Here's a great post that's helped me out in learning the P38, it is an old post by Citabria. Also, to be honest...I dont concern my self with surviving too much in the 38, most of the time...you won't. They always come for the 38, unless you come from an advantage...you definitely will not gain it (unless you're some master pilot and have a plan), most of the time they can out-turn, can climb better, and faster than your double engines
Still my favorite ride
This plane is really for masochists now that I think about it
Personally, I prefer the L for JABO and the G for dogfights(though recently I was recommended the J by Sire)...which is really only best when they underestimate the G and you get some of these late models slow...otherwise, prepare to get your tail blown off as you try to rope them and they climb right into your cockpit. Then once you're slow...well...
Citabria's Guide to the P-38L
Airspeed Characteristics
all speeds are calibrated air speed
Stall speed power on:
Flaps up: +108mph
Flaps down: +95mph
Minimum single engine flight speed:
150mph
Maximum dive speed (structural failure):
550mph
Minimum loop entry speed (dependant on weight/loading and skill):
150-180mph
Best Rate of climb speed(default):
175mph
Best Roll rate speed(range):
250mph-500mph
Best speed @ altitude:
414mph @ 25,000 feet
Maneuvering flaps speed:
250mph
Full Flaps speed:
150mph
Gear extended structural failure speed:
200mph
Take-Off
Upward elevator trim makes takeoff easier but it's not necessary. Flaps
are used at the pilot's discretion. They do shorten takeoff and obstacle
clearance distance if deployed 1 or 2 notches after accelerating to
130mph. Start the engines either one at a time if you are in a historical
mood with shift 1 and e then shift 2 and e followed by shift and e to link
the throttles after startup or simply start both at the same time.
Takeoff is much easier in the Lightning due to its counter-rotating
propellers. It is possible to firewall the throttles of the p-38 with no
adverse control problems. After gaining a positive rate of climb after
liftoff retract the gear and flaps.
Climbout
Full throttle with a default climb of 175mph will get you to altitude the
quickest however a climbspeed of 200mph is a great speed for cruise
climbing to the target area.
Cruising
Takeoff and military: 3000 RPM 54" auto rich 162 gal/hour/engine
War emergency: 3000 RPM 60" auto rich 160 gal/hour/engine
Normal rated: 2600 RPM 44" auto rich 115 gal/hour/engine
Maximum cruise: 2300 RPM 35" auto lean 60 gal/hour/engine
Cruising will most likely be full throttle in AH though. The big Lockheed
Lightning carries with drop tanks up to 710 gallons of gas in Aces High.
That's 4615 pounds of fuel! So if you brought the fuel and drop tanks it is
yours to burn. I've found a 50% fuel load with a drop tank or two is plenty
for base defense since you can get rid of 150-300gal of fuel in a jam and still
have fuel for the fight. However, when going hunting on a high altitude
multiple kill sweep sortie I take full fuel and drop tanks. Fuel loading
depends simply upon the flying style you use and how much time(fuel)
bought at the expense of performance you feel you can take and succeed in
your objectives.
Fuel Management
Fuel tanks: The P-38Ls were issued with 6 fuel tanks, 2 x 93 Gal. Main wing
tanks on the rear part of the inner wing, 2 x 60 Gal. Reserve tanks on the front
part of the inner wing, besides the pilot, and 2 x 55 Gal. Outer wing tanks on
the outer wing leading edges, besides 1 or 2 165 or 300 Gal. Drop tanks. The
Flight Manual recommended the following order for conpsumption for those
tanks:
1) Reserve tanks for the first 15 minutes of flight
2) External drop tanks
3) Outer wing tanks
4) Main fuel tanks
5) Reserve tanks
Managing the fuel tanks can be tricky in the Aces High P-38. After
consuming drop tanks, switch to the mains and use them up before using
the aux tanks. In Aces High the main tanks each (RM&LM) and Aux
tanks (LA&RA) are located between the cockpit and the engine nacels in
the inner wing. The main tanks are in the rear behind the aux tanks so use
up the main tanks first by manually selecting them and switching between
LM & RM to balance fuel. The outer wing tanks on the real P-38L are
combined with the main fuel tanks in AH. Throttling back to save fuel can
be done in two ways: cruising down at 35"@2300rpm or turning off one
engine and leaving the other at full throttle. I've found flying single engine
more efficient at stretching fumes back to base than throttling back, in fact
this was a tactic often used by real Lightning pilots returning on low fuel.
