Lockheed p38 lightning the unusual configuration of the p38 resulted from the original us army specification for a highperformance fighter that demanded a speed, rate of climb and range that could not be met by a conventional singleengined aircraft. Home full size pdf plans, bitmap, wood 1 rcm plans lockheed p38 lightning keyword search pick only one from each group and keep in mind that we are in the process of editing all the plans so only the plans already edited will show up. The aircrafts target, was a german fockewulf fw200 condor patrol bomber. Developed for the united states army air corps, the p38 had distinctive twin booms and a central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament. Warren bodie, who wrote the definitive book on the p38, said that lockheed studied it and it looked good. Lockheed p38 lightning, history the lockheed p38 lightning was a world war ii american pistonengined fighter aircraft. Rectractable and steerable landing gear, flaps and much more. Lockheed p38j lightning archives this day in aviation. In the middle years of the war it was the best long range fighter available to the usaaf. Page 30new product fms lockheed p38 lightning 1400mm electric warbirds. The lockheed p38 lightning was developed to a united states army air corps requirement. Everyone gets free storage to upload their files, be they photos, cad models, pdf building instructions, whatever. The lockheed p38 lightning was one of the most versatile aircraft used in world war ii. These helped lockheed maintain the performance of the lightning despite a gradual increase in.
Developed to a united states army air corps requirement, the p38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament. Of the 10,037 planes built, 26 survive today, 22 of which are located in the united states, and 10 of which are airworthy. Lockheed p 38 lightning pilot s flight manual download. Major bong flew a number of different lockheed p38s in combat. Allied propaganda claimed it had been nicknamed the forktailed devil german. In its designed role, the p38 was an effective fighter and was the main aircraft for most of the aces in the pacific theater of operations. The lockheed p38 lightning is a world war iiera american pistonengined fighter aircraft. In 1937, the us army air force expressed a need for a new highaltitude fighter design. The lockheed p38 lightning, the definitive story of lockheed s p38 fighter, warren m. The lockheed p38 lightning was less at home in europe, where its large size made it less maneuverable than the german fighters it faced. Developed to a united states army air corps requirement, the p38 had distinctive twin booms and a central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament. The lockheed p38 lightning was originally designed as a bomberinterceptor and was never intended to be a fighter. Immediately recognizable by its twinboom tail layout, the p38 lightning was one of the mainstays of the usaafs fighter inventory. Xp58 chain lightning as p38, 2seater with provision for gun turrets, engine upgrade.
The lockheed p38 lightning is a twinengined singleseat fighter and fighter bomber aircraft produced by the usamerican manufacturer lockheed corporation. The p38f saw two significant changes made to the lightning. See more ideas about lockheed p 38 lightning, lightning and aircraft. The lockheed p38 lightning page contains all related products, articles, books, walkarounds and plastic scale modeling projects dedicated to this aircraft. We can add this information to help explain virdens death, or we can go the other direction and trim back on specific test flight details, leaning the mixture out for more efficiency. Traced this years ago, about1975, and it is a nobrainer. P38 lockheed lightning paper model view full image please click on image the lockheed p38 lightning was a world war ii american fighter aircraft. Click download or read online button to get lockheed p 38 lightning pilot s flight manual book now. Some lockheed aircraft pilots manuals pdf are above the page. One of the bestnamed aircraft of ww2, the lockheed p38 was also one of the few fighters in production throughout hostilities. I had pointed out to him that a two stage merlin was about 400 lb heavier than a v1710 and had a lower rated power at altitude. After a lengthy developmental period, the p38 eventually flourished in multiple roles. The first fully printable airplane with suitable files prepared for your 3dprinter. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want.
Lockheed p38 lightning specifications howstuffworks. As a long range escort fighter, the lightning saw action in all theaters and extensive use in the pacific and chinaburmaindia theaters. What would become one of the best fighters in world war ii was created more by happenstance than by design. Beloved by its pilots, the lightning went on to become one of the alltime greats. The real story of lockheed s xp58 chain lightning july 1980. Get the latest updates on nasa missions, watch nasa tv live, and learn about our quest to reveal the unknown and benefit all humankind. In september 1945, the p38 f5g6lo with serial number 4453254 was dismissed from the air force and registered as civil aircraft n25y by the lilee products co. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. This manual is the text for your training as a p38 pilot. Lockheed aircraft manuals pdf aircraft pilots flighting. A group ive created to support our appreciation for the most famous us twin engined fighter of ww2.
Combat flying in the p38 lightning with the lone eagle charles lindbergh in the pacific. With drop tanks under its wings,the p38 was used most successfully in the pacific theater of operations and the chinaburmaindia theater of operations where it enabled two airmen to achieve the highestever per pilot tally of american aerial victories. Aircraft combat record books the lockheed p38 lightning was one of the most distinctive aircraft of the second world war, and a very fine fighter aircraft. Because p38s were delivered without a lockheed manufacturers plate, it can not be easily clarified. One of the largest us aerospace firms headquartered in burbank, california. The lockheed p38 achieved its first flight on january 27, 1939, with over ten thousand aircraft being built before the end of world war ii. The lockheed company answered the call with their first military airplane, the xp. Lockheed p38 lightning specifications technical data.
Further, its allison engines didnt operate as well at the high altitudes and cold temperatures of the european theater. With bricksafe, you can upload your lego related files or explore and download files shared by others. Lockheed p38 lightning early versions yellow series robert peczkowski, juszczak, artur on. Lockheed p38m lightning last revised june, 1999 early in 1943, at least two unidentified p38fs were modified in the field by the fifth air force as singleseat night fighters by fitting an scr540 radar with yagi antennae on the nose on both sides of the central nacelle, and above and below the wings. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. Part ii of lockheed xp58 story, could it have been the best heavy fighter of wwii.
Lockheedp38lightning free download ebook in pdf and epub. True to its name, the p38 was akin to a force of nature. Flight characteristics are comparable or even better than classic build model airplanes. The lockheed p38 lighting is an american twoengine fighter used by the united states army air forces and other allied air forces during world war ii. First, it was given more powerful engines allison v171049 53s capable of providing 1,325 hp. Lockheed p38 lightning early versions yellow series. This prototype 42558 combined a p38g10lo airframe with more powerful 1425 hp v17107577 v1710f15 engines, rated at over 1875 hp war emergency power. P38 with merlins aircraft of world war ii ww2aircraft.
Pdf lockheed p 38 lightning download full pdf book. Dick bong poses with marge, his lockheed p38j15lo lightning, 42103993, lockheed serial number 2827. The pilot in a new american fighter, the p38 lightning, peeled down from the skies over iceland on august14, 1942. The first p38 flew in 1939 but development problems meant the aircraft did not enter large scale service until 1942, over. Tame lightning, flying exhibitions in the p38 lightning.