Why the P-38?

[Guppy35]

I think you miss an essential point in why folks like myself fly the 38.  There is a ton of history behind it and it's not the flavor of the month MA type bird where a guy with 10 minutes of the history channel thinks he knows the story.

There is the challenge of taking it into the crowd and making it work.  It isn't just a strap it on and fly it bird.  You need to stick with it to make it work best. 

And generally my experience in both Airwarrior and here, is that the 38 guys are a good bunch of people and a good bunch of sticks, with often times a like-minded approach to the game.


It isn't about ammo loads, uber performance, and dominating.  It's about flying it well, getting the best out of a good bird, having some fun with the other 38 sticks and minimizing parts loss for the return flight if any.

And anyone calling the 38 a deathtrap, certainly doesn't know how to use the 38 in Aces High.

[gpwurzel]

Flew the 38 for the majority of a tour - nice bird, great guns - for me, this is a fun plane to fly. You dont have to go looking for a fight in it - the fight comes to you. For some odd reason, every time a 38 is seen, its called out and then everyone seems to pile onto it.

What I learned (apart from I suck as a fighter pilot (before anyone else points it out  )) - Lots of throttle, flap and rudder work - and I mean lots - get the flaps out was my maxim (although as in any plane, you have to be careful not to lose too much e). Dont get into stall fighting too early - keep your e up and make your opponent lose his (as in any dogfight).

All this could of course be completely wrong, but thats how I see the 38. Great fun to fly, fight and die in.


(oh, for anyone interested - ended that tour with a puny 38 kills in it - but - I had to work for the majority of those)

<S>


Wurzel

[Steve]

Be glad for the 38. Imagine if some of those good 38 sticks flew more competitive planes.

I think it's a great looking plane with a fantastic history. This is reason enough to fly it,  IMHO.  I fly the pony for the same reasons.. well that and  my Dad was always fascinated with them.   

[Squire]

Its fast, it turns well, it climbs well, and it has good armament, lots of ammo too. The views are fine, you just customize them a bit. Whats not to like? I have not taken one up in awhile but they are a fine ride. I think like anything you have to spend the time to get the most out of it. Almost every fighter in the set has dedicated sticks that can do very well in them.

[evenhaim]

Ya angels co alt

[uberslet]

As ive seen posted in this thread, and Chuck Yeager said "its not the plane, its the pilot". and really, it holds true for the 38. Flown right it is a buety, the 4 .50's in the nose are fun, lots of ammo, when they hit they are so concentrated, they seem like a jug is tearin em apart   :rockI use to fly them because they are challenging, fun, but also good perk farmers. As far as your cannon goes, dont be spraying that thing like the .50's, know the lead then take short little bursts (i do like 5 rounds at most, that still gives you30 bursts from start, 29 after the first, enough to drop a plane.)and on a good day ive droped 5 with just the .50's. Im not saying the P38 is for everyone, and im not a diehard 38 dweeb, but she is a beutiful bird to fly when you start finding out tricks about her.

[SlapShot]

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...

I could believe that ... if you were 1.5K behind him.

[uptown]

The 38 just "feels" like a plane to me. I like it alot. It and the mustangs, are my favorite rides. If and when I master the pony I'll fly the 38 all the time.
I watch 38s like hawks in the MA because they'll lull you into thinking that "this guy is no problem", and before you know it you're in the tower reading Lazer,Pawz,Murdr,Silat......shot you down. Pawz and Lazer both have killed me quickly when I have All the advantage....except one....skill.
Imo, the good 38 sticks are masters at making you make a mistake and sizing up what the enemys plane can and can't do. These gentlemen have been flying those things for years. You have arrived when you fly a 38 well. The ones I've talked to are always good sports and enjoy a good fight win or lose.
A P38 pilot is what I'll be when I grow up 

[Stang]

Lazer sucks, everyone knows this.  He doesn't even know how to use a joystick.  Frikkin' mouse dweeb.

[Anaxogoras]

150 cannon rounds is plenty, especially when coupled with 38 seconds of 4x.50cal ammunition, also in the nose!  The extra engine can also get you home in a pinch when you'd otherwise be treading water or eating tree bark.

I agree with others who advise more practice.  It won't make perfect, but you probably have to spend many months in the 38 to get comfortable in it.

[Vudak]

1v1, it's a big target and a challenging bird to fly...  Two decently-flown P-38's showing up with a few k above a cloud of red, however, will not be shot down unless they want to be.

[BnZ]

  There is a ton of history behind it and it's not the flavor of the month MA type bird where a guy with 10 minutes of the history channel thinks he knows the story.

What, we're gloating just because "Dogfights" got canceled before they could do a P-38 episode?    More is the pity, IMHO.  But I guess they had to make room for more shows about being a blue-collar worker in Alaska 

It isn't about ammo loads, uber performance, and dominating.  It's about flying it well, getting the best out of a good bird, having some fun with the other 38 sticks and minimizing parts loss for the return flight if any.

And anyone calling the 38 a deathtrap, certainly doesn't know how to use the 38 in Aces High.

Right on. And I don't think it as quite as good as it "should" be in this simulation, as is the trend with er, um "silver" planes.

[BnZ]

1v1, it's a big target and a challenging bird to fly...  Two decently-flown P-38's showing up with a few k above a cloud of red, however, will not be shot down unless they want to be.

Ganging! Picking! Oh my! 

[Lazerr]

I know I suck, dont rub it in golf dweeb.

[Soulyss]

And anyone calling the 38 a deathtrap, certainly doesn't know how to use the 38 in Aces High.

So...... you're just saying WE don't know how to use it?  

On a slightly more serious note,  what attracted me to the 38 was what has governed just about everything I do in this silly little game, and that's the history.   I just loved reading about the exploits of the P-38 squadrons in the pacific, that and there seem to be a romanticism surrounding this big twin engined beast.  

I also say for people who have trouble flying it, you just have to dive in so-to-speak.  I started flying the P-38 probably a couple years ago now and quickly signed up with the old (original?) 475th squad here and I did nothing but get blown out of the sky for a good 2-3 weeks, this was very hard for me to take.  I'm not an expert by ANY means, there's a long line of distinguished cartoon fighter pilots that can whoop me any and every day of the week.  But I do have a certain degree of success in the MA's, to get just beat down like that for a good portion of the tour was difficult, it took me that long to adapt to the 38 and learn a new set of rules to fight by.   It is a quite capable airframe, good speed, good climb, good maneuverability, great firepower.  I think it just takes a slightly different approach than a lot of the other MA fighters.  

One last thing, while it's certainly true that in planform it is a large target, it's pretty amazing how small that target shrinks if the 38 rolls ninety degrees so you're looking down the wing at it.  

Like I said I'm not a great pilot, but if anyone wants to fly the 38 and you see me in the MA's give me a holler and we'll go see if we can't find some trouble.  Keep in mind I'll probably just get us killed, but it'll be a hoot.