animal I've flown the P-38 since it was released and flown it more than any other aircraft every tour since and plan to fly it again one day when I have a decent amount of free time to use on Aces High
it is about the same in 1.04 as it was when it was first released way back when and was considered a UFO. but with compressibility and a less violent stall model.
the evolution of the P-38 flight model saw the e retention and zoom/dive capability decreased while at the same time throughout the various AH versions the turn capability was enhanced to the point that by the last patch of 1.03 I was able to stay on the tail of spitfires IX's and C.205s.
with 1.04 the P-38L flight model has been given back its excellent dive, zoom and e retention that made it so dangerous when it was originally released. but compresibilty limits the effectiveness of this boost in energy because the P-38's dive flaps do not help roll rate after compression so above 480 or so mph true the p38 looses its offensive capability to creaky roll rate.
it has also lost its offensive and defensive horizontal turn capability. however vertical maneuverability remains effective against most adversaries with equal E or less. sort of the same way the 190's do well in the vertical and suck in the horizontal.
its still a great plane in 1.04 and has been since it was released way back when.
but it requires intimate knowledge of the flight model and its capabilities.
staying slow and high or low and fast always produced desirable results for me. low and slow dogfights are to be avoided against the more maneuverable single engined planes if you have the intentions of not getting shot down a lot.
its an awsome jabo platform and will be the jabo ride of choice when HTC adds 2000lb bombs to its arsenal.
I can honestly say I have flown the AH P-38L more than anyone else that plays Aces High.
(ask eskimo
) I've flown it in every imaginable manner of flying style and seen just about every good/bad situation possible in it in online virtual combat from the somewhat obstructed field of view of the P-38 canopy.
I am pleased with HTC and their efforts on the P-38L. I consider the flight model sufficient to suspend my personal disbelief of sitting in front of a 2d monitor and pretending im piloting a multiengined turbocharged 20,000lb fighter with all the benefits and drawbacks inherent with such a configuration.
it has the mystic p-38 magic talked about by the old pilots that flew it and it can also be galland's "easy meat kill". its got that jekyll and hyde personality of easy target and charging tiger. but the pilot and their abilities determines which side of the p-38 the enemy will see.
the P-38L is the reason I signed up on Aces High and it is the main reason that one day I shall return to fly it in HTC's virtual sky
its a wonderful magical kind of plane that is more than the sum of its parts.
Der Gabelschwanz Teufel indeed
------------------
Citabria
"You know, I have one simple request. And that is to have sharks with friggin laserbeams attached to their heads."
