P-38J vs P38L Flight Performance in AH

[Randy1]

Going fast enough to need the dive flaps is why they were installed in the first place. Hard to see their use as putting you in a poor position. The dive flaps allow higher speeds which is also where the boosted ailerons make the biggest difference.

Speed control is very important.  Too fast and options start going away.  That speed is the same with or without dive flap.  The dive flap is only for an error in judgement at the altitude most fights occur in AH.

[Triton28]

I've never found the dive flap to be much use because the line between full control and lawndart is still very thin in the 38L.  You might be able to hit a higher speed with them deployed, but you're still far better off powering off and slipping her down the same way you would in a J model.  I'm not sure if RL pilots felt that way.  I kinda doubt it unless Kelly Johnson was an evil SOB and just put some random gadget on there to make the Army feel better. 

[Randy1]

I've never found the dive flap to be much use because the line between full control and lawndart is still very thin in the 38L.  You might be able to hit a higher speed with them deployed, but you're still far better off powering off and slipping her down the same way you would in a J model.  I'm not sure if RL pilots felt that way.  I kinda doubt it unless Kelly Johnson was an evil SOB and just put some random gadget on there to make the Army feel better. 

It took me awhile to get it through my thick head that the throttle is your friend being just as important as any axis on the joystick.

Lockheed may shaded it a little to the bright side in news releases as problem solved. Seems like I read the big bragging point was a throttle off dive from 20,000 feet at 45 degrees was possible with the dive flap. i have read so much P-38 stuff it is all running together so I might be wrong on the bragging point.