Originally posted by Mikepb42
I'm looking for help on use of the flaps specifically in the 38. When is the dive flap best used? At what point in a furball should I dump the normal flaps out? How much flap? Thanks!
Dive flaps in the P-38 are meant to help you pull out of a high speed dive and
will give you a 4 degree nose up angle when you activate them. They only work at high speeds, so trying to use them in a low energy fight will not work but if you do accidently deploy them, it won't penalize you. The dive flaps are also best employed at the beginning of your dive. One trick with the dive flaps is that while it can't help you in low speed turning, it can help you in high speed turns. If you are over 300mph and need to turn tight while keeping your speed, just hit the dive flaps when starting the turn.
To keep from compressing, don't start your high speed dives above 20,000ft. The P-38 will only enters compressability above the 20,000ft level. Below that, all you'll see is some serious buffeting but that's not a danger unless you let it become one.
As for the normal flaps, the P-38 has 4 flap settings (see diagram). The 1st notch of flaps are knows as "combat maneuvering flaps", or "Fowler Flaps" and the other three settings are normal flap settings.
The little formula I use to know what flap setting to use is a really simple one.
1 notch - 250mph
2 notches - 200-175mph
3 notches - 150-100mph
4 notches - 100mph or slower
As you gain energy, just reverse. Don't rely on the auto-retracter to raise your flaps as you gain energy, it can throw you in a very nasty spin if you do.
I also "walk" my flaps up and down, depending on the situation like in loop fights or stall fights (another area where the P-38 is fantastic in). In E type fighting, I rarely use my flaps since in those situations, I rarely keep my speed below 300mph. I usually only use flaps in angle and stall fights. Below is a link to a film that was made by Leviathn to show how well the flaps work on the P-38L. In the film he just uses the flaps to make the P-38L loop endlessly.
P-38 Flaps film Hope this helps some. The P-38L is a fantastic plane in Aces High and a real joy to fly. If you have anymore questions or want some more help with the P-38, my game ID is AKAK. If I'm on the next time you log on, just holler and I'll let you join my plane for a hop or two, so you can see how a P-38 dweeb flies
Ack-Ack
479th FG - Riddle's Raiders