Author Topic: P-38 Pilots (Read 2996 times)

Ack-Ack · « **Reply #30 on:** October 07, 2007, 04:45:25 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by SpikesX
Yeah and he would have outran me.

not necessarily...depends on how well you can recognize the signs of compressability so you can ride the onset of it without going into a full compressability state. there have been many Butcher Birds and Mustangs that thought they could use the Split-Arse escape thinking that I wouldn't be able to follow in a Lightning only to see me stuck on their six firing.

As long as you are careful compressability is a non-issue in the Lightning. If you do get into such a state, it was out of your own carelessness.

ack-ack

morfiend · « **Reply #31 on:** October 07, 2007, 05:43:46 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by SpikesX
Yes, I was in a duel with a 190 and I started to follow him into a dive...although when I started to shake I did engage dive flaps and pulled out.

your original post said "a J at 30 K"

Plz show me to command to deploy dive flaps in the 38J we have ingame

Spikes · « **Reply #32 on:** October 07, 2007, 07:26:23 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by morfiend
your original post said "a J at 30 K"

Plz show me to command to deploy dive flaps in the 38J we have ingame

oops...

I'm sorry. I was flying an L. My wingman was flying a J. He did compress, but was able to pull out.

clerick · « **Reply #33 on:** October 08, 2007, 01:19:26 AM »

Either G, J or L there is little excuse for compressing in a 38, much less being unable to pull out of compression if you are careless enough to enter into it.

Spikes · « **Reply #34 on:** October 08, 2007, 08:36:11 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by clerick
Either G, J or L there is little excuse for compressing in a 38, much less being unable to pull out of compression if you are careless enough to enter into it.

This is why I don't like to fly at 30K.

I like to go in at 5-7K so I can't compress.

Ack-Ack · « **Reply #35 on:** October 08, 2007, 12:24:53 PM »

You shouldn't have to worry about compressability below 20,000ft.

ack-ack

Guppy35 · « **Reply #36 on:** October 08, 2007, 12:51:07 PM »

Rudder is a wonderful thing along with throttle. I've yet to use the dive flaps in the L either in the Beta frame or the 1st frame. And trust me I tend to get the nose down

I'm getting sorely tempted to take a J next time just to try it out up there

Spikes · « **Reply #37 on:** October 08, 2007, 01:11:05 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Ack-Ack
You shouldn't have to worry about compressability below 20,000ft.

ack-ack

I do admit...I am a 38 noob...

I've been taking lessons from Dan on how to torch them...

Tac · « **Reply #38 on:** October 13, 2007, 07:57:01 PM »

Out-turn that which out-runs you and out-run that which out-turns you.

Use your fowler flaps like it was her g-spot.

If you can see the horizon parallel to your plane, you're flying it wrong.

Altitude, altitude, altitude.

Compression is your girlfriend's ugly horny sister. If you fall for it you're screwed. If you swirl around it you'll retain control and hit your intended target.

Guppy35 · « **Reply #39 on:** October 13, 2007, 10:43:47 PM »

Just keep flying it and learning how she handles at the high end and and the slow end.

38Js and Ls of the 474th outbound today in the Scenario. We had a ball at 30K

SgtPappy · « **Reply #40 on:** October 14, 2007, 10:25:23 AM »

Guppy and his awesome screens.
Good shot!

Edit: Widewing, do you have a film of that 109G-14 encounter or any film that reflects it?
I would very much appreciate it if you could send one.

toonces3 · « **Reply #41 on:** October 14, 2007, 11:17:06 AM »

I dunno guys.

Every once in a while I come across something in my reading that gets me fired up to try the P-38 again. So I take it up for a few sorties and I feel like a flying coffin everytime. I am having a hard time figuring out what you all find so appealing about it, or for that matter, what made it so deadly in WW2 (real life).

In this particular case, I'm playing 'War in the Pacific' and I have to use my P-38's from Buna to suppress the airpower on Rabaul while I march up the Solomons. The Lightnings are the only ones with the range to CAP Rabaul until I get a new, closer airfield so I've been relying on them alot lately. Anyway, after playing a few turns I got in the mood to take one up in AH2 and see if I could find it as effective as in WITP.

I upped a P-38J in Mid-War last night and took it for a spin. I got a couple kills on a set of Lancs and took out a GV with a 500lb'er, but I felt lucky not to get into a dogfight. I was looking for one, but luckily found the lancs instead. I just don't see how this plane can be effective against any decent mid-war fighter. It compresses like crazy, and it's so darn big, and you have these huge blind spots all over. I feel downright claustrophobic in it!

Then again, that skin with the light blue highlights is pretty darn killer.

Be seeing you all up there!
Toonces

Bruv119 · « **Reply #42 on:** October 14, 2007, 11:44:05 AM »

P38 is a plane that I have ignored in AH the 2 years or so I have played.

I must make an effort to fly it more. I'm not one of those guys who flies one particular plane but i do have my favourites.

The 38 is slightly perplexing the times i have taken it up I either get a bunch of kills and have fun. Or die absurdly.

If you see a p38 flying like its stolen probably me

Tac · « **Reply #43 on:** October 14, 2007, 02:08:26 PM »

Toonces:

Most people have trouble with it precisely because it is NOT a specialty airplane. It also requires a pilot that knows the ENEMY aircraft's weaknesses.

It is not an E fighter. It is not a high speed fighter. It is not a turn fighter.

Its all the above..and its in between.

It is unique in it being capable of 'switching' between being an E fighter and being a Turn fighter depending on who its facing. Other planes are 'stuck' being Turn and Burn (T&B..aka Turn fighters) or Boom and Zoom (B&Z..aka Energy fighters).

Rule of thumb: You can out-turn what out-runs you and you can out-run what out-turns you.

The 38 is not that bigger than P-51 or a 109. It just looks big because of the twin tail booms. Also, the 38's blind spots are your 5 OC and 7 OC due to the tail booms.. to the rear you have better view than any other fighter and underneath each wing your blind spots are no bigger than when you fly any other fighter (you still need to wag your wings to see under them). The 5oc and 7oc blind spots are no big deal imo since most of the time you aren't flying straight and level.

Spikes · « **Reply #44 on:** October 14, 2007, 04:29:51 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Tac
Toonces:

Most people have trouble with it precisely because it is NOT a specialty airplane. It also requires a pilot that knows the ENEMY aircraft's weaknesses.

It is not an E fighter. It is not a high speed fighter. It is not a turn fighter.

Its all the above..and its in between.

It is unique in it being capable of 'switching' between being an E fighter and being a Turn fighter depending on who its facing. Other planes are 'stuck' being Turn and Burn (T&B..aka Turn fighters) or Boom and Zoom (B&Z..aka Energy fighters).

Rule of thumb: You can out-turn what out-runs you and you can out-run what out-turns you.

The 38 is not that bigger than P-51 or a 109. It just looks big because of the twin tail booms. Also, the 38's blind spots are your 5 OC and 7 OC due to the tail booms.. to the rear you have better view than any other fighter and underneath each wing your blind spots are no bigger than when you fly any other fighter (you still need to wag your wings to see under them). The 5oc and 7oc blind spots are no big deal imo since most of the time you aren't flying straight and level.

That sums it up nicely