Why is the P-38 so underestamated in Aces High

[Brooke]

For you guys who fly P-38's a lot, what do you do about the view through the gunsight in the P-38G?  That thick layer of glass makes it so that I have a hard time seeing an aircraft I'm targeting.  Is there anything you guys do about that (other than not fly the G model)?

Also, for those of you who fly it a lot, what are some of your favorite tactics?

[Guppy35]

Originally posted by Brooke
For you guys who fly P-38's a lot, what do you do about the view through the gunsight in the P-38G?  That thick layer of glass makes it so that I have a hard time seeing an aircraft I'm targeting.  Is there anything you guys do about that (other than not fly the G model)?

Also, for those of you who fly it a lot, what are some of your favorite tactics?

Since I fly the G about 99% of the time I don't even notice the view anymore.  If I get in a J or L it seems more restrictive, but that's because I'm just used to the G.

[thrila]

Why on earth would anyone wish to fly the p38 when there is the mossie.

[Ack-Ack]

Originally posted by FiLtH
I think flying style has alot to do with it. Those that like to rope love it as it climbs so nice. Those that BNZ don't fly it so much because of compression, and those that turn fight, can get in something that turns better.

  My opinion why its not used so much is its audience is thin, because most either turn or bnz in here, and when bunched into the mix of AH, it kinda becomes a mediocre plane unless used in the vert with precision.

Experienced P-38 pilots are just as comfortable in an angles fight as they are in an energy or BnZ fight.  That's the beauty of the P-38, it's decent at all fighting styles.  

The main reason why it's not a widely used plane is that it's not all that easy to fly if you want to get all out of it.  Like I mentioned in an earlier post, a lot of players see what some can do in it so they give it a try and find that they can barely get the plane to roll or turn.  So the end result is that they stop flying it because they realize that they need to larn how to fly it to be relatively successful in it.  In their minds, why take the time to learn how to fly the Lightning properly and get their arse kicked while learning the ropes when they can hop in one of the more easier planes to fly and start getting kills?

It's a great plane and deadly if you want to take the time to learn how to fly it well.  I've got to have tens of thousands of flights in it and I hope to have tens of more thousands of flights in it in my future.


ack-ack

[Ack-Ack]

Originally posted by Brooke


Also, for those of you who fly it a lot, what are some of your favorite tactics?

When I've got energy and I want to Energy fight, I'll use the old tried and true Rope-A-Dweeb, usually with a Vertical 8 maneuver or maybe even a Triple Immel if I have the energy.  If I BnZ, I'll use Cuban 8 or Half Cuban maneuvers.  I know probably not practical in real life but they do seem to work really well in the MA.  In an Angles fight, I'll use vertical turning maneuvers like Yo Yos, Chandelles and if I'm in a stall fight, I'll use the Cloverleaf.  Cloverleaf is a good way to kill Spitfires below 150mphs IAS.


ack-ack

[save]

IRL german Jg26 always prefered to meet p38s at low alt in front of other
allied fighters . Jg26 flew mostly 190s but had 2 staffeln with 109s

At high alt things where different - when they met p38j they always knew they could dive away from them - not until L model was that fixed

read "jg26 war diarys volume1 and 2" - highly recommended.

[bozon]

Originally posted by Benny Moore
Me-109 and P-38 aces all agreed that the P-38 turned inside the 109 "with ease," but that if they kept their turns short and reversed direction frequently the American would tire quickly because of heavier controls.  

You are right about one thing. Wingloading is not the measure of all. An inportant factor is how the plane handles in the turn. Lets talk real life here. P-38 pilots were confident in pushing their planes deep into the stall. 109 pilots feared stalls and spins and had to fight the engine torque with strong leg muscles. Spins and accelerated stalls are not like in AH. They are hair raising much harder to pull out of. At low alt they are deadly and it's your real life that are at risk.

Consider the 109s a few patches ago, when they suffered the dreaded instability issue. They could turn just as well as they can now - if the pilot was able to keep in control that is. Players complained it can't turn. It could turn, but not controled.

This is why effectively the 38 was a much better turner than expected.

And what is this about tiring the american pilots? they really thought they'd exhaust their opponents till they can't turn anymore?...

[Benny Moore]

The early P-38s had rather heavy aileron controls.  Since the 109 could not out-turn the P-38, the 109 pilot had to try scissors.  If they managed to do it long enough, the 38 pilot would tire faster because of his ailerons.  As with all of the P-38's problems, the mid-J model amended this, causing the 109 pilots to be out of luck.

[FiLtH]

Any 38 co-alt and below is not very hard to kill. Its the high ones to look out for. The worst thing is shooting at them from 6 oclock. Its like trying to shoot a razor blade on edge.

[DREDIOCK]

Originally posted by TW9
i dont think its underated it just requires a certain skill to fly (one i havent figured out yet)

Exactly

Hint.
Like with the other planes
Throttle. Trim, speed and E management

Not directed specifically at you TW9....

Learn how to work those and youwill find the 38 is indeed not undermodeled.

Its not how the plane is modeled but how you fly it.
and that goes for any plane in the game

there is more to it then just slam the throttle forward kick the rudder and pull on the stick.

And there are alot of different variables.

38 vrs 109.

Well which varient 109 are we talking about? they didnt ALL fly the same

some like the 109 e and F turned very well in large part due to lower speeds. A plane able to stay aloft at slower speeds will always turn tighter circles then a plane traveling at much higher speeds. Just like a car

Some were faster but didnt turn nearly as well

also depends on the various states of each plane.

A 38 traveling at 350 MPH isnt going to be able to make as tight a turn as a 109 traveling at 250 no matter what way you slice it
some planes may be able to "turn fast" that doesnt mean it can turn tight when fast.

Try cutting your throttle going into a turn and powering back up comming out of it.
See if your turn improves

[TinmanX]

Originally posted by thrila
Why on earth would anyone wish to fly the p38 when there is the mossie.

Cos the Mossie is undermodled. Blah blah blah.

No seriously, it is.

Saying that though, you can still get a decent number of kills in it before you're turned into (I want to use the phrase "studmuffingots and kindling" but can't I guess) a shooting star.

<>

[Quah!]

LOL, there are only a few guys in here that are actually deadly in a 38, many others just fly them well with a wingman and cherry pick BnZ, I think that guy Goldelks or something was the worst I have run into.

[Yukon]

Aerial... Thats a name I remember...


I come to h2h to spank you and the other two cherry picking 38's.  Sorry man, but you have no idea what 38 is capable of because you fly it like a girl.

I'd let you guys bounce me with alt/E, and you'd still die.  Not sure if I was flying under Yukon or Lazer, but im sure you remember that day.  Still got films if you need a little help remembering.

[bozon]

Originally posted by Benny Moore
The early P-38s had rather heavy aileron controls.  Since the 109 could not out-turn the P-38, the 109 pilot had to try scissors.  If they managed to do it long enough, the 38 pilot would tire faster because of his ailerons.  

That's a myth if ever I heard one.

The pilot was tired, then what? he'll quit maneuvering and auger out of exhaustion? give up because he's about to break sweat?

The early P38s just rolled like a beached whale, were poor scissors fighters and easy to evade at high alts. Either the enemy would buy enough time to pull away, dive away, be cleared by a friendly or try to get behind the 38 if he's brave. Even if captain america was at the control and never tire he would not keep up.

Being a 109 pilot was not easy either. If I recall correctly they had to have a pretty strong leg for the un-trimable rudder. Maybe if they flew long enough they'd tire and stop flying coordinated.

[TinmanX]

Didn't you know? 60% of pilot deaths in WWII were due to pilots who gave up cos their arms ached a bit.