What makes the Internet (and our country) great is you don't have to listen to anyone. We are all entitled to our opinions. So, here's mine...
I don't have to have flying time to know the answer to this riddle (P-38 SHOULD SUCK)! I have been visiting airshows for at least 35 years. In that time I have seen a few crashes. One type stands out as the plane that killed every pilot that crashed it. I can't think of one that walked away! Sadly, of this one particular type, there were more then a handful.

Please, look for yourself! Check back on WWII types for the past fifty years! And see how many of which did what! ...or live in ignorance. Sorry, I have no time to hunt up links for anyone. It is WW's book not mine.
WideWing, I don't know what your problem is. I didn't mean anything personal. Maybe, you expected a bunch of seventeen-year-olds, here? However, I don't care what experience you have chalked up for the Navy, or flying cattle cars, or what have you. You have to show me to gain my respect. I reserve my opinion for what I see. Perhaps then you would have a different opinion? I think so. Real life doesn't mean squat on the Internet. Show me what you can do here! I've flown those other sims. AH is where it’s at! That's Voss' opinion. It's also my opinion that every online sim jock, without at least two years of flying, should regularly kill himself in the P-38. But, none of these games are real to that extent, thank god (I hate empty arenas)!
Please, get an HTC AH account and come have fun! Guys that fly these sims have a lot to show real pilots (or unreal).

I have seen a lot of real life jocks throw down that "PLAY" viewpoint before. Everyone is a dweeb at first! The fact is, it doesn't matter what you know, you will learn. Obviously, those other sims had nothing to offer you. That's because we're all here!

If, you feel otherwise, come show me.
You have already posted enough information to figure out why the 38 is so bad (my opinion). I know of at least one fighter ACE that died DURING THE WAR in the 38 because he got momentarily stupid. Happens to a lot of really good guys. I'm not saying the 38 should see a lesser role, that it played less of one, or that it didn't do anything someone else said it did. I just said it is a widow maker, and I stand by that. It killed a lot of kids. Now I'm calling it "A REAL potato." You are welcome to call it something else!
Bill Atwood hails from model aircraft. His influence extends into modern aircraft and engine design. He was an aviator of old. Some of his model designs have only recently been built. Composite materials were required to attain miniature status. Full size versions would kick ass! He heavily influenced contributors for RC/Modeller Magazine before it was a F-A-C-T.

Most, of "Great Planes" designs would not be in existence today, were it not for him. I built and flew his P-38 design (prints by Mako Sato and kit by MK - Mitsu Kato I think?). The kit was a real joy, everything came out real light, and the plane was a real potato! I sold the hell out of it.

For years to come, after that experience, I watched pilot after pilot (R/C this time) auger 'em big time. One of them, had WWII flying experience, but I don't recall his history. Atwood’s F4U was the best. Better then the P-51, anyway. “Models make great airplanes, but great airplanes don’t always make great models.” That is a truth that I have learned.
Another man of the same name is responsible for the design of .049 engines. Without that engine aviation would have died as a whole! How many kids, each year, learn the lessons of flight (along with pranging those fingers) with a Cox engine? He designed damn near every one of them.
So, I repeat myself. If Jesus were born an Aircraft Designer, his name would have been Bill Atwood.
Lee was great, but he was no Jesus!
Voss 13th T.A.S.
[This message has been edited by Voss (edited 01-21-2001).]