P-38 I'm hooked.

[Wiley]

Unless there is a Mosquito next to it....

It that case they go for the Mosquito, then the P-38. 

  I've actually been spending a bunch of time in the Mossie the last few days.  It seems to create quite a bit of confusion while people decide which of us to go for when there's a 38 in the area.

I find that the size of the P-38 is actually somewhat deceptive. While it's certainly a fair amount of airplane that takes up a lot of space, it's also got a great big hole in the middle. Most aircraft if your lead is a bit short, you might still be able to clip off his empennage. Not so the P-38. They'll just get sucked down that black hole between the booms.

I always make it a point to aim for one of the booms when I'm shooting at one.  Hardest plane in the game to hit from dead six too, IMO.

Wiley.

[bozon]

The 38 is perhaps the most underappreciated fighter in the set. It is the players that treat it like it is a B38 are responsible for that bad rep. An experts plane, definitely, and a most capable one, especially above 10k.

[artik]

It can be a dangerous plane if you underestimate it or read incorrectly its energy.

Few days ago I had seen TwinTail landing 14 kills in P-38 :-) one or two of them were me.

However most of players don't know to fly it, and it just becomes a big fat target

[Randy1]

In a base defense with a fighter cap, you can clear the cap by taking off in a P38 with WEP on staying on the deck going straight.  I did it last night again.  Your fellow greens will have a chance to gain some E. 

Just as fun is that some may and do kill themselves shooting each other while crowding together to kill a 38.

[Nimrod45]

I spent some time with Nice Try in the DA, this was after some very frustrating time in the MA where I was excelling at improving other peoples K/D ratio, LOL.  He spent some time showing me how to make this beast dangerous, Flaps, Rudder and Throttle, and use a light hand on the stick.  I know I am going to get the crud kicked out of me for a while but it will pay off and I will eventually be dangerouse in the P-38.  I am not speaking badly against planes like the Spit or the fellas that like to fly them, they are awesome.  But for me I am sure that flying them were going to be my limiting factor in growth and improvement in the game, I think stepping into something more challenging will open up a new demension spo to speak.

  Nice Try.

[bozon]

I am really at a loss why the 38 gets so little respect. It didn't used to be this way, or at least not nearly as bad.

True, the P-38 is all wrong: it has Alisons instead of Merlins, it is made of metal instead of wood, far too few Hispanos, instead of a stick you hold an evening-tie shaped object connected to a bent rod coming out of the side, and instead of a bomb-bay it has a big hole in the middle - I mean what the hell were they smoking in Lockheed? Worst of all, my navigator has to sit on my lap, I don't know how they tolerated it in WWII.

A P-38 with an energy advantage and a fighter pilot at the sti..whee..yok..whatever! is one of the planes I fear most. The thing can zoom like the Hubble-space-telescope, and when you think it zoomed enough, it zooms some more. In AHI I did zoom tests from 300 mph and the P-38 was the clear winner. Never did tests in AHII, but it still feels like a great zoomer. Like all the twins it is more difficult on the defense because you do not get second chances - even the two weekers and number guys will be hitting you if given the chance. But this can be overcome.

[Randy1]

I am really at a loss why the 38 gets so little respect. It didn't used to be this way, or at least not nearly as bad.

After awhile you just get tired of fighting every high La7s, Yaks, spit 16, p51s, K models  in the sector and the endless picking of the even higher 190s.  Sometimes all of these at once.

1v3 or 4 is common  1v1 rare even then your are most sure to get picked by a 190 and then they hardly ever stay to fight.  They just climb. 

If you can get on any of these planes butts, they will have one heck of time shaking you.

[Ack-Ack]

I am really at a loss why the 38 gets so little respect. It didn't used to be this way, or at least not nearly as bad.

It's always been this way.  The P-38 is the Rodney Dangerfield of fighters, it gets no respect.

ack-ack

[Tank-Ace]

I am really at a loss why the 38 gets so little respect. It didn't used to be this way, or at least not nearly as bad.

