Why the P-38?

[toonces3]

Ok, I promise, this isn't going to be an insult thread on how nobody can fly the P-38 in the MA's!   

But truthfully, why, when in the hangar, does anyone in their right mind pick this deathtrap as their ride of choice for the night?

From my limited knowledge on the subject, the P-38 seems to have been an excellent fighter in WW2 in reality.  If anyone takes the time to knickname your plane the "forked-tailed devil" as opposed to "perk granting deathtrap" then I have to think that it has redeeming qualities to endear it to it's pilots, and anger it's opponents.

My experiences in the P-38 in the MA are decidedly negative.  I have had very, very limited success in the Late War arenas.  I would guess that most of my kills were against n00bs, or I caught someone napping, or had a flash of brilliance at just the right moment, and happened to do just the right thing at the right time, and lucked into a kill.  Skilled kills?  I think not. 

Conversely, I haven't been shot down by alot of P-38's...but I've fought a number to a draw, or evaded/ran/etc several over the last year.

My overwhelming feeling in the P-38 is why in the world does anyone take this beast out of the barn with a hangar full of planes to fly instead?  Horrible views, just horrible.  And the plane is just big- even I can hit one.  And the plane compresses horribly, making even the 109 compression seem tame in comparison.  The nose cannon only has 150 rounds; I'm barely finding my range and lead at 150!  The plane has great range, but isn't quick; it can turn but not, like, uber, and has a limited bag of tricks on the horrible defensive.

Yet, despite all this, it has a somewhat rabid following in this game.  I'd compare it to the 109 following- almost cult-like in some ways.  Heck, Corkyjr is stuck in the P-38G everytime I run into him...how can you see and shoot anything through that freaking aquarium glass in the front view?!

Just curious what makes this plane so popular in the MA, especially the LW MA.  All I do is give perks away in it.

[Stoliman]

It is all the pilot.  Soulyss and/or Corky ALWAYS wax me.  Of course, I'm not good, but still....It is the pilot.  And they more often than not will fly the G model.

[Motherland]

There's a lot of history in the P38 and the 109. Not everybody flies planes based on their performance

On top of that, in both the case of the 109 and the P38, I'd say they're just fun, challenging planes to fly. They're not Spitfires but once you've spent some time in them you can make them dance like one.

That being said, usually 38's are easy kills, as it seems most of the time I meet one the pilot is simply using it as an ordinance hauler. But if I see someone flying one like he knows what he's doing, he becomes my prime threat and I watch him like a hawk.

[mensa180]

It sounds like you haven't talked or seen the right people about the 38.  If you have the time, look up "Murdr" in the TA, or almost any of the 80th excluding myself, I suck.

[1pLUs44]

I love the 38 man. It's little ammo package will make me happy enough to HO an A20. It turns well, it climbs great, holds lots of fuel and ord. and if you lose an engine, you can still make it back.

[lagger86]

I feel that if you dedicate to flying the 38 you can pretty much handle any and every situation. I've seen that plane do amazing things in the right hands. I can't even auger it properly, but I have much respect for the pilots that can fly it to it's potential.

[Xasthur]

The 38 is great fun, I like to take one out every now and I usually have a blast in it. They do take some skill to fly, though. Even in 190A5s I fair pretty well against them in dogfights. Even the 190 D turns well enough to make life hard for a 38 driver.

[Sunka]

Their are a lot of really good 38 sticks.Hitlear called em the fork tailed devil because they where so hard to shoot down.

[SectorNine50]

From what I understand, you can make those 38's do magical things if you have dual throttles.

[BnZ]

Counter-rotating propellers, nose-mounted armament, typical American zoom climb and flaps to play with. Count your lucky stars it can't stand a high-speed dive.

Honestly, the combination of torqueless operations and nose-mounted firepower seems so attractive, I don't see why it wasn't tried more in WWII fighters. Imagine if you will, if one built an airplane that had a power-loading along the lines of a late-model 109, only with *no* torque to contend with. The vertical performance would be insane.

