P-38 Stall Characteristics

[EJGr.Ost_Caspar]

Originally Posted by AndyJWest

As far as I can tell, in an unaccelerated stall, the IL-2 P-38 has no tendency to 'flip over' if you keep it straight: This is stick full back, sinking like a stone, but staying level:

Indeed. And if you do not use elevator in an climb with idle power, it just will nose down at stall.ing It's exactly what I see in the vids.

[palidian]

Playing online, A 109g2 and a jack were chasing me, the 109 could keep up and the jack gained ground. In addition, most of the late war Russian stuff as the La 5 will out run a p38L.

In Il2 the p38 is stable, and hard to stall.

There still is the rolling issue, the ammo center of gravity issue, and the compressibility issue.

[IceFire]

Originally Posted by palidian

Playing online, A 109g2 and a jack were chasing me, the 109 could keep up and the jack gained ground. In addition, most of the late war Russian stuff as the La 5 will out run a p38L.

In Il2 the p38 is stable, and hard to stall.

There still is the rolling issue, the ammo center of gravity issue, and the compressibility issue.

None of that is surprising. The 109G-2 is a very fast fighter and the J2M3 is also a very fast fighter. The late war Russian aircraft are also extremely fast but only at very low altitudes. Take that La-5FN up to approximately 10,000 feet or higher and the P-38L Late (with high boost) gets faster and faster while the La-5FN drops right off.

[WTE_Galway]

Originally Posted by IceFire

None of that is surprising. The 109G-2 is a very fast fighter and the J2M3 is also a very fast fighter. The late war Russian aircraft are also extremely fast but only at very low altitudes. Take that La-5FN up to approximately 10,000 feet or higher and the P-38L Late (with high boost) gets faster and faster while the La-5FN drops right off.

All true ...

But now imagine a P38 with a pair of Griffon 65's running 21psi and 150 octane gas

[Luno13]

It would probably be too nose-heavy, unless the booms were extended. Interesting concept though.

To underscore what IceFire said: The P-38 was less successful in Europe as it was over Africa and the Pacific. The Jack was a relatively rare fighter, with only several hundred produced, and most flew bomber interception sorties. The late-war Russian stuff was light and fast (even Kozhedub is reported to have shot down two Mustangs which attacked him in his Lavochkin). The lightning was fast, but not faster than the late-war stuff on that list.

If flown well, it is a good fighter, but the P-38 really wasn't a "magic carpet".

If the development of the design hadn't been so protracted, it could have been a truly great plane.

[JtD]

I think it was anyway.

[palidian]

Airplanes have a center of gravity, some components are fixed, and never change the center of gravity, as the engine, others are expendable, as fuel. Aircraft designers, attempt to keep the expendables in the center of gravity so the plane does not change its flight characteristics. The two worst US aircraft, were the P51, and P38, the P51 had to use the 85 gallon tank up first, to make the plane fly normal, the P38 had the weapons way out front, making for a severe center of gravity change. Most planes place the ammo, and fuel in the wings, so expending both will not change the center of gravity.

The p38 handled differently after it used up ammo.

[EJGr.Ost_Caspar]

Originally Posted by JtD

I think it was anyway.

For such an unconventional twin engine it's been fabulous!

EDIT: Not to forget: its beautifull!

[Luno13]

Originally Posted by EJGr.Ost_Caspar

Indeed. And if you do not use elevator in an climb with idle power, it just will nose down at stall.ing It's exactly what I see in the vids.

+1

What a lot of people don't seem to realize is that in Il-2, the stall is occuring much before the blue "Stall!" warning appears. It's possible to completely stall aircraft without that blue message appearing at all. As such, it's quite useless, except to explain to the noob why he's suddenly corkscrewing uncontrollably and why pulling up more doesn't help.

The P-38 is very docile in game, and only spins out if you really try.

PS - it's important to note that 2 inches back on your joystick is probably equivalent to 40 lbs of force on the real thing