Lockheed
P38 "Lightning"
PLANE
TYPE:
Fighter-bomber (P-38L) In 1937 the US Army emitted a very hard specify about
a new high-performances fighter, with elevate speed, climb and range capabilities.
The Lockheed decided that such characteristics could be reached only with
a two-engine plane, and chose a particular conformation with a double tail
and the cockpit in a wing-pod. The plane demonstrated excellent performances
and to impress the US Government , the Lockheed organized a Coast to Coast
flight in USA that was accomplished in the record time of 7 hours.
Tested
in 13 pre-series exemplars (YP-38), the "Lightning" entered in operative
service in late 1941. Swift and maneuverable, the P-38 was utilized a lot
for its great range capabilities and for the heavy weaponry system: in the
Pacific it had unusual range capabilities for that theater , and in Europe
it could successful escort the US bombers into the heart of Germany.
The
P-38 was also utilized as a fighter-bomber, recon plane and night-interceptor
( with a nose-mounted radar ). The two main aces in USAAF , Bong and McGuire,
flew on P-38s. After the war the planes was utilized by friendly countries.
LENGTH:
11,53 m ; 37,93 Ft
WINGSPAN:
15,85 m ; 52,14 Ft
WING
AREA:
30,42 m2 ; 36,39 Sq. Yds
POWERPLANT:
2 Allison V-1710-111/113 (1622 CV)
WEAPONS:
4 12,7 mm mg. , 1 20mm cannon ,up to 1814 kg of bombs or rockets
MAX
LOADED WEIGHT:
9798 Kg ; 21629 Lbs
TOP
SPEED:
666 Km/h ; 414 MPH
CEILING:
13410 m ; 44112 Ft
RANGE:
4184 Km ; 2600 Mi
