Flying the P38, P40 & P47 in Combat

[Ecliptik]

And since no other plane is capable of reaching 0 mph in a vertical zoom, the 38 has a definite edge there.  In the 38 it's often possible to rope someone who has a little more initial energy than you, especially with double and triple immelmans.

[simshell]

how did the P38 fair in europe say during 41 to 43 thats if it was there in 41

[Ack-Ack]

Originally posted by simshell
how did the P38 fair in europe say during 41 to 43 thats if it was there in 41

The P-38F was active in Euro in '42.  There were some early mechanical problems with the early P-38s that hindered its performance at high altitudes and coupled with extremely poor pilot training and 8th AAF politics, gave the impression that the P-38 was at best a second or third rate fighter.  Even though by the time the P-38J-25-L0 series rolled out that fixed most of the problems and then the L model that also had the fixes and improvements to the airframe, the 8thAAF high command which had a bomber pilot's mentality had pretty much written off the P-38 as an effective fighter.  Of course they were proven wrong when you look at the record of the P-38 in the MTO and the PTO/CBO theaters.


Ack-Ack

[Murdr]

Originally posted by Ack-Ack
They can't catch you if they're flopping around below you stalled out.  



ack-ack

It was even in Lockheeds newsletter

[eilif]

I have been having alot of fun "tumbling" the p38 with one engine, you can really snap it around like this, turning off one eng at critical stall while performing a hammer then providing aggressive throttle in that eng so you dont swing like a clock pendelum. Also i am working on regaining control once put into a complete crazy spin, trying to turn it upside down and using alerons backwards when falling to your 6 and such. I bet skill at doing this would work well fighting a6ms and spits.

I wonder what kinda moves bong did, i  hear he beat the heck out of his plane, poping rivets and bending the air frame from his intense flying, which suggests he did some crazy arobatic moves.

It seems i find something amazing the p38 can do every day.