Historical question - why was the P-38 so successful but the Me-110 such a flop?
Probably boils down to a simple matter of Horsepower, rate of climb, service ceiling and range (and maneuverability). Some pretty stark contrasts;
Bf-110 Performance;
- Maximum speed: 475 km/h (295 mph, 256 kn) at13,289 lb (6,028 kg) at sea level
525 km/h (326 mph; 283 kn) at 4,000 m (13,120 ft)541 km/h (336 mph; 292 kn) at 6,000 m (19,685 ft)
- Cruise speed: 262 km/h (163 mph, 141 kn) maximum continuous at sea level
489 km/h (304 mph; 264 kn) maximum continuous at 5,000 m (16,400 ft)484 km/h (301 mph; 261 kn) maximum continuous at 7,000 m (22,970 ft)349 km/h (217 mph; 188 kn) economical cruise speed at 4,200 m (13,780 ft)
- Landing speed: 150 km/h (93 mph; 81 kn)
- Range: 774 km (481 mi, 418 nmi) at sea level with normal internal fuel at maximum continuous cruise speed
850 km (530 mi; 460 nmi) at 5,000 m (16,400 ft) at maximum continuous cruise speed
- Range at economical cruise speed: 909 km (565 mi; 491 nmi) at 7,000 m (22,970 ft) at economical cruise speed
1,094 km (680 mi; 591 nmi) at 4,200 m (13,780 ft) at economical cruise speed
- Service ceiling: 10,000 m (32,810 ft)
- Rate of climb: 11 m/s (2,200 ft/min)
- Time to altitude: 6,000 m (19,685 ft) in 10 minutes 12 seconds
- Wing loading: 173 kg/m2 (35 lb/sq ft)
- Power/mass: 0.241 kW/kg (0.147 hp/lb)
P38 Performance;
- Maximum speed: 414 mph (666 km/h[157]) on Military Power: 1,425 hp at 54 inHg, 3,000 rpm at 25,000 ft (7,620 m)[citation needed]
- Cruise speed: 275 mph (443 km/h)
- Stall speed: 105 mph (169 km/h) (170 km/h)
- Range: 1,300 mi (2,100 km) combat (1,770 mi/3,640 km)
- Service ceiling: 44,000 ft (13,000 m) (13,400 m)
- Rate of climb: 4,750 ft/min (24.1 m/s) maximum
- Wing loading: 53.4 lb/ft2[155] (260.9 kg/m2)
- Power/mass: 0.16 hp/lb (0.27 kW/kg)
- Lift-to-drag ratio: 13.5