Generally when you get down to ¼ tank in the LA&RA after emptying the
mains its best to head home, the last quarter of fuel in the tanks seems to
disappear much faster than the rest.
Landing
Surviving against the odds on a successful sortie to hear the wheels chirp is
quite satisfying. The easiest landing for the p-38 is to use a shallow descent
and full flaps and gear extended at 165mph. Slow to about 140mph on short
final slipping the aircraft with rudder to lose altitude if necessary and touch
down rear wheels first. Holding the nose up will air brake the P-38 but if
you hold it up to high you will scrape the tail. When braking it is more
effective to pump the brakes than just hold them down if you are running
out of runway. Landing with damage and a single engine you should touch
down at 150mph, any slower and bad things might happen.
Armament
Full ammo is my preference because I use up the excess quickly. If you are
an excellent shot you might only need the smaller 50cal load which runs out
same time as cannon, but it goes quite fast. Usually more ammo is better
because you can get rid of it quickly. The P-38L has the best gun platform
in the game, the guns fire straight all the way out until they drop off.
However it is possible that vertical convergence could be an issue, so the
superstitious like me use 300 yards.
Rockets are an excellent weapon on the P-38L best used at a 45 degree
dive and 400mph. On a good day you can take out 5 acks at 2 rockets a
piece. (Since updated: 1 rocket, 1 ack)
I always take 1000lb bombs if I take any, they hurt climb and top speed but
I usually climb to only 10k for bomb and rocket attacks and the 1k bombs
have a better punch for obvious reasons.
Performance and Tactics
The P-38 is the best middle of the pack fighter in AH. It turn fights the
faster planes and e fights the better turning slow ones. The P-38 is best
used exclusively as an E fighter to capitalize on its excellent vertical
performance and also since it's large planform size gives the enemy an easy
shot in a knife fight.
One rule of the Lightning is flaps. The P-38L lives and dies by the use of
flaps and they are vital to maneuvering with the other aircraft in Aces High.
In turns 2 notches of maneuvering flaps are best for most fights but some
use full flaps for a momentary gain in angles on really tough fights and when
squeeking the p38 over the top of an extremely low speed loop. However
when not turning it is necessary to reel in the flaps since they slow you
down a lot.
The big lockheed twin also has among the most potent superchargers in
Aces High. High altitudes of 18 to 25k are where the P-38L rules the sky.
Initial dive performance of the 12,780lb empty to 21,600lb max load P-38 is
excellent. It literally falls out of the sky like a screaming brick, however
this becomes a problem at higher altitudes as the Lightning quickly
exceeds 460mph where it begins to experience structural fatigue and finally
failure at 545 to 550 mph. Usually both sections of the elevator or both
ailerons are the first to go if not perfectly trimmed, making recovery
difficult.
Roll performance is enhanced by hydraulic assistance but this only helps the
P38L at faster speeds. As speed drops below 250mph the roll rate of the
goes from excellent to average since full deflection of the ailerons has less
effect at low speed due to the inertia of the twin booms and 52 foot
wingspan which frankly makes the airplane quite stable. It is best to use
rudder to speed an entry into the roll at these slow speeds. But even with
rudder assisted roll entry the roll rate at slow speed is a weakness of the
Lightning in a knife fight.
One maneuver the P-38L has due to neutral torque is it's ability to pull off
low speed stalling loops where the Lightning at +150mph has just enough to
get the nose over the top while throwing in full flaps that it is able to fall
over the other side of the loop. This maneuver can in some instances
reverse the situation completely and put the formerly defensive p-38 on the
offensive on the torqued out opponent who could not follow. This tactic is
most effective on 109g10s, p51s and other aircraft with lots of torque and
higher stall speeds. Spitfires and other turn-and-burn aircraft are not
shaken by this move.
The P-38 has an excellent initial turn, so it can cash in this card for a
snapshot on more maneuverable aircraft but if it misses it will be forced
defensive in most cases.
The Lightning is truly one of the best fighters of World War II, but it is an
honest airplane with weaknesses that can be exploited if the lightning pilot
is not careful. Although slower than the late war mosters it can still hold its
own and emerge triumphant in the worst of situations.
