P-38 Stall Characteristics

[EAF331 Starfire]

Quote:
unrealistic expectations about the performance of the actual aircraft

Originally Posted by Crumpp

That is 99% of it.

Like people complaining about the warwinning P-51's turnrate

[Jumoschwanz]

Originally Posted by EAF331 Starfire

Like people complaining about the warwinning P-51's turnrate

The P-51 was not a "war-winner", the war was already won when it came into use in any numbers at the beginning of 1944. By this time the large part of the Luftwaffe's aircraft and best pilots were gone, not to mention that Germany was a small country with very limited resources and never had anywhere near the number of aircraft that the allies had.

The P-51 did well when it finally did get to the war because of these factors, and because it was supported by a wingman and it's squadron. A lone pilot in a P-51 did not fly over the channel and start shooting down "Gerries" right and left.

Chuck Yeager said in his book that pilot with the most experience will always win, no matter what they were flying, and by 1944 Germany was out of experience pilots....

Thinking the P-51 was a war-winner is Fanboy talk...

[EJGr.Ost_Caspar]

It was nethertheless a plane with very good performance for its time and - much more important - able to escort the bomber formations to their target and back.

[K_Freddie]

As Goering commented ... in Berlin

The P38 is a fast hit and run (strike) aircraft.. fly it within it's limits and advantages and she'll 'service' you well.
It can also take a fair amount of damage and get you home.