Microsoft Flight Simulator - Flyingiron Simulations P-38L Lightning First Impressions Review

[@coldisle]

You did better than I did!!! I was SO ecstatic with this plane that I failed to start the starboard engine and crashed into the trees on takeoff. I’m good now though…miraculous recovery….in spite of no simulated rescue trucks showing up to extinguish my charred remains. The plane is Incredible and I’m enjoying every second. Great video. Thanks!

[@Dreamsofwings]

🤣🤣 many thanks!

[@schizorazgriz7231]

Just purchased this so I could get a sense of what my Great Grandfather worked with in WWII. Fairly noobish in MSFS and in way over my head on a bird with this level of detail. Thank you and the other content creators for these videos!

[@Dreamsofwings]

Many thanks and I hope you enjoy her! It’s just a case of learning the ropes and practise. You’ll be an ace in no time!

[@flymax4066]

What a beautiful warbird! I will definitely put it in my hangar! I was always a fan of the Lightning! But my most favourite is the B-17 Flying Fortress! I hope we will get to see it as well in an incredible detail!

[@Dreamsofwings]

A2A do an amazing one in FSX/P3D. Would be great to see that come over

[@flymax4066]

@@Dreamsofwings yeah I would instantly buy it!

[@ToddBreda]

The P-38 is one of my all-time favorite warbirds and I couldn't wait for someone to come out with a quality payware for this bird for MSFS and this is it! She is such a joy to fly. It's detailed excellent, great flight dynamics, realistic textures...I am thrilled! Thank you for the wonderful tutorial!

[@Dreamsofwings]

Thanks so much! Yes it is great to have a P-38 in the sim! What an iconic warbird!

[@yams900]

Always appreciate your videos ! Happy New Year by the way, I'm back from Finland where is was -20°C ! Anyway, back into Aussie summer :) Keep up the good work !

[@Dreamsofwings]

Many thanks! Wow what a contrast in temperature…Finland to Australia! Happy New Year!

[@340ACP]

I agree with you that flying warbirds is not just about shooting at things. They are a part of our aviation history and well worth preserving. I do fly Warbirds in real life and there is a real sense of humility that one feels whilst flying those wonderful machines. The P-38 is a great machine and they have done a really nice job with this model. For takeoff use 54´´ 3000rpm and climb 44’’ 2600rpm

[@Dreamsofwings]

Well said! 🙌🏻

[@ToddBreda]

You fly warbirds in real life?? You beautiful bastard. And I mean that in the most kindest way. ;)

[@slogan5786]

48:06 It doesn't have to to with the temperature. From FL100 you need to switch on the emergency fuel pumps.

[@Tviggy]

Just in case it was bothering you- one of the prop levers was originally all the way back during your run-up. Then it got moved forward at some point. That’s where the discrepancy with RPM came from during run-up. Thanks for the awesome video!!

[@Dreamsofwings]

Thanks! Yes a friend pointed that out after watching it. Not sure what was going on with my throttle quadrant (or me!) but I need to check that everything is working right. I was checking the position of my levers on my quadrant rather than in the sim….lesson learned!

[@dillank3240]

Here it is a year later and I've just picked this up. Your assessment of the flight model is something I agree with. You can feel the lift! It's very good. I was looking for a different experience with this bird, and I think I got one. It's very different from the Spitfire and Hellcat. All three are very unique in the sim. Now I just need the BF-109! Thanks for the video!

[@Dreamsofwings]

Many thanks, the BF109 is certainly a good challenge!

[@RobertRogers-e6m]

I have just bought this aircraft in the spring sale. I must say its really a lovely plane to operate. If your interested in warbirds then this is a must buy.

[@Dreamsofwings]

FlyingIron did a great job!

[@jamestanner7340]

Absolutely fantastic video and commentary! Subscribed immediately and looking forward to all of your other videos. Thank you and happy flying brother!

[@Dreamsofwings]

Hey thanks so much, very much appreciated!

[@conlethbyrne4809]

I bought her yesterday, so I have seen two other reviews before yours. I just hope I remember half of it. Enjoyable, educational & professional review. The sound from the engine was different & added a touch more authenticity to the show. I would have to agree on a splendid take-off & landing. This war bird looks study level. What do you think? I'm off to rip through the skies, Slainte

[@Dreamsofwings]

Thank you! The great thing about the Lightning is that the version you are flying now is an improved and updated model so it only got better!

