Why would torque affect turn radius? I thought torque would only affect roll rate? Does the p38's heavier load and therefore better zoom climb make up for the fact that the 109k can climb like crazy with wep? I really like to rope a dope and I'm also finding the 109k more forgiving because I can tuck tail and run easier if I mess up unlike the p38. I do like the guns on the p38 better though.
Most planes, maybe all but the 38, will be at a disadvantage while turning to one direction. I admittedly have a horrible memory on this but, IIRC, a vast majority of the planes in here will have a harder time turning to the right because the torque affects. I may have misspoke when I said affected turn radius. What it definitely WILL do is take a torque-monster like the K4 and cause a nasty spin if the pilot gets it slow enough and stalls out. This affect is even more pronounced if they are in WEP. Give it a try offline or in the DA. Try pulling hard into a stall and see what happens.
The 38's weight can be a great equalizer in the vertical. While there are some better climbing planes out there, with it's superior momentum it will perform very well in the vertical against these planes. In a long sustained climb, after the initial benefit of its greater momentum has dissipated, planes like the K4 will power away from it. Picture two people at the top of a valley. One weights twice as much as the other, but he's also weaker. They both start off on bikes down the hill and when they get to the bottom they start coasting, allowing momentum to carry them up the other side. The heavy guy will coast farther up the hill, BUT since he isn't as strong the other guy will be able to out climb him after they are done coasting. Now add in the stability of the 38 and it's counter rotating props and you have a plane that, when flown right, will match or exceed the better climbers in the vertical and when slow. Like the two guys on the bikes, if the big guy is able to slow to a stop AND keep the bike upright he will have another small advantage over the small guy who just tips over when his bike gets too slow.
Feel free to tuck tail and run in a 38 if you need to. Ride the edge of compression, or if i have to I'll blow right into it and use the method i mentioned earlier to get out again. Many of the planes that will follow you into a dive like that will not compress as easily but, as you will learn, their elevator and/or aileron authority gets very poor or they risk stress damage trying to pull out if they aren't careful.
I'm by no means an expert, i die more often in a 38 then I live (mostly because i loves me a good furball). My solution for the last few tours has been to fly other planes a lot more so i can learn what they do better and what they do worse in comparison to the 38. I'm convinced that the only way to be truly successful in a 38 is to have very good ACM and know the other planes as well as you know yours.
I'm sure someone will jump in here and correct/clarify anything I've said, but this last part is crucial.
