My Love/Hate with the Lightning

[kilz]

And as one who has been dying in a 38 since the AW days, trust me on this

FARKING NOOB

[DoNKeY]

Wow Donkey!!  Thanks so much for the awesome write up.  I've followed your postings and have analyzed your films to death.  This one by far has been the most helpful in a series of a lot of valuable posts you have contributed.

You have re-energized my commitment to learning this airplane.  If you see S1n1ster being shot down a lot in the MA (or happen to the be person sending me down in flames) while I'm in the 38, you'll know that I'm working on my skills.  So if you want an easy kill (for now), search me out in the MA, challenge me in the DA or help me out in the TA.

One more question.  This isn't 38 specific but it does seem to affect me in the 38 more so than other planes.  When in a tracking shot or saddled up position, how do you keep your eye on the target when you are pulling for lead and he goes out of sight below your cowling?  Its hard enough for me to get into this position in the first place and when I do and finally pull lead and fire, the target will slip out of phase and I end up missing completely. 

Thanks again Donkey!

S1n1ster

Well, I guess part of that depends for far away from you they are when you start to pull lead, because the amount of lead you pull will vary.  But for me, I have my pipper set as high as it can go on the reflector, and more my head back a little, which helps me see over the nose better.  I also have my guns set out to the max, which "lobs" them just a little extra bit.  This all helps me on shots that are not that high or an angle of tail. 

As you can see in this pic, this is where I have my view set.


Additionally, I have another easy to reach button set for a second forward view, which I have my "head" set all the way forward, and a little above normal so as to get a better view over the nose and to see under the forward canopy framing.  You can see that here.  I pretty much use this view, along with a little zoom, on just about every shot as I think it gives me a better "viewing" picture of what I'm shooting at, and with the zoom, it makes the enemy plane bigger which seems to help me in computing lead and hitting it.



What I'm guess your talking about is when, for example, you on someone's six about 300-600 out and they pull into a steep climb lets say...  If you want to get a shot, your going to have to pull a lot of lead, and like you say they slip under your nose.  Because of that, I usually won't go for the lead on those shots if they're close to me, say 350/400 or closer, and instead go lag and follow them around the loop, knowing they'll have less E after that, and if they try again, I won't have to pull as much lead.  It's really just going to come with practice knowing when to go for it or not.  Also, if I do go for that shot, I'll shoot for a second or two, and then ease off and reaquire them.  Try that and see how you do.

donkey

PS:  If you see me in around, give me a shout and we can wing or whatever.  Also, if you want some films to watch (not sure which ones you've seen), check out the film section thread "AHF Thread," perhaps you can learn something from some of those.

[Ack-Ack]

1 v 1 the 38 isn't overpowering and often finds itself with a bogey on its tail. 

Depends on who's driving the P-38 really.  P-38 is no worse or better than any other plane in a 1v1, since it really boils down to who's at the controls.

Besides carrying E well the 38 is a great turner if used properly with a combination of flaps, throttle, wep, and rpms. Finding that magical combination will take a long time (more time than I have patience for) which is why I don't fly it in fighter mode.

There really is no benefit to adjusting the RPMs in the P-38 unless you want to extend your flight time and with how close bases mostly are, just bring along drop tanks if you want to extend your cruise time instead of messing with the RPMs.

In attack mode the 38 is combarable to the pony and often greater. It lacks enough protectection and speed to work de-acking a field but will get ou home with the one engine you usually have after one pass on ack, ord, or radar. I prefer the pony in that mode.

I think the P-38s are far better attack planes than the Mustang.  The L can carry more rockets and is a lot tougher than the Mustang. The only real thing that hinders the P-38 as a ground attack plane in here is the ease is which you can suffer a pilot wound.  A kid giving you the evil eye is enough to wound the pilot.

I feel for you trying to learn the 38 but sticking with it is the answer. I have spent 18 months learning one plane and I still have a long way to go. I can only be appreciative of the fact that when we die we get another unlike our counterparts who flew these in combat.

True axiom for the P-38 as well as any other plane in the game. 

