Here's another reason to fly the P-38:
Acceleration, medium altitude - 20,000 feet. Adjust speed until steady at 200 mph, apply full available power. Time required to accelerate to 300 mph.
Time is seconds:
P-38J/L: 27.47
F4U-4: 28.59
SpitXIV: 28.90
109G-10: 29.28
190D-9: 30.78
P-47D-40: 31.42
109G-6: 32.35
P-51D: 34.01
SpitIX: 34.41
P-38G: 38.78
Tempest: 39.63
La-7: 40.10
Ki-84: 41.97
This is quite a turn around from the acceleration performance at sea level. At 20,000 feet the P-38J/L simply leaves every other prop fighter in the game in its exhaust fumes. Even the big Jug is beginning to show its higher altitude strength. We can also see how balanced the F4U-4 is. It's acceleration time from 200 mph to 300 mph at 20,000 feet is the same as its time at sea level (actually .01 seconds difference). This only reinforces my opinion that the F4U-4 is the game's best fighter. At 20k, the SpitXIV, 109G-10 and Dora show their potency. All have excellent performance at this altitude.
We see the P-51D and SpitIX close together, trailing the 109G-6.
The low level monsters did poorly. Of these, the Tempest accelerates best, followed by the La-7 and the Ki-84 bringing up the rear. If you take either of these up this high, virtually every other fighter tested here has the performance to eat you up. Even the P-38G accelerates and climbs better at 20k than these fighters.
My regards,
Widewing