[@pbast1967]

that was a cool flight, getting to know the plane. I have the same things going on with the spitfire and Corsair, you really have to pay attention and take care of the engines. I would go into arcade mode in my mind and fly full power everywhere and then the Corsair blows up oil all over the canopy!! lol I love the warbirds!! Thanks for the cool video!

[@Dreamsofwings]

Hey thanks! The overheating has been tweaked since I made this video so it’s less aggressive 🤣. I agree, love the old warbirds! 👍🏻

[@Stwutter1973]

Fabulous plane. I'm not really a warbird flyer, but Flyingiron have converted me with the Spit., and now this. It's worth the money for just the sounds.

[@Dreamsofwings]

Yes it’s a very interesting one. Nice to have a warbird twin.

[@garyhodgson8344]

Great review of a lovely aircraft . Developers are really coming to grips with msfs2020. All we want for Christmas is A2A

[@antgilbert7835]

Great video. It’s nice to see someone learning the aircraft and not skipping over things people with little experience may miss. I can’t figure out the engine situation on this aeroplane. I take off, keep the rpm around 2500 and MP in the green zone, temps all look good, fuel pumps back okay at 10,000ft and then as soon as I hit 11,000 the engines cut. Drop altitude and they restart, climb to 11,000 and they cut again. Very very odd. Below 11,000 I love it though haha, or I just fly with engine damage off.

[@BogeyTheBear]

Boosters pumps on at 10,000 _and_ switched to Emergency speed? 'Cuz the pumps need that extra boost above 10,000.

[@ScottDriskell]

Did you ever figure out why your engines were cutting out? And how to better control your over heating? Great video!

[@Dreamsofwings]

Many thanks! Oh they released a patch after to address that issue. It was a bit too sensitive on first release lol

[@holgerschmidt4750]

Nice video, just made up my decision to buy the P-38. Love your explanations and your honest way to explore a new aircraft. One question: How do you manage to look around that smoothly all the time? You play in VR?

[@Dreamsofwings]

Thanks so much! I do use VR but for these videos and a lot of my flying I use TrackIR to look around. It makes it very natural.

[@kengou]

Wonderful flight and video, thank you! I've been flying it a bit since yesterday and the sounds and handling are wonderful. Flies much like the IL-2 version, which feels great. Engine sounds are incredible during startup.

[@Dreamsofwings]

Many thanks, it’s great fun isn’t it!

[@cheetahfish]

Really? You think those engine startup sounds are incredible? Sounds like an old poorly done FSX freeware plane. I had a P-38 years ago with a sound pack that was better than this. Standards sure have dropped.

[@Vograx]

I fly warbirds for the same reason. I enjoy flying them for the flying, not the shooting. I got DCS for that anyhow. Plus I like that older planes are more manual, ie. more engaging to fly as you have to interact with the plane more for engine control and monitoring. As for your issues, which I am sure you resolved by now but neverthelesss; 1) Above 10000ft the Emergency Fuel Boost pump MUST be on else you can’t climb above 10000ft. 2) Engine overheat is from two things during your video, a) RPM was too high at 3000. Should be 2600 for regular flight. b) Your mixture is at emergency rich. Should be pulled back between the two white square markers furthest from you on the mixture, ie “auto rich”.

[@Dreamsofwings]

Many thanks, and I’ve not flown it since the update but I believe the overheating has been adjusted too.

[@andrewbennett2582]

What are you using for head tracking? Looks really nice and smooth but also easily manoeuvrable!

[@Dreamsofwings]

I use TrackIr although I am aware there are some cheaper alternatives now. I’ve had it for years and couldn’t be without it now unless I’m in VR. Here’s a short vid I made on it if it is of interest kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYrFqpeep7hooq8

[@andrewbennett2582]

@@Dreamsofwings great thanks will watch that. Yeah I’ve been simming for years and never had any head tracking. I tried the one you can use on your phone, and really enjoyed the experience but didn’t like the implementation if that makes sense. I think I’ll go for trackir as a late Christmas present to myself!

[@TrevUk]

Still my favourite plane in the sim ❤ so cool to just thunder along in it 😎

[@Dreamsofwings]

I need to revisit it!!

