Calvin: Aviation Historian and All-Around Expert

[csberry]

My Dad: I like your plane, Calvin.
Calvin: *sigh* It's a P-38, Granddaddy.
Dad: Oh, sorry. I like your P-38.
Calvin: Granddaddy, what advantages did the P-38 have over Zeroes?
Dad: What?
Calvin: Tell me some of the advantages that the P-38 had over Zeroes?
Dad: Um, well it has two engines, so it probably had a better climb rate. And...uh...that means it also had a, uh, higher, um, a higher...the ceiling...uh...
Calvin: Yes, Granddaddy, the P-38 had a higher service ceiling.
Dad: "Service ceiling!" That was the term I was looking for!
Calvin: *gives GDad a look*

Comments

[shabudaquae.livejournal.com]

It also had counter-rotating props, so it didn't suffer from a tendency to turn to the right like most planes of the day, it had a long range and was faster than the Zero as well. Early versions did, however, suffer from compressibility in steep dives that would often lead to them diving right into the ground.

I mean, isn't this stuff just common knowledge?

[csberry.livejournal.com]

That settles it, Calvin is all yours the next time we get together.