Ok, I promise, this isn't going to be an insult thread on how nobody can fly the P-38 in the MA's!   

But truthfully, why, when in the hangar, does anyone in their right mind pick this deathtrap as their ride of choice for the night?

From my limited knowledge on the subject, the P-38 seems to have been an excellent fighter in WW2 in reality.  If anyone takes the time to knickname your plane the "forked-tailed devil" as opposed to "perk granting deathtrap" then I have to think that it has redeeming qualities to endear it to it's pilots, and anger it's opponents.

My experiences in the P-38 in the MA are decidedly negative.  I have had very, very limited success in the Late War arenas.  I would guess that most of my kills were against n00bs, or I caught someone napping, or had a flash of brilliance at just the right moment, and happened to do just the right thing at the right time, and lucked into a kill.  Skilled kills?  I think not. 

Conversely, I haven't been shot down by alot of P-38's...but I've fought a number to a draw, or evaded/ran/etc several over the last year.

My overwhelming feeling in the P-38 is why in the world does anyone take this beast out of the barn with a hangar full of planes to fly instead?  Horrible views, just horrible.  And the plane is just big- even I can hit one.  And the plane compresses horribly, making even the 109 compression seem tame in comparison.  The nose cannon only has 150 rounds; I'm barely finding my range and lead at 150!  The plane has great range, but isn't quick; it can turn but not, like, uber, and has a limited bag of tricks on the horrible defensive.

Yet, despite all this, it has a somewhat rabid following in this game.  I'd compare it to the 109 following- almost cult-like in some ways.  Heck, Corkyjr is stuck in the P-38G everytime I run into him...how can you see and shoot anything through that freaking aquarium glass in the front view?!

Just curious what makes this plane so popular in the MA, especially the LW MA.  All I do is give perks away in it.

[trigger2]

<snip> Even in 190A5s fair pretty well against them in dogfights. Even the 190 D turns well enough to make life hard for a 38 driver.

Not really sir, the P-38 of any model, or, as someone pointed out... the seemingly "B-38", can put up TnB fights with almost any of the planeset.
It's all about knowing throttle, rudder, and flap control.

For example, earlier today (although... it was the DA) had a spixteen catch me on his 6, so he breaks 90 degrees left, and locks the stick back, I was flying the L model, hit the dive flaps, 50% throttle, 75% flaps, and I was able to pull lead on him almost instantaniously...

It's all about knowing how to react in "x" situation.

[evenhaim]

Not really sir, the P-38 of any model, or, as someone pointed out... the seemingly "B-38", can put up TnB fights with almost any of the planeset.
It's all about knowing throttle, rudder, and flap control.

For example, earlier today (although... it was the DA) had a spixteen catch me on his 6, so he breaks 90 degrees left, and locks the stick back, I was flying the L model, hit the dive flaps, 50% throttle, 75% flaps, and I was able to pull lead on him almost instantaniously...

It's all about knowing how to react in "x" situation.

then lets do this, you get in a p38 of your choice i get in a 190a5 or even a dora, and well see who comes out on top?

[Xasthur]

To be honest, I find the 109's torque to be helpful in a fight. At extremely low speeds on the vertical it really aids in snapping back around for a diving attack. I get a large portion of my kills that way and having that torque really cuts down on the wallowing some other aircraft exhibit at that sort of AoA.

[BoilerDown]

The thing is a good P38 stick can have torque if they want it... with dual throttles.  I spent most of a tour flying the P38 and it was real hard at first, but I learned to respect it before the end.  It does a lot of things real well and unlike some other "uber" planes there's a lot to learn to make you even deadlier if you stay in it.

[1pLUs44]

then lets do this, you get in a p38 of your choice i get in a 190a5 or even a dora, and well see who comes out on top?

co-alt?