Author Topic: The P-38 sucks! (Read 4380 times)

gofaster · « **on:** January 09, 2004, 11:49:49 AM »

Took a bunch of rides yesterday, spent a few hours in the beast. Came to the conclusion that it pretty much sucks at everything except being a target for single-engine fighters.

109s turn inside of it.

It can't get out of the way of HO'ing Spitfires.

N1ks dance around it like a May Pole.

Mustangs, Typhoons, and LA-7s just run away from it.

It will lose every single rolling turnfight to other fighters.

If you're not spot-on when shooting at a target on your high-speed run in to target, you're probably going to rip off a wingtip on your target's fuselage as you blow by the enemy on your high-speed guns pass.

Speaking of high-speed guns passes, get ready to compress at 350ias, which happens to be the average cruising speed for Mustangs, Tyhpoons and LA-7s. And get ready to lose your wingtip if they're going slower that that. If you see any of those 3 planes, don't try to fight them. Just go ahead and drop down to the nearest airfield target and try to shoot an inanimate object, because that will probably be the only points you'll get out of the flight.

The dash is so high, that you will never, ever see the maneuvering enemy airplane when you shoot, and 95% of your shots still won't have enough lead time.

The only planes the P-38 can kill are other twin-engine fighters. In other words, BF110s. And bombers.

Every piece of ordinance a P-38 can carry, a Corsair can carry, too. And its actually a fightable airplane.

Now I know why I stopped flying the P-38 a year or so ago.

DYGCaps · « **Reply #1 on:** January 09, 2004, 12:13:52 PM »

If all this is true...why do I still continually get shot down by expereinced 38 drivers???

Wadke · « **Reply #2 on:** January 09, 2004, 12:44:45 PM »

The P-38 is a gem....It is actually a great all around plane for whatever kind of work you may think of doing..... Try vertical manuevers...nothing IMO opinion is near as good as the P-38 in vertical Dang thing can hang forever on prop and blast ya as yer stallin out....I really never liked the P-38 when i started....until BURNM showed me the ropes and how beautiful it actually is.... BTW anyone seen him lately?

disclaimer: I AM NOT A P-38 specialist nor a specialist in anything i fly

gofaster · « **Reply #3 on:** January 09, 2004, 01:51:53 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Wadke
Try vertical manuevers...nothing IMO opinion is near as good as the P-38 in vertical

Mustangs and 109s can eat the P-38 in the vertical. The 109's WEP can carry it higher and the Mustang can bring more energy to the initial merge. And both can out race a P-38. I got the P-38 to hang on its props, but once its there it can't maneuver to line up a shot.

I have better luck in the A-20 in the vertical and looping fight than I do in a P-38, plus with an A-20 I can use the F3 external view to maintain SA.

About the best asset of the P-38 vs the other American fighters is its climb rate. It can also take a fair amount of damage and continue to fly ok on a single engine. Of course, once you start hanging ordinance on it the climb rate advantage disappears, as does its cruising speed.

Ack-Ack · « **Reply #4 on:** January 09, 2004, 03:24:05 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by DYGCaps
If all this is true...why do I still continually get shot down by expereinced 38 drivers???

spit the hook out.

ack-ack

XtrmeJ · « **Reply #5 on:** January 09, 2004, 03:41:41 PM »

Im gonna teach this guy! Lemme at em!

Sway · « **Reply #6 on:** January 09, 2004, 03:55:17 PM »

Cute post

Estes · « **Reply #7 on:** January 09, 2004, 04:06:41 PM »

Not as cute as you.

TracerX · « **Reply #8 on:** January 09, 2004, 04:50:14 PM »

OOH, you can't fool me Gofaster. Your scaring everyone else away and saving it for yourself!! I know your type!! I knew it was secretly the best plane out there, now I know! Watch out everyone, you'll be fanning the flames from my P38 tonight!

Murdr · « **Reply #9 on:** January 09, 2004, 09:20:26 PM »

Ack-Ack · « **Reply #10 on:** January 09, 2004, 11:22:45 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Wadke
I really never liked the P-38 when i started....until BURNM showed me the ropes and how beautiful it actually is.... BTW anyone seen him lately?

I think he no longer flies. He left the 479th and hasn't been up since and that was quite a bit ago.

ack-ack

Murdr · « **Reply #11 on:** January 10, 2004, 10:56:55 AM »

I seen/spoke with him in Nov. RL issues are preventing him from flying much, but he visits briefly as he is able.

Sway · « **Reply #12 on:** January 10, 2004, 12:09:47 PM »

even cuter

YUCCA · « **Reply #13 on:** January 10, 2004, 12:24:32 PM »

Um a good stick in a p38 will kill a 109 easily. Just a matter of managing your E, Flaps, and throttle.

Urchin · « **Reply #14 on:** January 10, 2004, 12:39:38 PM »

Depends on the 109 I should think. P38 is going to have a tough time killing a G-10. The others should die pretty easily though.

A Spit 9 will destroy a P-38, so will a n1k. La7 will just run away from one, same with tiffie, most run09s and run90s, P51s. If you can trick one into fighting you you can kill it. Spit and N1k kinda make the P38 useless though, in my opinion.