p38 elevator authority at speed is very weak

[Citabria]

at slow speed it is fine but from 300mph on the elevator is very ineffective.

historically as a defensive move the p38 was capable of diving at the ground at high speed and pulling up at the last second leaving their persuer to auger in if they followed.

[MrSiD]

Nah, won't work here.. If it's LW iron following, they will use their l33t trimming skillz to prevent that =)

[ZOSO]

Not doubting you cit, but what's your source for this info?  I've read a fair amount of non-technical p-38 stuff but never heard about this.

[AG Sachsenberg]

I went into a dive last night in a 38 and once i hit 450 it became almost uncontrollable.  450!!  WTF, it was worse then a 109 diving.  I fly LW mainly but I love the 38 just that you cannot dive in it.

[Tac]

its called compresson sach. you can still pull up from the dive by using dive flaps and pulling elevator trim up.

What Citabria is reffering to ( I believe) is the RL's P-38's DIVE FLAP nose up pull. It could pull a 38 from a high speed dive really quick.. but only if the flaps were used AFTER the plane compressed (not before).

[GRUNHERZ]

P38 compresses very fast, I flew one a few days ago and it really surprised me how fast it locked up and the plane shook like mad.

[Citabria]

no i mean before it hits compressibility

[BBGunn]

I really wish AH would work the dive flap/manuvering flap thing out for the P38L.

[Tac]

oh that cit. Well, what do you expect? It has to remain porked. Otherwise HT's n1k might get its bellybutton kicked from here 'till next friday        

[funked]

You're kidding right Citabria?  P-38 was infamous for having troulbe pulling out of dives, almost as bad as A6M or Bf 109.

[Zigrat]

p38 is a fine airplane, especially if it only had to fight jap planes

against the late war german stuff it isnt very good but in the pacific theatre it would be a monster... even against n1k  

[Jigster]

The later block P-47D models had the same dive flap system as the P-38L correct?

I was prodding around the two of them a week ago and could find no differences in the physical composition of the two sets of dive flaps, other then the airfoil to which they were attached.

[Widewing]

 

Originally posted by Jigster:
The later block P-47D models had the same dive flap system as the P-38L correct?

I was prodding around the two of them a week ago and could find no differences in the physical composition of the two sets of dive flaps, other then the airfoil to which they were attached.

NACA developed the dive recovery flaps, and they were installed on several fighters, including the P-38, P-47 and F8F. Many of the earlier P-38J blocks (-10,-15) were retro-fitted in the field. Each installation was unique as it was adapted for the requirements of each aircraft. Nonetheless, each manufacturer adhered closely to the original design.

My regards

Widewing

[Soulyss]

I'm no p38 expert but I thought p38's had to watch their speed in dives because the controls would get really heavy and finally enter compressibility fairly easily.  Or was this problem fixed in later model P38's?

[Jigster]

Interesting enough, I found them of interest after bonking my head on the on a P-47 ("Tar Heel Hal", which was 'broke'), happend to notice they were down on the Putt-Putt-Maru remake as well. It was on static dispaly for the time being while some maintence was being done. Only key difference I saw was length and how they were set into the wing.

I wonder how the Fowlers worked with the dive flaps, being they change the airflow on the outer flap panels. Kind of off centered from the P-47 though, which would seem even more akward due to changing airflow over most, but not all of the flaps.

(btw I'm really only refering to 1st deflection, combat manuvering setting, or whatever the dang position was called, that being the only time I can think of where they might be similtaneously deployed)


[This message has been edited by Jigster (edited 05-10-2001).]