Flying and fighting the P-38

[toonces3]

Hey all,
I've been reading quite a bit on WW2 air operations, and the P-38 is featured quite a bit in my current reading.  And then, there's this whole "Secret Association of P-38 Pilots" thing.  So, last night I decided to give the P-38L a spin.

Before I took it up, I read up on Soda's page about the characteristics of the plane.  Some thoughts after a few sorties:

The stability is amazing.  I don't think I had to kick my rudders hardly at all, and the plane was incredibly easy to keep in trim.

Horrible, horrible blind spots.  I lost at least one kill on a spit because I lost vis on one of the forward canopy frames, and the vis off the wings is ugly.  

The plane has awful roll rate, despite what Soda's page says.

The plane turns reasonably well and is more reluctant to stall than some of the planes I've flown like the P-51D.  I could be a bit more aggressive than with some other planes.

While I didn't have any speed problems, I found I was alot more aware of my speed, especially in dives.  I was probably overly cautious when attacking downhill.

Overall, it seems like an interesting plane to fly, but it feels really heavy and bulky.  It seems like it would be a hard plane to be competitive with in the MA.

I'd love to hear some thoughts on those that have this plane wired on how to fly it effectively.

See ya,
Toonces

[LancerVT]

"The plane has awful roll rate, despite what Soda's page says."

It only has an awful roll rate if:

1. you are under 250mph, the slower you get the worse you roll. The faster you are the better it rolls, due to the hydraulically boosted ailerons.
 
2. you have not set up your stick properly. I used to think the p38 rolled like a pig, but once I got Rolex to show me how to setup my stick it rolls very well for such a large fighter.

[FBplmmr]

i have very limited experience in it but I like that it likes to go up.
I dont like that its a big ole target, the pilot seems to be very exposed as well --

i seemed to get alot of pilot wounds and loose one engine(it is nice to have a second engine=)


it is a plane i would like to be good in but most of the planes i'd like to be good in:lol

^^^rambling thoughts of a sleepy painkiller fogged mind

[LePaul]

The P-38L is one of my favorites.  It has the ooomph to carry bombs and rockets then fight well.

However, remember...this is not a turn fighter.  If you want to run with the Spits, La7s and Yaks...take em vertical.

Also recall that the P-38 is a big plane, making you a really, really big target.

Im so spoiled by the P-38 that I get completely frustrated by the wobbliness of the Yak's when trying to gun.  Especially since the Yak only has 32 cannon round.  You want each to count!

I've been playing with my convergence on the guns for a few days.  Set to 375 on all, its quite the buzz saw.  It just depends on how close you like to get.  I rarely fire beyond 400.

Some planes give me consistent damage.  With the P-38, its fuel hits near ack and pilot wounds near cons.  (In the P-51B, I consistently loose two guns.  In the P-47's, engine oil.)

Being tricycle gear is another plus...less hassle landing and taxing when on a VH Base.

[Soulyss]

Originally posted by toonces3

Overall, it seems like an interesting plane to fly, but it feels really heavy and bulky.  It seems like it would be a hard plane to be competitive with in the MA.

The transition to the 38 can be a little rough... sure was for me and I switched with several years flying 51's and F6F's under my belt.  At first it does seem ungainly, huge and bulky.  But after a little while it's almost like the plane shrinks around you don't notice the size anymore.  As for the blind spots, I still occasionally lose cons in cross bar across the front of the canopy (ironically this happens to me more in the J rather than the G).  If you have a historical interest in the plane stick with it.  The first couple weeks are rough and it seems like every bullet fired at you hits home but after awhile your brain makes the necessary adjustments.  If you see me online give me a shot you're more than welcome to tag along.  Just don't expect to make it back to base in one piece.

[Guppy35]

Nothing more fun then taking a 38G low into a furball and seeing how long you can turn before you burn in it

It can hang with just about anything in a turn fight and for us 'spray and pray' types, all that extra ammo helps a lot

As Soulyss said, the transition can be a bit rough, but if you stick with it, you'll find it a really enjoyable ride in the MA.

[stephen]

I find that due to my years flying A/C with guns in the wings, my accuracy in a 38 really suffers, you just cant roll when you get closs and expect the cannons to hit unexpectdly like in some planes.

A p47 for instance, i might start firing from about 500, and he breaks while im still closing on him, sometimes those four guns on the wing to the inside of his turn hit him even though his plane isnt in the gunsite, only when he is very closs though.

I feel that the 38 is wonderfly accurate, and you just cant shot gun em from a distance looking for a ping like in some planes.....,BUT nothing, and I mean nothing noses over at the top of a loop like a 38 can, .

[BBBB]

I love the 38 for shooting long range. You can put lead on target with even the 20mm at over 900-1000 distances. I have made a few kills at that range. I use it a lot when I have a P-51 or 190 trying to run away from me.

-Sp0t

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

As mentioned, the L rolls faster than many, if not most, IF you are FAST. The faster you go, the faster it rolls. If you want a P-38 to roll, use a LOT of rudder. Rudder is how you make the P-38 roll, regardless of model.

The P-38 is NOT good at intermediate speeds. Either fast or slow, and not in between. Fast it is stable and able to go vertical with the best, slow it is REAL stable, and you can take advantage of the fact that it has neutral torque. At medium speeds good fighters will eat you alive.

The P-38 has a lot of internal fuel, so don't take more than 50% internal unless you want to go a LONG way.

[LePaul]

It is good on gas, I almost always take one drop tank so I can ditch that when its time to fight and still be 50% fueled.

[Guppy35]

Originally posted by LePaul
It is good on gas, I almost always take one drop tank so I can ditch that when its time to fight and still be 50% fueled.

50 and 2 DTs is what I generally take off with in the 38G.  It fights real well under 50 fuel

[gpa3]

I'm sorry, drop tanks are disabled at this field.

[Fianna]

Like anything else, the more you do it the better you'll get. While a 38 will feel big, slow, and heavy at first, you'll get used to it after a while and it'll feel like any other single-engined bird. Soulyss said it best... the plane seems to shrink around you.

Rudder is a must when you want to roll, especially at low speed.

To help with the blindspot, I moved my view up and back. The forward canopy bars get smaller and you can see over the nose a little better.

[Raptor]

Originally posted by toonces3
And then, there's this whole "Secret Association of P-38 Pilots" thing.

[TwinBoom]