Aircraft Specs.

Comparison

WarBirds™(sm)

P-38

by 'Cage'

Been doing some experimenting with the different versions of the P-38.  This
is what I found:

VISIBILITY:  Visibility extremely poor but can be over come a bit by setting
auto trim and using the outside view.  Will keep those surprises off your
behind.

GUNS:  As in any game I have flown the guns on the P-38 are always kick
butt.  No convergence point of the guns so it is the same close in or a long
ways out.  I have been able to hit a running enemy plane at as much as 900
yards with the 20 mm cannon in 1 second bursts.  If your right on target it
only takes a 2 second burst to kill any fighter and if your lucky on any
bomber.  Hitting a B-24 from the side with a 5 second burst will either
damage it bad or you will see it go down.

MANEUVERABILITY:  I will have to do this by plane type:

P-38F:  This is the best turning Lightning of the three.  When turning hard
with a Spit or any turn fighter (except a Zeke) add one notch of flaps.  One
notch of flaps is a combat flap with does not reduce your speed just makes
the wing bigger.  Only use the combat flap when needed otherwise leave it up
to maximize your Energy state.  This holds true on all three planes.  Now
for the down side of this plane.  If you dive in on an enemy plane chop your
throttle before making the dive.  Compressibility on this plane is a major
factor.  Once you get to under a 45 degree dive you can throttle the plane
back up.  If close to the ground do not roll over and try to get on the
enemies six.  You'll play lawn dart if you do.  Instead do either a high
YoYo or a wing over to reverse direction and get on his six.  When in a
steep dive watch your air speed, if it gets above 350 MPH then pull out and
try a different approach.  Cutting your throttle will not help you once your
in the dive, the P-38 design is so efficient that it actually gains speed
with no power in a dive.

P-38J:  This plane is faster then the F model but the compressibility
problem is much worse because of the speed increase.  All the above holds
true and then some.  It doesn't turn as well as the F model but can still
stick with a Spit with a little more effort.

P-38L:  This is the fastest of the three Lightning's and can almost keep up
with a Mustang in level flight with wep on.  Has the ability to carry more
weaponry then any of the Lightning's.  Speed factor is not a problem with
this plane especially in a dive.  When your plane in a dive gets to 350-400
MPH deploy your speed brake and it will hold your speed allowing you to stay
on target and maneuver around.  Once leveled out and on the targets six
raise the speed brake.  This model how ever does not turn as well as the two
above although again with a bit of effort it can stay with a Spit.

OVER ALL:  Over all the P-38 is a good choice of fighters.  Except for the
blind spots it is a good plane to fly.  Because of it's design it is a tough
plane to shoot down.  While the silhouette is larger the actual hit areas
are much smaller then the other planes.  If you fly this plane you will have
to stay with it, because it does take time to master.  Also it requires a
lot of rudder action to stay alive and I have shaken my fair share of planes
off my behind.  I have even had people run out of ammo firing on me and not
even score one hit.  Depending on your skill level this is the only plane
that can fight a FW-190 nose to nose and win.

My next article will be on the ME-109 series so till then see ya up.

Cage

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Last modified: January 20, 2007