[@TrevUk]

In vr, looking out at those engines 😮😊

[@doubleitp]

Unfortunately i had to play the video with the sound off cuz my little boy was sleeping, are you using any head tracking devices while playing? If so, which one?

[@Dreamsofwings]

Ah well at least you saved yourself from my droning on! Yes using TrackIR on this one, and the aircraft has since been updated to more accurately handle engine temps etc.

[@doubleitp]

@@Dreamsofwings thank you for replying so quickly!!!

[@ProfRage]

that was awesome..👍

[@ToddBreda]

What video recording app are you using by the way? Thank you!

[@Dreamsofwings]

I use Shadowplay for this kind of work. OBS sometimes in other videos

[@ToddBreda]

@@Dreamsofwings Great, thanks!

[@ceegnz]

Lovely, as expected. I fly mainly in VR and even there it's tempting to hide the yoke - interesting that in flight it largely hides the ASI, presumably that wasn't important :) They're not specifically mentioned in the checklists but the manual (page 15) says the fuel pumps should be on at all times, and the emergency pumps should be on for takeoff and climbout, landing, and anything over 10,000 feet. I sort of think that where the checklists talk about fuel pumps they mean the emergency pumps, the timings are about right, but then there's nothing about turning the main pumps on. Nice to see your coolant temperatures behave much the same as mine - I start by opening all the flaps now and leave them open. When the engines start to do funny things try flicking to the outside view, it's the easiest way to spot the trail of black smoke that says it might be a good time to look for big flat patches of grass :)

[@Dreamsofwings]

Yes its a cracking aircraft. Interesting how the engines overheat so readily. I like that challenge but I need some more time experimenting with that. I wasn’t quite expecting to have to need everything wide open but then I was running high RPM at times for a cruise

[@pbast1967]

lol, my grandpa was a pilot and he would always say, you are constantly looking for open, flat areas, just in case! lol awesome!!

[@Dreamsofwings]

Absolutely lol!

[@johnrowland2773]

Nice... really one of the better warbirds. So nice to have counter-rotating props so no torque on takeoff and landing, easy to trim out, and no constant trimming withe every RPM and power changes. BTW, your closed the left window, but I think you left the right one open ;) and turn on the oxygen in front of the seat. Lol

[@Dreamsofwings]

Yes I close the right one later on in the video! 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@johnrowland2773]

@@Dreamsofwings yeah I saw that... wrote the comment a bit before you did that! Lol I enjoy your videos, and you focus on realism aspects without being “snobby” for lack of a better term. 👍 Also nice to hear your take on military/warbirds in MSFS... news flash... there ARE military planes in the skies all over... training, airshow, etc. Your thoughts echo my sentiments exactly. I’ve been into history, WW2 especially, and military history and military aviation since I was 5 (53 now). Grew up making models, drawing planes, etc. I love DCS (I know you’re in Il-2, which is a better “complete/cohesive package”), but the planes, flight models and systems in DCS are really good. Coming from someone who doesn’t do much/any “combat” in DCS, I just fly... 🤷‍♂️ formation flying etc. I’d love to have the DCS planes in the MSFS world. Even now in MSFS, I have little interest in airliners, do some fun GA stuff but mostly fly warbirds or the better military planes/trainers like the T-45, MB-339... Like you said, military planes are the ones I love, but I try and fly them semi-realistically like around training areas in Nevada/Arizona/SoCal, San Diego, Edwards, China Lake etc. or Corsair out in the Marianas, Hawaii, and New Guinea, or the Spitfire over the Channel.

[@Dreamsofwings]

@@johnrowland2773 thank you! I mainly do my flying in the A2A warbirds in P3D. Their Spitfire was adapted for use in a full cockpit sim to train real world Spit pilots at spitfires.com and, along with their other warbirds, they are great for doing some realistic flying. Love flying formation in warbirds. First time I flew formation in Spits in VR I nearly cried tears of joy! 🤣. Love that Corsair by the way. Only got that a week or so ago but big fan of it!

[@pbast1967]

I feel like I'm reading my own story, reading what you wrote! lol I'm 54, grandpa was a pilot and served in the navy during WWII and I grew up going to airshows, building models and drawing warbirds too! lol I do love the historic aspect of flying these planes in MSFS. Its really fun!!

