Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: mora on February 13, 2005, 08:15:18 AM

Title: P-38 stability
Post by: mora on February 13, 2005, 08:15:18 AM
The P-38 is surely a stable plane with 2 engines and counter rotating props. However I believe that it's stability is overmodelled in sub-stall speed flight with high AOA. Here's a film I made, the airspeed during the whole flight was below 50mph with elevator trim in full nose up and the stick fully aft most of the time:

http://www.saunalahti.fi/anttruok/film13.ahf

It would be very nice if HTC could look into this issue.
Title: P-38 stability
Post by: Raptor on February 13, 2005, 03:58:53 PM
stall limiter on?
Title: P-38 stability
Post by: mora on February 13, 2005, 04:39:43 PM
No way, you couldn't do that with the stall limiter on as it limits your AOA.
Title: P-38 stability
Post by: 1K3 on February 13, 2005, 05:41:22 PM
P-38 IS (and should be in r/l) stable, but in a big furball, you are a sitting target to smaller, more nimble fighters when you get into lo-speed turns.

(but hey, who's stopping you)

:)

btw, try F6F. this 12,000 pound iron can give a hard fite to 38s in co-alt
Title: P-38 stability
Post by: Ack-Ack on February 13, 2005, 07:54:46 PM
Go to Zeno's site and watch the "Flight Characteristics of the P-38" and see how stable and gentle it was in a stall.  You have to watch closely since you really can't notice the stall except for a slight nose dip during the flight.



ack-ack
Title: Re: P-38 stability
Post by: Widewing on February 13, 2005, 11:09:19 PM
Quote
Originally posted by mora
The P-38 is surely a stable plane with 2 engines and counter rotating props. However I believe that it's stability is overmodelled in sub-stall speed flight with high AOA. Here's a film I made, the airspeed during the whole flight was below 50mph with elevator trim in full nose up and the stick fully aft most of the time:

http://www.saunalahti.fi/anttruok/film13.ahf

It would be very nice if HTC could look into this issue.


I can do the same thing with the Ki-84, only at 35 mph. I posted a film of it too. You can take off from a CV with full flaps, pull up into a climb and the CV pulls out ahead of you. Eventually, you have to push the nose over a tad, but you can repeat this over and over.

My regards,

Widewing
Title: P-38 stability
Post by: Guppy35 on February 14, 2005, 01:23:57 AM
Wait a minute!  Are you guys saying we're not flying real planes here?


$)%*&#)%  wanders away mumbling something about shattered dreams :)

Dan/Slack
Title: P-38 stability
Post by: mora on February 14, 2005, 02:57:24 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Ack-Ack
Go to Zeno's site and watch the "Flight Characteristics of the P-38" and see how stable and gentle it was in a stall.  You have to watch closely since you really can't notice the stall except for a slight nose dip during the flight.


What we get is a "slight" nose up after the stall, in which you can even climb at 1000fpm
Title: P-38 stability
Post by: Kweassa on February 14, 2005, 03:45:44 AM
For both planes,

 is it supposed to be that way?
Title: P-38 stability
Post by: bunch on February 14, 2005, 04:02:38 PM
can anyone do the takeoff-immelman that is in Bob Hoover's book?
Title: P-38 stability
Post by: Ack-Ack on February 14, 2005, 04:05:52 PM
Quote
Originally posted by mora
What we get is a "slight" nose up after the stall, in which you can even climb at 1000fpm



I've never experienced a "slight nose up" in a stall flying the P-38 in here.  


ack-ack
Title: P-38 stability
Post by: mora on February 14, 2005, 04:35:03 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Ack-Ack
I've never experienced a "slight nose up" in a stall flying the P-38 in here.  


ack-ack


Check the video I posted. I personally think there's a bug which enables you to fly below the stall speed and even climb in that situation.  I think the nose pitches up a little when you fly below the airspeed where you should be stalling.

The easiest way to notice it is to trim the nose fully up and climb in a steep angle while gradually pulling the stick fully aft while while your airspeed is decaying. When you slow down to stall speed and below, your nose will pitch up and you can stay in this sitution forever. If you are under power you should be able to climb with a ridiculous AOA.
Title: P-38 stability
Post by: Widewing on February 14, 2005, 05:33:15 PM
Quote
Originally posted by bunch
can anyone do the takeoff-immelman that is in Bob Hoover's book?


Yes...It's quite easy in the P-38J or L.

My regards,

Widewing
Title: P-38 stability
Post by: bunch on February 15, 2005, 05:08:03 AM
Well, that is some evidence that the modeling is correct (or incorrect if you assume that none of the AH flyers ar Hoover quality pilots).  I'd have to look in my copy, but i think i remeber he did it single engine also