What was the advantage of the P-38?

With twin powerful engine and nose-mounted cannon advantages, the P-38 is a great fighter airplane for boom & zoom or hit & run tactic. The aircraft is also excellent as fighter-bomber role thanks to its good bomb load and wing-mounted rockets.

What is the advantage of twin boom aircraft?

The twin-boom configuration allows a much shorter and more efficient installation. The Saab 21 was originally built as a pusher type and was later adapted to jet power as the 21R. In these designs, the tailplane (horizontal stabilizer) is typically high-mounted on twin tail fins to keep it clear of the engine wake.

Was the P-38 a good plane?

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.

Why do twins have fuselage planes?

The higher aspect ratio contributed to the increased efficiency of the twin body operation. A lower wetted fuselage area is calculated for the two body aircraft with passenger capacities over 190, and twin fuselages are shown to have a higher passenger packaging density than double-deck widebodies.

What does the P in P-38 stand for?

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.

How the P-38 flew faster and higher than its rivals?

The P-38 featured a revolutionary design that enabled it to travel higher and faster than any other American fighter plane during the 1930s. It did this with huge, in-line engines and a super turbo charger.

Why did p38 have twin booms?

The Lockheed team chose twin booms to accommodate the tail assembly, engines, and turbosuperchargers, with a central nacelle for the pilot and armament.

Which US fighter had a distinctive two fuselage?

Invented by German-born aircraft designer Edgar Schmued and greenlit by the U.S. Army Air Forces’ General Hap Arnold in 1943, the Twin Mustang is unique: It mates two North American P-51 fuselages with a common center wing and a horizontal stabilizer.

Was the P-38 Lightning a good fighter?

Along with its use as a general fighter, the P-38 was used in various aerial combat roles, including as a highly effective fighter-bomber, a night fighter, and as a long-range escort fighter when equipped with drop tanks.

How did the P-38 get its name?

The P-38 acquired its infamous nomenclature from the 38 punctures around the C-ration can required for opening and the boast that it performed with the speed of the World War II P-38 fighter plane. “Soldiers just took to the P-38 naturally,” said World War II veteran John Bandola.

What is the difference between the P-38 and P 51 can openers?

The P-51 is the larger version of the P-38 and was often used by mess hall cooks to open the big trays and large cans of chow. The P-51 is a full 2″ long. Some prefer them over the P-38s because a P-51 will open cans much easier and faster and will last much longer than the P-38.

What was the P-38 used for?

At the time of its UK operational service, the P-38 was the only American fighter with the range necessary to escort American bombers the distance to German targets and back. The P-38F soon arrived and introduced underwing pylon hardpoints for the carrying of external munitions to augment the cannon/machine gun armament.

How fast can a P-38 fly?

While an inherently fast aircraft in straight-line flight, the P-38 airframe could be pushed to 550 miles per hour in steep dives as a defensive maneuver against pursuing foes.

What happened to the Lockheed P-38 Lightning?

The ensuing press coverage made the Lockheed P-38 Lightning something of a household name. The only blemish to the feat was the resultant crash landing. Regardless, development continued in what was already a promising aircraft design amidst rising costs and its inherently complicated technological nature.

What is the difference between a P-38L and a p38m?

The P-38L began deliveries in June of 1944 and went on into August of 1945 with some 3,923 examples produced. these featuring provision for underwing rockets and V-1710-111/113 engines. The P-38M existed as a two-seat nightfighter based on the P-38L- production models with radar systems installed.