Turning in a P-38L

[Anaxogoras]

I'd like to chime in and say that I'm impressed with how well some of you can fly the 38.  I like to fly it from time to time (one of the best weapon packages in the game imo), but it's in my "challenging" category when the fight gets slow.  There are at least two occasions recently where, after dropping flaps in a low scissors fight, I lost control and augered in.  The departure almost happened without warning and was very humbling.  In my experience there is no other aircraft in the planeset that will punish incompetence so severely in this manner.

[Murdr]

In my experience there is no other aircraft in the planeset that will punish incompetence so severely in this manner.

Quoting just because I really like the quote 

[Delirium]

According to Shreck, the P38 is easy mode and is far easier than anything including his Ki-84.  

To fly the 38 you really need rudder control of some kind, not only to increase your roll rate but also to recover if the bird drops a wing during very low speed furballing. It tends to be a little friendlier with rudder and aileron than with aileron alone...

[Ack-Ack]

I tend to find myself on the deck turning with Spit 16s often.  Once it gets real slow the old 38G tends to hang in there and the 16s stall out first, drop a wing and have to nose down so I can shoot em.

But then again I'm talking about the 38G which is lighter then the J/L

It's also the same with either the J or the L.


ack-ack

[Masherbrum]

Like a drunken fat chick at a frat party on a Friday night.


ack-ack

I remember a Tau Kappa Epsilon/Chi Omega mixer we had.    There was a reason we called em "Cow Omega".   

[bongaroo]

According to Shreck, the P38 is easy mode and is far easier than anything including his Ki-84.  

whaaaaa?  I find the Ki-84 much easier to be successful in than the 84.  I love the 84 and the 38 both, but when frustration is setting in from leaving too many 38 parts all over the arena I hop in the 84.  Shreck must be uber in the 38!

[SkyRock]

I want pawz's input here........

as long as its not in song form! 

[Anodizer]

It's also the same with either the J or the L.


ack-ack

Forgive me as I've not played online for a few weeks..  Mainly messing around with off-line missions when I have time..
However, I tend to disagree here..  I find the G much more cooperative especially in low speed handling situations.. 
Seems to roll better than the J (but not he L).  Seems to turn tighter than both the J and the L. 
With a G, I can hang with the likes of Spits, Ki-84's 109's..  Sometimes even Zeroes.. 
I cannot achieve this in a J or L.  I don't know, maybe it's because I try to use the J and L like
I do a G.  The G has always felt lighter and more responsive.  I think it handles higher speeds better than the J
only because it still has a decent roll rate when you get up over 350-375mph.  We all know the J has some issues with roll at higher speeds.
I feel that rudder really doesn't help all the much in this situation.. 
I'm a G man...   

[Ack-Ack]

I remember a Tau Kappa Epsilon/Chi Omega mixer we had.    There was a reason we called em "Cow Omega".   

LOL! 

If you can't go Greek go TEKE! ^__^


ack-ack

[Ack-Ack]

Forgive me as I've not played online for a few weeks..  Mainly messing around with off-line missions when I have time..
However, I tend to disagree here..  I find the G much more cooperative especially in low speed handling situations.. 
Seems to roll better than the J (but not he L).  Seems to turn tighter than both the J and the L. 
With a G, I can hang with the likes of Spits, Ki-84's 109's..  Sometimes even Zeroes.. 
I cannot achieve this in a J or L.  I don't know, maybe it's because I try to use the J and L like
I do a G.  The G has always felt lighter and more responsive.  I think it handles higher speeds better than the J
only because it still has a decent roll rate when you get up over 350-375mph.  We all know the J has some issues with roll at higher speeds.
I feel that rudder really doesn't help all the much in this situation.. 
I'm a G man...   

What Guppy described in the post I was responding to, the same thing can be done in the J or the L. 

If you fly the J or the L like you do the G, it's not going to be detrimental and you can pretty much do the same in the J or the L as you can in the G, it's all dependent on the player's experience and ability in flying the P-38.  For example, if you and I were to face off, you in the G and myself in the J, I'll out turn you all day long, why?  Experience.


ack-ack

[Shuffler]

I've killed many Gs in my J & L.

[Guppy35]

What Guppy described in the post I was responding to, the same thing can be done in the J or the L. 

If you fly the J or the L like you do the G, it's not going to be detrimental and you can pretty much do the same in the J or the L as you can in the G, it's all dependent on the player's experience and ability in flying the P-38.  For example, if you and I were to face off, you in the G and myself in the J, I'll out turn you all day long, why?  Experience.


ack-ack

I think we're talking about different things.  Are you saying the turn rate on the heavier J and L is the same as the lighter, no outer wing tanks G?  Or are you talking about using the extra power and wep of the J and L along with the turn?

I think we're also talking flat turning on the deck vs as Spit as opposed to using the yo-yo etc that the J or L would be so much better at then the G with less power.

Granted I don't fly the J nearly as much as the G but I don't know that I'd trust it in a flat turn with a Spit 16 like I do the G

[Ack-Ack]

I think we're talking about different things.  Are you saying the turn rate on the heavier J and L is the same as the lighter, no outer wing tanks G?  Or are you talking about using the extra power and wep of the J and L along with the turn?

I think we're also talking flat turning on the deck vs as Spit as opposed to using the yo-yo etc that the J or L would be so much better at then the G with less power.

Granted I don't fly the J nearly as much as the G but I don't know that I'd trust it in a flat turn with a Spit 16 like I do the G

Nope, not saying the turn rate is better but the G's turn rate isn't such that someone in the J is going to automatically get their butt whipped by turning with a G.

One of the tactics I use against Spitfire XVIs, is the same one you do, get them low and very slow (near or at stall speeds) and turn with them for the same reasons you described in this post.  They'll either wallow around and give the opportunity for a shot or they'll try and extend and bug out to regain energy, in either case they're dead.

I tend to find myself on the deck turning with Spit 16s often.  Once it gets real slow the old 38G tends to hang in there and the 16s stall out first, drop a wing and have to nose down so I can shoot em.

Rolling scissors are another way to do the same thing, those clipped wings at the Spitfire Mk XVI come at a price, which a lot find out is the not so great low speed handling of the XVI.  Something that we P-38 drivers can take advantage of because our slow/stall speed handling characteristics is far better.


ack-ack

[Guppy35]

OK that makes sense and was what I thought you meant.  Just wanted to clarify

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

The P-38G will have the most problems with high speed roll rate as no version of the P-38G had boosted ailerons. Boosted ailerons came along in the P-38J production run. It isn't really that the plane cannot roll fast, it can at high speeds, if you can generate enough aileron deflection. Boosted ailerons were added because even with the yoke, pilots could not get enough leverage to generate the required aileron deflection at high speeds. The only possible advantage a P-38G might have over a P-38J is if the P-38J is early enough in the P-38J production run to not have boosted ailerons and has a full fuel load in the leading edge wing tanks.

I tried the P-38G and actually did fairly well in it. I'm sure the reason is that I knew I could not rely on HP to get my dumb prettythang out of trouble, so I was more cautious. It did handle well though. I've always wanted to see the P-38H in Aces High, because it has close to P-38G weight, with WEP. Besides, it's the P-38 that the 8th went to war with in late 1943.