Bishop P-38 missions. I was curious to see how many would crash before being killed by an enemy, I lost track at 7, but I know I missed some, and there looked to be only about 15 there or so.

[save]

Unless there is a Mosquito next to it....

It that case they go for the Mosquito, then the P-38. 

True, Bozon's Mossie attracts enemies like no other plane but the C47s and 410. Normally he kills them within seconds, but when he prolongs the fight, he forces  them slower and vulnerable for his wingman to expend his bullets at.

[Gman]

The P38 is like a 1911 in a lot of ways - large and small in just the right places.  The side profile view is probably one of the slimmest in the game, so if you're decent at pointing your wing at the enemy who is shooting at you, you present probably the most difficult target in the planeset to hit.

I will say fighting in a situation where you are overwhelmed, the P38 is certainly not the plane I personally would want to be in, you know, one of those one or two of you left after a big furball, and about 7 or 8 bad guys.  Spit5/Hurricane/N1k, and even maybe some of the 109s I'm often able to fight my way out of these situations I quite often find myself in due to how I fly (stupidly from a survival viewpoint sometimes), where is in the P38 if I'm lucky I'll get one or two of them before I present a huge easy profile shot to somebody and die.  For a pilot smarter than me that can stay out of those situations for the most part, it's easily the most overlooked aircraft which is able to win in so many ways.  I read something somebody here wrote, that the planes the P38 can't turn or maneuver with, it can outpace, and the ones it can't outpace it can outurn - pretty much always has a strength someplace vs every other plane out there, that if you're good in it, you can exploit (again, not me).

[Nimrod45]

What I am finding is that in the P-38 you can actually separate your foes thereby allowing you to deal with the one at a time instead of as a group.  I didnt do as well alone against multiple bogies in the Spitfire as I feel I do in the P-38.  The only thing I am having trouble with is visibility, there are a lot of blind spots in the 38.  All in all I have decided it is the plane for me.

[Randy1]

What I am finding is that in the P-38 you can actually separate your foes thereby allowing you to deal with the one at a time instead of as a group.  I didnt do as well alone against multiple bogies in the Spitfire as I feel I do in the P-38.  The only thing I am having trouble with is visibility, there are a lot of blind spots in the 38.  All in all I have decided it is the plane for me.

It is amazing how sometimes a red can hide behind on of the canopy's thin braces.  The front armor glass support is huge as compared to other planes.  It may not be huge but the angle covers up a lot of sky.  On the L it had rear facing radar to help with the blind spot.  You do get use to it and swish back and forth to check a low rising attack.

TrackIR really helps.

Which ammo load-out do you carry?  It is a real toss up call.  The extra 50s sure makes great tickling ammo but at about 500 pounds, not sure if it is worth the weight.

What fuel load do you carry?  I use to carry a drop tank but the old brain sometimes forgot to either drop the tank or switch back to the canon.  Now I go 3/4s fuel and plan on using the first 1/4 climbing and traveling.

Are you using manual trim on the elevator?  Takes a bit of practice but seems to be worth the trouble.

[Nimrod45]

I typically have been going with 50% fuel and a drop, but seem to have the same trouble remembering to ditch the drop tank before a fight.  Last night I had a bit of a drawn out fight vs a Spixteen, I managed to win but realized after it was over I was still toting that drop tank, LOL.

I have also been going full ammo load, but will maybe try to lighter one based on what you said, besides I am used to flying planes with a short clip and have yet to burn through all the P-38's ammo load even though I am a horendous shot.

I have been flying with auto caombat trim only, but have been wondering about the maual option, I will try it to. 

Thank you.

Nim

[Ack-Ack]

The only thing I am having trouble with is visibility, there are a lot of blind spots in the 38.  All in all I have decided it is the plane for me.

I'm sure Murdr's head positions are still up on the training site.  You should download those and use them as a basis to adjust your views to more your liking.

ack-ack