P-38 Lightning : Advice & Tips

[Wraith]

If you've flown against me, you know IM the one who needs the advice and the tips... so let em roll in  

PD: Any P-38 lovers, contact me, I'm trying to form a P-38 squadron  

[Extreme]

Been flying the P38L all ToD.  Doing ok in the plane but there's a lot I still have to learn with this bird.

Anyway, here are something out of my bag-o-tricks:

1. Shoot only 20mms so grab smaller of two gun packages - 2-3 pings usually mean death to bogey.

2. P38L climbs pretty well so I always try to fight in the verticle.

3. Roll at high speed is pretty good...dive and roll to escape.

4. Rudder works great at low speeds.  Use rudder at low speeds at top of loop to bring her nose around for reversal...kinda like a hammer head.

I'm still learning with this bird so pass on the tips!

Ex.

[funked]

Don't try to turnfight in it until they fix the flaps.  I fly the Spitfire and a turning P-38 makes me drool.

[Wraith]

...and makes me bleed.

I've been reading some P-38 ace's bio's and notes... here's the 3 Goldcn Rules of Tommy McGuire (38 kills)

->Never attempt combat at low altitude.

->Never let your airspeed fall below 300 miles per hour.
 
->Never keep your wing tanks on in a fight.

[This message has been edited by Wraith (edited 03-26-2000).]

[Ghosth]

Funked is right on, a p38 without flaps that work like they should is a strickly boom & zoom plane. Without them it's impossible to make the tight turns it's famous for. Remember, a 38 should be able to turn right with a zeke for the first circle if speed & flaps are right.



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Maj Ghosth
XO 332nd Flying Mongrels

[Minotaur]

As the P-38 is now, the stall horn will immediatly start complaining about a 2G pull from about 225mph.  

Keep it fast, but not too fast.  The elevator comes off during high speed dive pull outs if you are not real easy on the stick.

Have not really noticed much difference in the two ammo load outs as far as aircraft performance.  The timing of the small ammo load is perfect.  You run out of cannon and MG at the same time.

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Mino
The Wrecking Crew

[This message has been edited by Minotaur (edited 03-27-2000).]

[Stuart Smalley]

 When you spy a bogy coming at about 5k in range start a gentle dive towards them - 2K rate of decent. I use WEP too if they are closing fats. Built that "E"!!!
 Then at about 1200-1000 I start pulling up with the phenomenal zoom climb the 38 has .  An Immelman or two will put you above almost all enemy (even if they had good E too) and you can pick em apart from above.
 There is a sweet spot at low speeds that will let you literally flip that P-38 right around on an opponant and the two time sI found it I bagged the bogy.
 Course, as Funked said, do NOT turn fight slow or you will be dog meat. It's what I usually end up doing regardless it seems.  
 I usually up with 25% fuel and a drop tank.
 Depending on where a  bogy may be I may or may not drop the tank. If coalt or higher that sucker is GONE. If the con is lower I keep it till I find that extra weight and drag are, or will soon be, a hinderance.


[This message has been edited by Stuart Smalley (edited 03-28-2000).]

[Fariz]

I do not like 38 for some personal reason -- my favourite writer, Ekzepuri (I am not sure how to spell his name, read him only in Russian translations) was killed in the 38. That is why I flied it in AH only couple of times, and unlikly that will fly often.

But if you want some advices from someone who fighted against it, then:

1) Better wait, till it will be modelled right. Many bird in AH were remodeled after implementation. Normally it takes couple of patches/releases.

2) Boom and zoom.

3) Watch your e, do not bleed it too much.

4) If in a bad situation -- run away, your speed let you that, so use it.

5) Use your perfect climb rate when possible, staying higher is your best chance against other fighters.

Hope, that helps,
Fariz

[humble]

Been flying and dieing in 38 almost whole TOD this time. I've been using the 20mm and .5's togeather. Finally reprogrammed for primary only option as well. The 4x.5's will dish reasonable punishment on front aspect snap shots. The 38 seems completely incapable of handling a well flown spit under almost any circumstances. The spits turn/acceleration makes it deadly on rev into a 38 regardless of E state. Unless you rope em and nail em as they flounder your very vulnerable to the HO or front aspect shot on any rev.

[Wraith]

Emanciated, anorexic P-38's and Spitfires on steroids... v2.01 where art thou?  

[Citabria]

fly the 38 like a 109 and stay above all ugly badness as much as you can. untouchable when flown this way at 25 to 30k.

 1 v 1 spit co alt... run away... you're outnumbered

109s are nasty, cant turn with them either nor out climb them (cant run from g10), gotta use that pilot toejam on em  


p51's: if extending... climb above them and come back (cant out turn 51 either which is B.S. but can out climb them)


basically if you cant out turn it be above it. if you cant out run it be above it

full ammo (more is better)  

spin recovery: opposite rudder, full forward on elevator dont overcontrol the rudder and spin the other way.


cheers


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CitabriAirbatiC

"There Is No Spoon"

[bloom25]

Stuart, I think you better edit your sig, otherwise we may all find out who you really are.    (I'm still trying to figure out who Curly was.   )

bloom25
THUNDERBIRDS

[Jekyll]

 

->Never attempt combat at low altitude.

->Never let your airspeed fall below 300 miles per hour.

->Never keep your wing tanks on in a fight.

And if Tommy hadn't forgotten his third rule he may have still been alive today!

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C.O. Phoenix Squadron
www.users.bigpond.com/afinlayson/index.htm
'feel the heat .......'

[Wraith]

Actually, he broke all 3 of them. Then became a lawn dart  

[Duke_Mskt]

But he was RECOVERING at the time....He would have lived but for that palm tree...Mcguire was one of the best pilots ever born.As for the P-38..It was the best fighter/interceptor of its time.ALL the top US aces flew the p-38
As some of you know, I'm personally aquanted with Marge Bong and the Bong family.Through Marges good graces,  I have seen the reports of combat action by Dick Bong and Tom Lynch..they were a team,and a good one.The thing that made ANY plane great was the callibre of pilot in the seat.If the P-38 is flown properly, anyone who is skilled can use it effectively.Two well flown P-38's are a formidable threat.Sorry about the rant..Duke