Author Topic: P-38 Flying tips (Read 962 times)

LePaul · « **on:** April 07, 2006, 05:12:31 PM »

I dont think the last patch totally hurt the airplane...its still one of my favorites.

Id be curious, from you P-38 pros, some tips on flying and fighting in it.

I've pretty much kept my fights up high and my only real advantage being climb against most of the Main Arena birds. But, the P-38 is a much larger aircraft so its not a hard bird to down.

So share the knowledge!

I fly the G, J and L equally...curious pros/cons to each model

Thanks!

Hoarach · « **Reply #1 on:** April 07, 2006, 05:19:16 PM »

38G=Stevie Wonder Special. Turns the best, not as fast as the others, no wep.
38J= Fast, good acceleration, not good in dive. Wep
38L= Fast, heavier, best in dive as has dive flaps. Skins are nicer. Wep

Its controversial to whether the 38J or 38L is faster or turns better. Some say the 38J turns better then the L and others say opposite as well which one is faster.

To me I think the 38J is the best model but others would say the 38L. Its really to whichever one you feel more comfortable in. 38s take quite a bit of damage but dont try HO's as will get a PW real quick. Buffs seem to easily give 38s pw easily so if see a buff try to attack from high 6.

The flaps on the 38 are porked with a bug in the last patch so if can try to avoid using full flaps if can.

Furball · « **Reply #2 on:** April 07, 2006, 06:06:29 PM »

p38G - sucks, auger on takeoff and save someone ammo
p38J - sucks, auger on takeoff and save someone ammo
p38l - sucks, dont waste runway wear and leave it in hangar

i hope this helps

Quote

Originally posted by Hoarach
38G=Stevie Wonder Special.

Saxman · « **Reply #3 on:** April 07, 2006, 06:59:52 PM »

Biggest problem I've found trying to shoot down a 38 is that she's a very deceptive target. She's a big bird, yeah, but from some angles (especially from dead-six) she presents a very small target. Full plane is similarly tough because you've got a big, gaping hole between the main wing and tail assembly that always seems to swallow up bullets.

RAIDER14 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 07, 2006, 07:26:42 PM »

P-38 is a good plane it can take a pounding:aok

LePaul · « **Reply #5 on:** April 07, 2006, 07:37:25 PM »

Well my biggest "like" about it this week is if it takes an engine oil hit, you can still see out the windsheild!

Hoarach · « **Reply #6 on:** April 07, 2006, 09:28:46 PM »

And have two of everything except the pilot.

SAS_KID · « **Reply #7 on:** April 07, 2006, 11:16:28 PM »

i use to pretty good with the 38 but now since the patch i can barely get below 150 in a dogfight before an uncontrollable spin but here is what i say now

P38G=Leave for the vulching turns better slower thus making it better to vulch
P38J=Buffet for me seems crazy high and stalls real easy use for dusk with black skin makes it harder to hit skin is by Jager not sure what unit
P38L=Actualy worth a try in a dogfight but mostly the attack role.

DoKGonZo · « **Reply #8 on:** April 08, 2006, 10:47:46 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by LePaul
Well my biggest "like" about it this week is if it takes an engine oil hit, you can still see out the windsheild!

OTOH bullets find the windshield real easy. I get more PW in the 38 than any other plane ... including the A20G.

bozon · « **Reply #9 on:** April 08, 2006, 11:17:00 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by DoKGonZo
I get more PW in the 38 than any other plane ... including the A20G.

Try a mossie.

Bozon

Kweassa · « **Reply #10 on:** April 08, 2006, 11:49:15 PM »

Quote

Try a mossie.

Or a Ki-84.

DoKGonZo · « **Reply #11 on:** April 09, 2006, 12:03:44 AM »

The 190A8 is my plane again since the latest patch.

Grits · « **Reply #12 on:** April 09, 2006, 09:30:10 AM »

Kweassa, maybe its the way we fly, but I cant remember ever getting a PW in a Ki84 (probably because if I die I explode outright) while I get a PW in the P-38 what seems like every time I fly one.

My tips for the P-38:

Use flaps early and often, but dont "horse" it around like a Spit, let the plane work itself around with relatively light stick force.

Use the verticle

Use climbing spirals in the opposite direction most single engine planes want to go.

Other than that, its pretty much like anything else.

indy007 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 10, 2006, 12:45:42 PM »

What Grits said. A few more helpful bits though...

The G doesn't have power-boosted ailerons like the other 2. The J is actually pretty fast in a rolling scissors above 300mph. You can get alot of people to overshoot that way. The L has all the advantages, but people like to overlook it as a fighter because of it's reputation as a pork-n-auger dumptruck.

Gotta reinforce what Grits said, the key really is to use just half deflection once your first notch of flaps go out. It's really easy to overcontrol and wipe out any advantage. Tiny movements and the aircraft does all the work for you. Play around like that offline, dump flaps (@ 300mph down), use varying amounts of stick, and you'll see the difference. Once you see it for yourself, it's a whole new aircraft. Worked for me.

And until it's patched, don't get slow & past 3 or 4 notches of flaps. Used to be able to get down to 50mph, full flaps & gear down, now I'm falling out of the sky @ 130+

Guppy35 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 10, 2006, 01:23:25 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by indy007
What Grits said. A few more helpful bits though...

The G doesn't have power-boosted ailerons like the other 2. The J is actually pretty fast in a rolling scissors above 300mph. You can get alot of people to overshoot that way. The L has all the advantages, but people like to overlook it as a fighter because of it's reputation as a pork-n-auger dumptruck.

Gotta reinforce what Grits said, the key really is to use just half deflection once your first notch of flaps go out. It's really easy to overcontrol and wipe out any advantage. Tiny movements and the aircraft does all the work for you. Play around like that offline, dump flaps (@ 300mph down), use varying amounts of stick, and you'll see the difference. Once you see it for yourself, it's a whole new aircraft. Worked for me.

And until it's patched, don't get slow & past 3 or 4 notches of flaps. Used to be able to get down to 50mph, full flaps & gear down, now I'm falling out of the sky @ 130+

The J model is an early J-10. No power boosted ailerons there either. That was J-25 and L models.

Still flying nothing but the 38G when it comes to 38s. Can't get as slow and turning in the weeds now but it's still a fun ride