Yankee Lightning

[II/JG17_HerrMurf]

Just got done gorging on P-38 videos on YouTube. Whether real or digital she is a joy to watch but man that is a big sexy beast. There are numerous scenarios for this ship as well.

 

I flew her a bunch in the original. She is competitive without being absolutely dominant and would get me over to the Allied side for a change. Don't care if I'm fighting Zekes, 109's, Tony's or Macci's. I'll shelve my Yankee desire for Ponies and Jugs if the Devs can bring this spectacular twin to life.

[Feathered_IV]

I'd love to fly from Green Island, over New Ireland to Rabaul and back in a P-38.   Whether on one engine or two.

[Lusekofte]

The P 38 could match just about anything if it was flow right , it can be a killing machine or a turkey depending on the pilot. I would love to have this in the game. 

but after years with debate about the FW 190, I almost fear what it would bring with it. 

[Brano]

Lightning with Thunderbuddy = my favourite couple of US of A groundpounders. Flew them a lot in old sturm 

[Dakpilot]

Always enjoyed the P-38 in old Sturmo, however never really put the time in it to really learn it's envelope, felt it as an aircraft you had to do a lot of study to get the best out of and be proficient

 

Would love to see it in BoS/BoM world

 

Cheers Dakpilot

[Brano]

I used them mostly as groundpounders. The amount of explosives you could load on them was impressive. One quick straf on target and then hit the throttle and run away from flak and fighters. Noone could catch me 

We flew on our czechoslovak community server with some (mod?) maps of Sicily and Italy + map of Normandy and Ardennes. I remember one great mission taking place at Strait of Messina,reenacting retreat of Wehrmacht from Sicily to Calabria. Lots of trucks and shipping to bomb. Always did a circle or two around Etna crater 

[II/JG17_HerrMurf]

Considering how much time I've put into the Fw in this sim I think it's fair to say I'd explore that envelope. Would be fun to BNZ her and surprise a few with the turn radius on the big girl too. With the current graphics she'd be a beaut inside and out. Not to mention a skinners delight.

[=362nd_FS=Hiromachi]

 

 

HerrMurf' timestamp='1464099045' post='359931'] with the turn radius on the big girl too.

Wouldnt count on that one.

 

Later on, when I will find a moment I can share something on P-38 (L model in that case), but it will take me a while since I'm working right now.

 

One thing that I'm certain, Lightning would be probably hardest fighter in game to build and model. It was a complicated bird to fly.  

[II/JG17_HerrMurf]

Not saying she is a fantastic turner but like the F14 she could turn much better than her size would indicate.

[216th_Lucas_From_Hell]

With all its age and quirks, the old Il-2 made the Lightning very enjoyable.

 

[=362nd_FS=Hiromachi]

In 1944 took place a big conference of U.S. and British engineers, company and NACA test pilots, and Army and Navy/Marine Corps combat pilots, goal was to find best properties for already existing aircraft and ones that would come in future. So both upgrades for used in service models and prototype airplanes were discussed. The report was formulated, based on the analysis and conclusions and I got it from Schiffer Publishing. It is an official verbatim transcript of the proceedings of a Joint Fighter Conference held at the U.S. Navy’s Patuxent River test center for eight days in October 1944, and includes frank discussion on the operational and technical capabilities of the P-39, P-47, P-51, P-38, Corsair, Hellcat, P-61, YP-59, Mosquito, Spitfire, and other Allied aircraft, as well as the Japanese Zero. Participants include: Charles Lindbergh, Lloyd Child, Allen Chilton, Lt. Peter Twiss, Maj. Thomas Lanphier, Jack Woolams, Boone Guyton and scores of others. 

 

I wont go into details about every damn aircraft, but as promised, here is what they thought of P-38 Lightning, model L-5. 

Aircraft was flown by 1 representative of the Army, 9 guys from Navy, 5 British pilots and 13 contractors. 

 

In terms of cockpit for 28 votes, 2 were considering it good, 1 as fair, 11 as poor and 13 had some concerns or comments which fell under group "Other". It was pointed that yoke hides many instruments, the cockpit controls are rather complicated, some controls are impossible to access with harness locked. Also visibility was not considered good.

Comfort of flying was considered decent to good, with exception for comments about the limited space. It was felt by the pilots that cockpit was crowded.

Ground handling and power plant operations were deemed very good, with controls well placed. Both landings and take-offs were considered easy and pleasant but it was pointed that trimmers were hard to access adding to the workload in cockpit.

 

Now the most important were Combat Qualities. Again, for 28 votes : 3 pilots claimed its good, none considered it fair, 1 considered it poor and most went either for "other" or "blank" options. 1 pilot indicated that aircraft has a vad visibilit to the sides and down, he would prefer to go with F4U and F6F. Other guy claimed : "I would not consider this a modern aircraft. Poor coordination of control forces and effectiveness, combined with very weak directional stability make it a poor gun platform, and its maneuverability rating is so low as to preclude its used in modern combat." As a fighter bomber it was considered good, but for fighter sweep just fair and for escorts as a very poor.

Overall it was good due to the twin-engine reliability (Allisons FTW), good altitude performance, good accelerated stall, dive recovery flaps which made prolonged dives possible.

 "Apart from very queer ailerons, the aircraft is quite pleasant to fly and would probably make a very good strike fighter. There is however an objectionable wobble in a bumpy air -1. View is poor- too many struts in the way. Rudder makes aircraft very hard to maneuver on first flight -1. Too complicated and full of gadgets - would make serviceability rate problematic."

 

Longitudinal stability was considered good, lateral as well but there were issues with directional stability according to the test pilots. Balance of the three controls was found not good.

 

 

Sidenote here, most positive comments came for P-51 and F8F. Especially the latter one was considered as best fighter platform available due to great combination of speed, climb rate, maneuverability and great controls.  

[II/JG17_HerrMurf]

Doesn't really negate anything I've said and probably reinforces her as a decent BNZ as long as you are conscious of her compressibility issues. I wasn't saying she was a great turner in comparison to SEF's, just that she turned well for an aircraft as large as many contemporary twin engine attack/light bomber aircraft. Don't take a partial sentence out of context.

 

Still want.

 

And still willing to learn her quirks as I have with our current Fw to make her effective within the flight envelope.

Edited May 24, 2016 by [LBS]HerrMurf

[=362nd_FS=Hiromachi]

No worries, I'd also be interested in trying that one. P-38 is certainly a unique aircraft. 

[AwesomeSprawvy]

Same here. The Lightning is a unique and, in my opinion, beautiful bird. I'd love to fly her in a current gen combat flight sim.

[216th_Lucas_From_Hell]

On the old game I use it as a strike fighter. Dive from 1000m to 100m, line up, strafe everything, drop bombs and run back. If you know its limits it becomes a deadly fighter, but much like the Bf-110 in this Il-2 you need to know what you're doing otherwise it will do you in.

[BlitzPig_EL]

We used to use the P 38 as a deep interdiction strike aircraft.

 

While the virtual "aces" were jousting with each other, we would come in low and fast and hit the mission objectives, or mess up their aerodromes.  Then run away.

 

Great fun.

[II/JG17_HerrMurf]

That's what the "experts" all say about the Fw but I am finding success in the fighter role by avoiding prolonged turn fights. I think a similar mindset could make the P38 very enjoyable in both the strike and fighter roles. I enjoy the "difficult" ones.

 

Here's hoping!

Edited May 25, 2016 by [LBS]HerrMurf

[II/JG17_HerrMurf]

Lost another P-47 into the Hudson River today. Lost the pilot too. Details are pretty hazy at the moment.

 

Sux