What made the P-38 Lightning special?
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What made the P-38 Lightning special?
The P-38 was the first American fighter to make extensive use of stainless steel and smooth, flush-riveted butt-jointed aluminum skin panels. It was also the first military airplane to fly faster than 400 mph (640 km/h) in level flight.
What does the P stand for in p38 Lightning?
For example, before the new system, the Army Air Force used the “P” designation, which stood for pursuit, on a wide variety of its fighter aircraft, like the P-51 Mustang, P-47 Thunderbolt and P-38 Lightning. The Navy, though, used the “F” designation for its fighter aircraft.
Who designed the p38 Lightning?
Kelly Johnson
Lockheed P-38 Lightning/Designers
The P-38 was designed by a Lockheed Aircraft team that included famous aircraft designer “Kelly” Johnson. It was the only American front-line fighter in production from the beginning of WWII until the end. It was the first 400 mph fighter in history and one of the few with a 40,000 foot ceiling.
Did the P-38 have counter rotating props?
They are used on some twin- and multi-engine propeller-driven aircraft. The propellers on most conventional twin-engined aircraft spin clockwise (as viewed from behind the engine)….List of aircraft with counter-rotating propellers.
| Type | Lockheed P-38 Lightning |
|---|---|
| Country | US |
| Date | 1939 |
| Notes | Twin engines |
How many P-51 Mustangs were built?
P-51D Mustang fighter. 167th Airlift Wing, West Virginia Air National Guard. About 13,300 Merlin-powered Mustangs were produced in the United States. Though production contracts were canceled at war’s end, the P-51 remained in service with the Air Force for several years thereafter.
What does the F mean in F 16?
Fighting Falcon
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.
How much is a p38 Lightning worth?
But P-38s were also used in weather reconnaissance, or in low-flying missions to photograph enemy targets. Of all the P-38s built, only about two dozen remain, and only about four of those are still flying, said Levine. The planes originally sold for $125,000 but are now worth about $1.5 million.
Can a P-38 fly on one engine?
For a twin engine aircraft, 120 MPH is a reasonably fast minimum speed and multiengine pilots are trained extensively in single engine flight. That speed alone gives some indication that the P-38 can be difficult to fly on one engine, but not impossible.
What is BF in BF 109?
Bf 109, in full Bayerische Flugzeugwerke 109, also called Me 109, Nazi Germany’s most important fighter aircraft, both in operational importance and in numbers produced.
Was the P-38 Lightning a good plane?
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was one of the most important American fighters of the Second World War. Although its operational record was somewhat mixed, in general the P-38 was a fast, powerful and capable aircraft that performed well in a wide range of roles.
How many photos are in the P-38 Lightning PDF ebook?
Our Lockheed P-38 Lightning PDF eBook is PACKED with 23 Wings & Airpower P-38 magazines, SIX P-38 flight handbooks, and over 490 photos you won’t find anywhere else! Get yours today! 1. P-38J flown by Capt. Frederick Champlin
What is the P-38 known for?
8) The P-38 was the primary long-range fighter for the US Army Air Forces until the P-51D entered the war. 9) The engines rotated outward from the cockpit.
Was the P-38 Lightning inspired by the Fokker G?
Photo by Evert J. van Koningsveld. Unusual twin-boom WWII fighter probably inspired by the Fokker G.Iaircraft. Most US fighters with the Allison V-1710 engine suffered from bad performance at higher altitudes, but the P-38 Lightning was fitted with turbochargers in the tail booms, behind the engines.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qo9SELpVM4