 Source: U.S. Airforce
 Lockheed P-38 "Lightning"
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.
The aircraft had twin booms with the engines mounted forward, and a single, central nacelle containing the pilot and armament.
The Lightning proved surprisingly maneuverable at low altitudes, mostly due to very docile low-speed stall characteristics. The contra-rotating props had the benefit of eliminating the effects of engine torque, and on occasion a Lightning could even out-turn smaller fighters. However, maneuverability wasn't its strong suit, its major virtue in combat being a "terrific zoom climb" that would leave pursuers in the dust. The Lightning proved ideally suited for the Pacific theater, as it combined excellent performance with very long range. While the P-38 could not out-maneuver the Zero and most other Japanese fighters.
Source: wikipedia.org |
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Type: Fighter
Mfr: Lockheed
Maiden Flight: 1-27-1939
Introduced: 1941
Retired: 1949 USAF
Primary User: USAAF
Number Built: 9,942
Unit Cost: $134,284 (1945)
Crew: One
Length: 37 ft 10 in
Wingspan: 52 ft 0 in
Height: 9 ft 10 in
Wing area: 327.5 ft²
Airfoil: NACA 23016 / NACA 4412
Empty weight: 12,780 lb
Loaded weight: 17,500 lb
Max takeoff weight: 21,600 lb
Powerplant: 2× Allison V-1710-111/113 liquid-cooled
turbosupercharged V-12, 1,600 hp
Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0268
Drag area: 8.78 ft²
Aspect ratio: 8.26
Max. speed: 414 mph; 25,000 ft
Stall speed: 105 mph
Range: 1,100 mi combat,
2,600 mi ferry
Service ceiling: 44,000 ft
Rate of climb: 4,750 ft/min
Wing loading: 53.4 lb/ft²
Power/mass: 0.16 hp/lb
Lift-to-drag ratio: 13.5
Source: wikipedia.org
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