Actually Bodhi, I think it is non-existent. I trim the elev full up to pull out of a compression, when compressed the dive flaps do zilch, when initiating a power dive, they do zilch.
The do turn on a yellow light in the cockpit though...
I have a scanned copy of some pages of HANGAR FLYING, a magazine issued to P-38 pilots that was used to give the pilots more info, directly from the test pilots trying out new stuff in the US as well as stuff from vet pilots. 6 pages are dedicated to dive flaps and they say that if the dive flaps were extended BEFORE the dive, you could keep the aircraft under control when you hit compression (under control meaning without the "tuck under" and without a "nose up" effect mentioned next-> ) , and if they were deployed AFTER the dive, when at or when near compression, the flaps would then produce an inmediate nose up lift that would pull the 38 by itself...the test pilot in the magazine even said that it would pull a neat loop all by itself if you let it.
Another thing that amazes me is the accel..or drag..or prop drag or whatchamacallit that makes a 25% fuel 38, at 10k and 100mph dive with full military power and gain 400mph (watching the white tick marker, not the red real speed one) at 5k, then trying it again at 10k, starting with 100mph.. turn engine OFF, wait for props to stop..diving same angle.. and get to 360 mph at 5k. So what, the engine only pulls 40 mph in 5k of diving? I would love if someone else tried this, im astonished.
HT, I think you should look at these P-38 magazines, i'll try and get as many as possible for ya if ye want them, a fellow AH'r was a lucky tard and got them on E-bay
. Where can I submit them (5megs what I have now)?