I think the reason why the P-38 isn't more popular because it's ease is deceptive.  If you are only going to fly it as an Energy fighter and employ pure BnZ tactics, it's rather easy to fly but if you want to get down and dirty in it, the experience needed to be successful sky rockets.  The result is, a lot of players get turned off on it because to be successful in the P-38, you do have to know both Energy fighting and Angles fighting and be able to switch between both styles during a fight with no more than a passing thought.


ack-ack

[Murdr]

I think the reason why the P-38 isn't more popular because it's ease is deceptive.  If you are only going to fly it as an Energy fighter and employ pure BnZ tactics, it's rather easy to fly but if you want to get down and dirty in it, the experience needed to be successful sky rockets.  The result is, a lot of players get turned off on it because to be successful in the P-38, you do have to know both Energy fighting and Angles fighting and be able to switch between both styles during a fight with no more than a passing thought.


ack-ack

Quote for emphasis.

[MjTalon]

I'm finding myself loving and loving the P38 more and more as i fly it, sure i get shot down more times than not with it, but it's a beautiful plane to fly, and shes deadly with a skilled stick behind the wheel.  I won't be able to continue my training with it for 5 months or so, since I'll be deploying soon.

[bergy]

 think the P-38s are far better attack planes than the Mustang.  The L can carry more rockets and is a lot tougher than the Mustang. The only real thing that hinders the P-38 as a ground attack plane in here is the ease is which you can suffer a pilot wound.  A kid giving you the evil eye is enough to wound the pilot. Quoted from Ack Ack

The #1 reason why I don't like attack runs in the 38, in fact 99% of my 38 flights I get a pilot wound, I could blame the plane, but it is really my fault. In fighter situations the 38 has a little trick that I haven't figuered out yet. I get on there six and they turn hard left (usually), spin , and climb all at the same time, puts them on my six every time, it drives me nuts! 

[Alky]

I won't be able to continue my training with it for 5 months or so, since I'll be deploying soon.

Good luck over there and watch your six (hmmm... 360!) <S>   

[Rich46yo]

                       The P-38 is not "tougher" then a mustang. Not in AH it aint.

[bongaroo]

well with an engine hit in the p51 your done, in the 38 you get to go home, so i'd say its more durable

[Ack-Ack]

                       The P-38 is not "tougher" then a mustang. Not in AH it aint.

*sigh*


ack-ack

[The Fugitive]

*sigh*


ack-ack

Don't disagree with him Ack, he'll put you on his "ignore" list 

[DoNKeY]

^^ lol


I should also say that if you plan on learning the P-38 (as with all planes I guess) film every time you fly, no matter what.  I film every time spawn somewhere, and then go back and watch a film of a 1v1 or 2v1 or whatever else where I want to see my mistakes/good points, and I'll watch that film from different views, angles, etc multiple times, and then I'll save it for latter and do it again the next day.

Also, the one time you don't film is the time you have that perfect 1v1 that's movie worthy.

donkey

[Guppy35]

^^ lol


I should also say that if you plan on learning the P-38 (as with all planes I guess) film every time you fly, no matter what.  I film every time spawn somewhere, and then go back and watch a film of a 1v1 or 2v1 or whatever else where I want to see my mistakes/good points, and I'll watch that film from different views, angles, etc multiple times, and then I'll save it for latter and do it again the next day.

Also, the one time you don't film is the time you have that perfect 1v1 that's movie worthy.

donkey

This filming business also works well when blackmailing other AH pilots who claim to have done nothing foolish ever.  As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words and in the right hands potentially millions of dollars

And yes I've seen Donkey fly...if you can call it that

[LEDPIG]

think the P-38s are far better attack planes than the Mustang.  The L can carry more rockets and is a lot tougher than the Mustang. The only real thing that hinders the P-38 as a ground attack plane in here is the ease is which you can suffer a pilot wound.  A kid giving you the evil eye is enough to wound the pilot. Quoted from Ack Ack

The #1 reason why I don't like attack runs in the 38, in fact 99% of my 38 flights I get a pilot wound, I could blame the plane, but it is really my fault. In fighter situations the 38 has a little trick that I haven't figuered out yet. I get on there six and they turn hard left (usually), spin , and climb all at the same time, puts them on my six every time, it drives me nuts! 

Ahhh yes the dreaded spiral climb.......

Must be used carefully however, with an experienced eye as to the other pilots energy state.
The P-38 can really hang in the vert.

[DoNKeY]

This filming business also works well when blackmailing other AH pilots who claim to have done nothing foolish ever.  As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words and in the right hands potentially millions of dollars

And yes I've seen Donkey fly...if you can call it that

hehe yeah dan I need lessons on how to progress on from "helpless flopper."

oh, and I need to show you the film of me and mensa winging and inpersonating "auto-climbing" with you, which I hear, is the complete opposite of a autoclimb.

donkey