in the old Airfix Dogfighter game.
This thing is insane in air sim
Funny, the broken bird in black friday"sale"
it is actually really good in dogfight IF
-you concentrate on keeping the ennemy in your turret angle
-shoot manually with your turret during the dogfight will using you keyboard to control the aircraft
You forgot about the other skin you can buy (The Spook) I'm sure there is a reason why you didn't mention that that's if you know the story which I'm guessing Tim probably does cause he seems like he's on the ball with knowledge about military vehicles.
You didnt mention just how fragile it is. A few stray shots can easily rip your tail off.
Hello Tim would you mind making a video about the J-7D because i find it in a intresting place right now in the wartunder br
Someone dug up the ARC-170 design from a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...
Review about the brigand pls? One of the rarest aircraft in the game despite being available for free
Spawning at 4kmis wild tho so like in 3min your at 7-8km
Big issue-rear tail. one shot and it is uncontrolable
Now with the giant clouds, the radar is even more viable, and I was able to chase a B-25 through a giant cloud and suprise attack him with the 20mm, he thought I was off him but radar clutches
if you get in a dogfight in a p61, you can actually turn on the "simplified" control mode and swap to your turret to get shots on target while still being able to maneuver
I'm still waiting for gaijijn to let us lock the turret forwards to use it as normal guns
It’s a very good aircraft in sim battles too. You can go third person and you have a search radar
My top turret will not engage shit.
yes it doesnt turn well... but if you bate people into turn fights and then use your keys to keep turning while hopping into your turret you can actually get alot of turret kills through that tactic... its also really funny. XD
3:50 how do you lock the gun forward?
it is not locking it forward, it is just facing and therefore fireing forward by default. For stuff behind, it needs to turn around (painfully slow)
@@emmata98oh i thought he was inplying you can fire it with your main gun
@@LarySeeAircraft no
Yeah real pilots could do that and Snail said it was going to be added.. like 5 years ago lol@@LarySeeAircraft
AV-8B+ video soon please!
I love this plane
i know theyd never add it, but this aircraft would be AWESOME as a 2 player vehicle.
A favorite plane of mine. Not big on it as an ARB plane but it's been a great companion in RGB
weird for me most of the time the turret is usless unless im using it
enemy is sitting high on my 6 and the turret wont even try to turn around
the front of the plane plus the gun turret reminds me of that weird and ugly x wing like thing in the prequels
It should, since the ARC-170 was based on the Black Widow
@@TheMachoManlyMan huh, neat
Should I change the height settings on the radar or keep it stock
Its personal preference - wider scanning takes longer, but sees more.
@@TimsVariety thanks man
P-61s definitely still work as heavy fighters or light bombers.
@timsvariety Interestingly, a spiritual successor to this aircraft can be found in the French tree: the Vautour IIN (late). Unlike the other models, the IIN(late) loses all ground ordnance but gains an airspawn and functional air-to-air missiles at 8.3. I would (almost) suggest a quick review of that plane independent of the previous Vautour series review since it plays significantly differently from the others.
This is the best thing I ever saw.
Nerfed to near uselessness.
People who use this thing to bomb and ground pound in Air RB drive me nuts. It's a bomber killer; perhaps the best in the game at its BR spread.
XP-50 enters the chat and beats you to every bomber
@@TainyaGaming Um. No. You have no idea what you are talking about. Also stop with the cringe "entered the chat" meme kid. Grow up.
@@johnroscoe2406 I'm 24 for one. And secondly everytime I attempt to intercept bombers in the P-61 and there are xp-50s on my team they beat me to them everytime. I'm not talking out of my ass I know from experience. If anything you should grow up since you got so offended from my own personal input.
@@TainyaGaming Your personal input is based on complete ignorance, and 24 is a kid.
@@johnroscoe2406 it's 100% not from ignorance I've played the P-61 A LOT I even put a talisman on it. XP-50s, cause there is almost never just 1 of them. Out speed you to bombers 90% of the time they are on your team. Also 24 is an adult it basically every culture and country and physically an adult after puberty. Quit talking out of your ass just because you are older. Either that or you are just a troll which wouldn't surprise me cause warthunder is full of them.
YEEEEEEEES!
goofy plane
Rat plane.
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C-c-c-combo breaker
Could you ro a review on the T-2 Early since it got a nice buff?
I may at some point, but it won't be soon. Its still incredibly similar to the regular T-2, which I already have a review of.