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Ummm, my point was more that if two aces met, one in a Zero, one in for example a Hellcat, things might be kind of even. But if you replace BOTH pilots with average skilled flyers, the Hellcat would probably come out on top. Assuming both pilots make mistakes, the one in the Hellcat seems much more likely to survive his.A normal pilot who meets someone noticeably more skilled than they are will likely not live to tell about it (regardless of performance disparity in WW2 fighters).
Cheers,
Biff
Example would be the A6M2 Zero versus just about anything.
Recall that the F-94 versus the PO-2 in Korea did not yield good results for the USAF, losing about one F-94 for every PO-2 downed.
Ummm, my point was more that if two aces met, one in a Zero, one in for example a Hellcat, things might be kind of even. But if you replace BOTH pilots with average skilled flyers, the Hellcat would probably come out on top. Assuming both pilots make mistakes, the one in the Hellcat seems much more likely to survive his.
We found out what happened when the Lightning shed its tail and we worked during the whole war to get 15 more kn [28 km/h] of speed out of the P-38.
Changing airfoils was too dramatic to squeeze more speed. Only major increases in power.It was mentioned once but P-38(D) was in a class of its own in 1940. A genuine 400mph class plane. That is the real what if it entered service in late 1941 rather than late 1942.
Its designer said
It was mentioned once but P-38(D) was in a class of its own in 1940. A genuine 400mph class plane. That is the real what if it entered service in late 1941 rather than late 1942.
Its designer said:
We found out what happened when the Lightning shed its tail and we worked during the whole war to get 15 more kn [28 km/h] of speed out of the P-38.
Changing airfoils was too dramatic to squeeze more speed. Only major increases in power.
November of 1941. They were testing the improved servo-tabs on the first YP-38 built, and the test pilot didn't appear to follow the test protocol and lost the tail during a high speed dive followed by a high G pullout attempt.When that happened (P-38 shedding it's tail)?
You're very welcomeThanks, Dave.
There was no P-38Ds in 1940, just two YP-38s.
The P-38 was therefore formally accepted into service in August of 1940 with serial production of the initial model - the P-38E - beginning in September. At least 210 of this version were delivered by Lockheed and now modified with 1 x 20mm cannon and 4 x 12.7mm heavy machine guns.
It wasn't low priority - the funding for AAC was just being opened up. The P-38E model was the first to be modified for external pylon and internal plumbing to carry 330 gal Ferry tanks. The P-38E deliveries began in November 1941. The production insertion occurred early in the P-38F ~ Feb 1942I mixed up order date with delivery dates, But I found this on web...
Early P-38 development seemed to be a low urgency.
All presuming a maneuver dogfight at at low to medium altitudes - where the 51 diver gives up dive to escape a bad situation at low to medium speed.Bf 109F-2, in the hands of an ace could be a handful. One-on-one, against a P51D or P47D, at altitudes less than 20,000 feet.
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So a 1940's aircraft could best a 1945 model as long as the 1945 plane is flown by a novice with no experience slowly at the right altitude and the 1940's model has an ace on board starting in a favorable position, nothing to it.
All presuming a maneuver dogfight at at low to medium altitudes - where the 51 diver gives up dive to escape a bad situation at low to medium speed.