Originally posted by Benny Moore
My complaint is that all of the real evidence says that, given equal terms, the P-38 should out-turn the Me-109 below 250 M.P.H. But in the simulator, this is not so. In fact, it takes quite a difference in pilot skill to make the P-38 out-turn a 109. Do I do it? All the time! But can I do it against a pilot of the same skill? No. And the graphs - kindly provided by Widewing and others - prove that in the simulator, the Me-109 is absolutely superior in turning. And that's wrong.
Once, a good friend and I did an experiment. We both flew P-38 and set up an equal energy merge. Performing nothing but flat turns on the deck, neither of us could get on the other's tail after five minutes. Then we hopped in Me-109s; the result was the same. But when we tried P-38 and Me-109, the Me-109 always won, regardless of who was flying it.
I make no claims of being a superduper pilot.
but I think you would be able to find quite a few people who would agree Im pretty decent in the 109F.
I have had 38's out turn me in various situations. and I have out turned 38s in various situations.
From m experience it seems to me that yes the 38 can indeed out turn the 109 in this game in an extended flat turns.
Which is why I try to not get into extended flat turns with a 38 with a decent pilot. Once, maybe twice around then its time to do something else or die.
No personal offence intended but I think this has more to due with your frustration of not being able to do what you think the 38 can do as opposed to just what the 38 can do.
In short what Im saying. the 38 CAN do what you claim. You just cant seem to manage to do it. For some reason your just not getting HOW to do it.
Reminds me of a friend of mine who used to play here.
Loved the idea of the pony and what it should be able to do.
Problem is for the longest time and by that I mean YEARS. He found himself being unable to do what the P51 was supposed to do.
His complaints over Vox among us that flew with him were alot like yours here in this thread. "The P51 is supposed to do this or that. But it doesnt here. The plane must be modeled wrong"
His complaining got so bad I used to joke and call him Eeyore
No. the plane wasnt modeled wrong. he. for whatever reason just couldnt figure out whatever it was he needed to to do to make the plane fly the way it was supposed to.
then one day, literally it clicked for him. Whatever it was he was doing wrong. or wasnt doing he finally figured out how to get right. After that it was off to the races for him.
The problem probably is not that the 38 is undermodeled. but rather you just havent figured out that little thing your either doing wrong. or not doing that will allow you to fly it to its full potential.
Alot of people here say "Its the pilot not the plane"
I say its a bit of both
But as a percentage the pilot is slightly more of a determining factor then the plane
And the right combination of pilot type to plane type is probably more cucial then anythng.
Lets face it. we all have out different strengths and weaknesses and no two people are alike.
Given two pilots of equal skill one pilot may eventually down another because that pilot played his strength to the others weaknesses. The very next flight. it might go the other way for the same reasons.
Now overall one pilots skills may be pretty much the same.
But no matter who you are. Nobody is perfect in all areas. We each have some areas we are better in then others.
Just like the planes
As much as a love for the 38 you have. Maybe the 38 just isnt your plane.
Not cause your a poor pilot. but your total strengths and weaknesses do gell well with the 38s.
Or
Could be that like my friend. For whatever reason your just not getting that certain "thing" that your not doing right to make the plane perform the way you beleive it should.
All too often here. as in real life we tend to shift the blame to someone other then ourselves. Saying it must be the fault of this or that rather then looking at ourselves.
As an extreme exaple I point to my son. when he was about 10 years old he wanted to light the candles on his birthday cake. So I handed him the Bic lighter and said. Have at it.
Where he proceeded to point the lighter upside down at the candle and lit the lighter.
Well flame and heat having this natural tendancy to travel up did exactly that. Burning his finger at which point he thre the lighter down and exclaimed "Stupid peice of junk lighter!"
It wasnt the lighers fault at all. But the operator.
now Im not saying your a poor pilot. I have no idea how good or bad you are.
You may be damn good at it for all I know.
But your probably missing some small thing that is keeping you from getting the 38 from performing correctly
