What was the P-38 Lightning used for?

P-38, also called Lightning, fighter and fighter-bomber employed by the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. A large and powerful aircraft, it served as a bomber escort, a tactical bomber, and a photo-reconnaissance platform.

What does P stand for in P 51?

pursuit
In 1948, the designation P-51 (P for pursuit) was changed to F-51 (F for fighter) and the existing F designator for photographic reconnaissance aircraft was dropped because of a new designation scheme throughout the USAF.

How many P-38 Lightnings are still flying?

The Lockheed P-38 Lighting is an American two-engine fighter used by the United States Army Air Forces and other Allied air forces during World War II. Of the 10,037 planes built, 26 survive today, 22 of which are located in the United States, and 10 of which are airworthy.

What does the P in P-38 mean?

One is that soldiers called it the P-38 because it could open a can faster than the P-38 Lightning fighter plane could fly. A more likely explanation is that the “38” comes from the length of the can opener, which is 38 millimeters (or 1 1/2 inches).

What does the F stand for in f16?

The F-16 was given its name of “Fighting Falcon” on 21 July 1980, entering USAF operational service with the 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Hill AFB in Utah on 1 October 1980.

Was the p38 a good fighter?

The P-38 was an excellent all around aircraft – it didn’t earn the moniker “forked tail devil” for being a slouch. It was very maneuverable, had a massive range, had two engines, which allowed for greater redundancy as well as for better roll characteristics in both directions since they were counter-rotating.

What was the top speed of the P-38 Lightning?

443 mph
Lockheed P-38 Lightning/Top speed

What kind of aircraft is the F35 Lightning II?

Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a family of single-seat, single-engine, all-weather, stealth, fifth-generation, multirole combat aircraft, designed for ground-attack and air-superiority missions.

How many P-38 Lightnings did the US get?

On 20 September 1939, before the YP-38s had been built and flight tested, the USAAF ordered 66 initial production P-38 Lightnings, 30 of which were delivered to the USAAF in mid-1941, but not all these aircraft were armed.

How many times has a F-106 been struck by lightning?

A NASA Report from 1981 showed two Air Force F-106A aircraft were struck by lightning in the same storm. One plane was struck twice, while the other was struck once. There was extensive damage to a pitot tube, which was the initial attachment point of the lightning strike.

How often do commercial aircraft get struck by lightning?

Statistics today show that every commercial aircraft gets struck about once per year. A German navy airship was downed by a lightning strike in 1915, taking with it all 19 crew members. This documented disaster put to bed the idea that aircraft weren’t–or couldn’t–crash due to a lightning strike.