What is better the p-51 or the p-38 lightning?

Question

i got to go with the p-51 because it is faster and it can go allot higher and longer fuel range

Answer 1

Well, you'd lose that bar bet:

P38

- Ceiling 44,000 (partially pressurized cockpit, supercharged engines)

- Rate of climb (4750 ft/min)

- Range (1300 no tanks, 1700+ferry)

- Power/weight ratio .16hp/lb

- Max speed @water injection 443 mph

P51D (the most common model)

- Ceiling 41900

- Rate of climb (3200 ft/min)

- Range 1650 w/tanks, w/out about 800 miles

- Power/weight ratio .18 hp/lb

- Max speed 437mph

The P38 also has a more powerful armament with a 20mm and 4x.50 MGs in the NOSE.  This means the line of fire is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft, and pilot.  Essentially more rounds hit per unit time than wing mounted guns.  Also the P38 carried a heavier mudmover load than the P51

The P51 wins in maneuverability and acceleration.

But I think what's more important is that the P38 was designed in the late 1930s, making a more truly revolutionary design than the Mustang.

Answer 2

F4U-4 Corsair - but since it's not in your survey - the P-51, but ONLY after it was fit with the Rolls Royce engine.

Based on a quick internet consensus:

P51 - 11:1 Kill Ratio

P38 - 4:1 Kill Ratio

F4U - 11:1 Kill Ratio

*Note - many of the P51's kills were ground kills - but it was still the top fighter in the ETO

Answer 3

The P51, its speed capabilities and design makes it a far superior plane.

Answer 4

I see both the P51 and the P38 flying over my house every once in a while and both are awesome. I've got to go with the P51 as the better aircraft overall.

Answer 5

In general, the P51. But the P38 was an excellent aircraft. It had great climbing capability and excellent firepower. The type was responsible for more Japanese aircraft shot down than any other Allied fighter.

Answer 6

P-38 - There was a WW2 fighter pilot who said [as best I can remember] "If you're going to give me a liquid cooled engine, you better give me two."

Answer 7

Well, in just dogfighting, the P-51 is technically superior in almost all aspects.

However, dogfighting, especially before electronics and missiles, largely depended on how good the pilots were.

Example:  Chuck Yeager was testing a MIG 15 that a defecting NK pilot turned over to us.   A Colonel that flew F-86's in Korea was on leave and asked why Yeager wasn't doing dogfight testing.   Yeager told him that was more dependent on the pilot...the Col. didn't believe him, so Yeager let him fly the MIG, and dogfight Yeager in the F-86.   Yeager crushed him.

They landed, switched planes, and Yeager again crushed him.  

Best pilot matters more, unless there's a HUGE difference in equipment.

And also, the leading American ace of all time, Major d**k Bong, flew.....guess what....a P-38 Lightning.

Answer 8

P-51D because it was faster and presented less of a Target to the enemy!

Answer 9

both are excellent planes, and both had there strengths;

the P51 had better range than the P38, it was the first allied fighter over berlin escorting bombers where as the P38;s and P47's had to turn back.

the P51 would turn tighter, and was better in a dive than the P38. in fact the best way to get away from a P38 was to dive away from it.

the P38 had the better firepower, having 4 .50's and one 20mm cannon, and it was easier to aim since they were on the aircraft centerline where as the P51 6 .50's were wing mounted.

the P38 also had the advantage of the second engine, but there was one issue there in that both engines were critical engines, meaning that if one quit you had to be ready with the rudder pedals.

the P38 did also have better lifting capacity than the P51 did.

the P38 had slightly better protection for its radiators as well.

in the end though i would pick the P51 as the better of the two fighters. it was the best overall dog fighter of WW ll, and did reasonably well in the ground attack role, especially when you loaded it with ground attack rockets.