P38 vs. P51

[64kills]

even though it's an easy target its rugged so it taks a beating

[Guppy35]

Originally posted by evenhaim
p38s are easy targets for a pony unless the 38 is alot higher or has more E
equal pilots my bets on the pony

Co- alt, equal E I'm not so sure.

If the Pony is above and doesn't get suckered into a turning fight they can control when they come into the fight, but I've run into very few who can stay with a 38 once the fight starts to slow a bit.

Steve is a good example of a 51 driver who doesn't get suckered into that kind of fight.  He'll generally keep his E up and have the alt to use it.  (Not a criticism btw Steve  )

[Masherbrum]

Originally posted by 64kills
even though it's an easy target its rugged so it taks a beating

I'm going to disagree, as I have noticed A LOT more Pilot wounds in the 38's.

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

Originally posted by Masherbrum
I'm going to disagree, as I have noticed A LOT more Pilot wounds in the 38's.

I have nights where I can't go more than 2 hops out of ten without a pilot wound, often, it's a single ping from a distance. I think there's a slight flaw somewhere in that. And I also see times when EVERYTHING takes off the whole tail, often. I've been in situations where either my SA failed (common, VERY common) or I was way to low in E to avoid an HO pass, and had a machine gun only equipped plane take off the tail, and only damage the tail, on a near ramming HO. Again, I'm sure there's some sort of minor odd flaw hidden somewhere in the code or something. Both issues are probably near impossible to find.

One other thing about pilot wounds. I know some of the guys who like to fly the Mossie also complain of excessive pilot wounds. I wonder if somewhere in the code or formula there's something that allows more pilot wounds simply because there's no engine in front of you. I also wonder if because there's not an entire fuselage behind the pilot in the P-38, it is assumed that there is a huge increase in risk of pilot wounds, despite there still being a big armor plate there. Because I often get a pilot wound from a guy well over 1.2K behind me and slightly below as well. It is almost always a single ping, from a machine gun only plane. Odd how even a 50 hits the pilot, from so far behind, and below as well.

[64kills]

Originally posted by Masherbrum
I'm going to disagree, as I have noticed A LOT more Pilot wounds in the 38's.

not like that it can take a beating and keep on flying it's comon to get some noob just spraying you down

[Ack-Ack]

Originally posted by Masherbrum
I'm going to disagree, as I have noticed A LOT more Pilot wounds in the 38's.

I only seem to get pilot wounds from acks and bombers.


ack-ack

[ScorpCH]

Originally posted by 64kills
even though it's an easy target its rugged so it taks a beating

HA!:lol  thats a joke, 9 time outta 10 when i start taking fire in a 38 is a PW.  plane is rugged, cept for around the cockpit

[Masherbrum]

Originally posted by Captain Virgil Hilts
I have nights where I can't go more than 2 hops out of ten without a pilot wound, often, it's a single ping from a distance. I think there's a slight flaw somewhere in that.

One other thing about pilot wounds. I know some of the guys who like to fly the Mossie also complain of excessive pilot wounds. I wonder if somewhere in the code or formula there's something that allows more pilot wounds simply because there's no engine in front of you. I also wonder if because there's not an entire fuselage behind the pilot in the P-38, it is assumed that there is a huge increase in risk of pilot wounds, despite there still being a big armor plate there. Because I often get a pilot wound from a guy well over 1.2K behind me and slightly below as well. It is almost always a single ping, from a machine gun only plane. Odd how even a 50 hits the pilot, from so far behind, and below as well.

Amen brother!   I'm glad other's have noticed this as well.

[ScorpCH]

i've flown the pony for months, then i found my true love, the 38.  i love flying both of em, but in all actuality i think the 38's are better.  dont get me wrong, the p51 is a great plane.  i remember back in the day in a pony when i could drop two notches of flaps and scissor with a 109 believe it or not.  yes, the 38 has some flaws in the programming and yes, its not the fastest/manuverable plane in the game, but it does have ALOT of potential.  not to mention it is fun as heck to fly.  The Chawks have mock furballs against the different squads that make up our squadron and we face each other in the DA on sunday night squad ops.  last sunday,  our last match in the DA for the night, we got to take our planes of choice.  i was the only 38 pilot in the air.  after all was said and done, i was still standing ( one engine dead and one elevator gone ) along with one more friendly with the squad,  i had an LA kill and Tiffy kill with a P47 assist ( should have been a kill, lit him up wingtip to wingtip ).  the chawks are now convinced that the 38 is a decent fighter, but im still workign to convince them it is a GREAT fighter.  sure its as big as a barn door, but that just adds a whole new defenition to "cant hit the broadside of a barn".