[@rubberduck05]

My favorite aircraft in the sim to date (Xbox) - question: my version doesn’t have the machine guns peaking out, any info on this why or if it s an option switch? Thxx

[@Dreamsofwings]

I seem to remember reading/being told that the Xbox aircraft sometimes have armaments removed so could be the case with this one perhaps.

[@rubberduck05]

@@Dreamsofwings - thx doing some digging and yes, buying from the market place seems. That weapons are removed compared to buying them from the creators website direction (flyingiron) .. but just don’t know if you can buy it from them as an Xbox user and install it some way or other.

[@Dreamsofwings]

@@rubberduck05 yeah not sure if you can at the moment. Seems with Xbox you are very much limited to what Asobo want to sell you through Marketplace

[@quecksilber457]

You should use the mouse wheel to flip the fuel switch.

[@Dreamsofwings]

I think I was, just hard to line it up using my track IR

[@petrtoman2933]

Great, its possible connect both engines for one axis, and the same for propps? and how can i change to external view? thanks.

[@Dreamsofwings]

yes, you can assign Propeller Axis rather than a numbered propeller for each engine. With regards external views you use the camera option in the pop up menu in sim or assign views to a controller.

[@michaelmcconnell3777]

The P-38 props are contra rotating meaning each prop turns into the other prop. This creates a different procedure if you lose an engine but that may be why your takeoff was smooth - there should be minimal to no P-factor from the prop(s).

[@Dreamsofwings]

Yes that is correct. I was interested to see how that was going to effect the take-off run and sure enough it was nice and steady.

[@BogeyTheBear]

There is _significant_ P-factor in the the P-38. Both engines turn critical at high angle of attack-- it's just that they cancel each other out.

[@mrcat5508]

@@BogeyTheBearthe one pedant to rule them all!

[@donaldholman9070]

no flight plans, eh? Just fly around smelling the cabbage. Thanks for the nice video.

[@d7dun1010]

Can it just be flown off without the start up procedure as with the other planes that start on the runway ready to go?

[@Dreamsofwings]

Yes you can do that too.

[@d7dun1010]

Thank you!

[@jayteeaitch]

I haven't bought this yet because one day - as my PC is mid power - I hope to grab an X Box series X - and PC purchases - at the moment - are no good - unless purchased via Market place in X Box ie one will have to pay twice and as an OAP - no brainer For some reason - because I know you fly the LM P3D version - I didn't think the difference was that much - with the startup - and ask you - is there that much of a difference - so as with much of MSFS future aircraft - I will continue with the P3D model and get back to this video and the Lightning when I finally grab a series X

[@Dreamsofwings]

Not really flown the P3D version although I know it’s there. I need to visit that one and compare. 👍🏻

[@octane2099]

What kind of gun was the one you made? Is it one from star wars lol jk thank you for the review I’m going to purchase mine when I get home tonight

[@Dreamsofwings]

Whatever it was, I’ve made a mental note never to make that sound ever again……EVER! Many thanks for watching and I hope you enjoy 😀

[@Antares2]

The mistake you made with the engine run-up was that the prop pitch levers were one full forward and one full back.

[@Dreamsofwings]

Yes I realised afterwards having reviewed with a friend and pilot that I was getting a disconnect between what my controller levers were doing compared to the levers in the sim so whilst I followed the checklist I didn't pick up on the fact that the levers in the virtual cockpit weren't as they should be

[@Antares2]

@@Dreamsofwings Yeah, I figured it was something like that. When I noticed, I wished I could tell you because you seemed so confused at the time. Anyway, it's a common problem in a lot of games that controllers don't match up with the ingame controllers until you touch them a little. I guess it should be added to all our mental checklists to do a quick touch of all axis controllers at the start of a flight to make sure they don't suddenly snap into place. Other than that, it was a pretty good video

[@Dreamsofwings]

Many thanks

[@QuantumGamingUploads]

Is this a Mod? Haven't seen this in the Store yet.

[@Dreamsofwings]

If you are on PC version it is available from the link in the video description. For Xbox hopefully it will appear in the marketplace.

[@QuantumGamingUploads]

@@Dreamsofwings thank you very much.