Two questions about defense

[SlapShot]

Originally posted by Steve
What were ya doing w/ elevator trim?

You mean we can trim our elevators ?!?!?!


Just kidding ...

I have been flying the P38 as of late, and if you don't fly that monster with manual trim, you are flying a "Bus"

I have to agree wholeheartly with poop ... you should have taken it to them. Even tho they were higher, I would have trimmed nose down a little to get some decent speed for a good zoom, if needed, and flew under them to see if they would come down. If one or both started to come down, I would then trim nose up a little and wait for them to commit to the attack. Once they were within guns range (real close), I would zoom up and over and then re-evaluate from there.

Point being is that the 38 can zoom and fight at that altitude with either of those planes.

[Steve]

in an LA7 no p51 b or d is going to beat me, ever, stay above if poss 7 k, and extend extend,

Reahehehehehly?

[dedalos]

Originally posted by Steve
Reahehehehehly?

I'll get you.  One of these days.  Just stand still will you?

[DoctorYO]

Scenario 1:

Whenever your in the combat zone you should consider highspeed climb as your climbout option..  you trade climbrate for manuevering speed, and in the combat area this is a good tradeoff..

try 2k/min at 250mph ias in the 38...

(exp my zeke has been doing 1.5k at 250mph recently)


at 250 you pop flaps and manuever with just about anything becuase thats near your corner velocity..

If you turned at first contact you could have gained enough distance to give you options for a reverse.  At 18k you got plenty of air to out turn these guys..  Dont wait, make your choice and follow thru with it..

In the p38 you should be using Bruce Lee tactics...  Be like water..  when you enemy comes hard, parry soft (turn and burners use e tactics) When enemy comes soft, hit them hard.. (use turn and burn against Boom and Zoomers)

38 is real jack of all trades, you got into a tail chase and thats no good..  Mix it up in that enviroment..

Scenario 2:

Wipass sums it up nicely..   Why you were you engaging two higher cons in a e fighter/B&Z mobile...  In zeke (not recommended) or spitfire or some other turner and burner you have more leverage with a lesser e state but in a stang you really need every ounce of E you can muster...  

At first contact interrogate them (check for radar blip, there heading, relative speed) if they are cons not friendlies and your in a e fighter grab and then engage them..  At a minimum of equal e states you hit them...  One plane maybe youll be able to mix it up but 2 or 3 is not recomended if you want to survive considering your paltry e state vs higher cons..

In short avoid higher con engagement when you dont have #'s, exceptional pilots nearby (thats tenative) or your not in a turn and burner...

2 cents



DoctorYo

[hogenbor]

I agree on that I did the worst possible thing in the P-38, but you have to find out the hard way. As you might imagine I am used to the P-51B which thrives at high speed. Can handle the 109's too and I know how to walk the thin line between control and compression (with elevator trim of course). Just not familiar enough with the P-38.

And where does it say I can't fly towards two cons? I was at 18.000 feet! Plenty high enough most of the time. Point is that they were seeking me out and attacked me agressively, even when I was hurtling down towards my buddies. May have had something to do with the fact that the guy that shot me down was killed by me minutes before (got his wingman too) so they might have wanted a little revenge

Normally I carefully weigh my chances but this happened all very fast. I do check radar, relative position, height, friendies nearby, the lot. I have leaned something in 1.5 years but it never seems to be enough.