Enjoy your day gentlemen,

ScorpCH

[evenhaim]

corky ive taken many of the 733t 38 sticks ranging throughout the years and been lower and slower then them and even in a scissor fight my pony comes out on top i think its all in the pilot. but yes the mustang does handle wayyy better with E

ps i only get suckered by low and slow p38gs flailing with half a w  ing suicidly go figure:p

[SteveBailey]

Originally posted by Guppy35
Co- alt, equal E I'm not so sure.

If the Pony is above and doesn't get suckered into a turning fight they can control when they come into the fight, but I've run into very few who can stay with a 38 once the fight starts to slow a bit.

Steve is a good example of a 51 driver who doesn't get suckered into that kind of fight.  He'll generally keep his E up and have the alt to use it.  (Not a criticism btw Steve  )

NP corky, I understand that a Co-E fight in this scenario gives a significant edge to the 38 and I therefore horde my E as the precious one advantage I may have. Let's face it, other than views and high speed handling(yes it's faster than many), the 51 is a pretty poor performer in a furball.

It is my opinion, with E state and pilot skill being equal, a fight to the death would certainly go to the 38.

FWIW, I have driven a 38 for a hop or three this tour.  Far from being an expert, but I do think the gun package is top notch when factoring in ammo load, lethality and ballistics.  From my limited experience, it seems it may just be the best overall gun platform in the game. Overall, I really got a kick out of the 38.





Steve

[SteveBailey]

Originally posted by evenhaim
corky ive taken many of the 733t 38 sticks ranging throughout the years and been lower and slower then them and even in a scissor fight my pony comes out on top i think its all in the pilot.  

so are you claiming to be some kind of super elite cartoon pilot?  If it's all in the pilot, your opponent was 733t, and you won,  that makes you super-7eet, obviously.

Wow.


Steve

[Ack-Ack]

Originally posted by evenhaim
corky ive taken many of the 733t 38 sticks ranging throughout the years and been lower and slower then them and even in a scissor fight my pony comes out on top i think its all in the pilot. but yes the mustang does handle wayyy better with E

ps i only get suckered by low and slow p38gs flailing with half a w  ing suicidly go figure:p

Yeah, the last time I ran into you shortly before you quit, you didn't last long in turn fight with me 1v1.  I guess pilot experience does count for something.


ack-ack

[Fianna]

Originally posted by evenhaim
corky ive taken many of the 733t 38 sticks ranging throughout the years and been lower and slower then them and even in a scissor fight my pony comes out on top i think its all in the pilot. but yes the mustang does handle wayyy better with E

ps i only get suckered by low and slow p38gs flailing with half a w  ing suicidly go figure:p

Equal pilots, the 38 wins.



I wouldn't bet against you if you went 1v1 in the DA against some of the best 38 sticks, both flying the same plane... But the only chance of surviving in a pony against a 38 with more E is to run, unless you're just a much better pilot than the guy in the 38.

[SteveBailey]

Originally posted by Fianna
Equal pilots, the 38 wins.



I wouldn't bet against you if you went 1v1 in the DA against some of the best 38 sticks, both flying the same plane... But the only chance of surviving in a pony against a 38 with more E is to run, unless you're just a much better pilot than the guy in the 38.

IMHO, a 38 w/ more E is less dangerous than a 38 that is Co-E.  What I mean is, if you are both Co-E at a speed where the 38 is still responsive, the 51 will either lose or will have to do something to alter the E states. I am thinking of the following:  38 diving on my 51, if I can pull him down and get him to where his controls are less responsive I can get him out of phase and get some separation, maybe enough to rev him and change the fight. Of course a good 38 stick will break off before allowing the speed to get him in trouble, I understand.. which leaves the pony little option but to keep going, as you mentioned.
Another possibility is to create an overshoot... the inherent danger here is that if the 51 misses the overshoot opportunity(assuming he gets one), then the 51 has played right into the 38's hand.

Evenhaim must be a much better 51 pilot than me. I have fought many of the really good 38 sticks and if we are near equal in E states I am often left w/ a snap shot opportunity or two at best before being forced from the fight due to the 38 gaining angle/advantage.  I will try to fight these guys but if I have lost the positional battle I will leave the fight; considering it a victory for the 38.  If leaving instead of sticking around to give the 38 a freebie qualifies me as a runner, I'm labeled.

It's late, I babble... apologies.

Steve