HOME  Lockheed P-38 Lightning |
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NOTE: RADIO CONTROL AIRPLANES ARE ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE PAGE.
Lockheed P-38 Lightning aircraft were the
only U.S. fighter planes produced throughout World War II.
The aircraft gained fame in the hands of Major Richard Bong. Major Bong became the highest scoring American ace of World War II with 40 victories.
In 1939, during an attempt to set a transcontinental speed record from California to New York, Lt. Ben Kelsey made an emergency landing in his Lockheed P-38 Lightning, just short of its final destination. The engines had quit on final approach to the airport due to carburetor icing. The aircraft was destroyed, however Kelsey escaped with minor injuries. Despite the accident, the Army contracted with Lockheed to begin production of the aircraft.
To try to cure high speed elevator flutter, Lockheed affixed mass balances to the middle of the elevator of the P-38. This dampened, but did not cure the flutter. Although it was later found out that the flutter was due to the disturbance of air coming from the joint of the root of the wing and the center fuselage section, the balances continued to be installed on all the aircraft.
During high speed dives, the controls of the P-38 Lightning would become unmovable at higher altitudes. This was known as "compressibility stall." If a pilot had the nerve to stay with the aircraft, without bailing out, until it reached the denser air of lower altitudes, the problem would usually right itself. Eventually a number of aerodynamic changes made to the aircraft would cure the problem, primarily putting dive flaps on the bottom center line of the wings.
If the Lockheed P-38 Lightning lost an engine on takeoff, the torque of the working propeller would roll the aircraft towards it. This is just the opposite of aircraft with both propellers rotating in the same direction. To compensate for losing an engine during takeoff, the pilot had to feather the propeller of the non-running engine, cut the power of the working one, and then gradually apply power until the plane was flying straight.
Machine guns in the nose of early Lockheed P-38 Lightnings tended to jam due to crooked belt feeds. Newer models had their machine gun muzzles sticking out of the nose in a staggered manner, thus having straight belt feeds and curing the problem.
A total of 9,942 Lockheed P-38 Lightning aircraft of all types were manufactured, with the final aircraft delivered in September of 1945.
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Specifications
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Primary Function:
Crew:
Engines:
Horsepower:
Weight Empty:
Max. Weight:
Internal Fuel:
Ordnance:
Cannons:
Machine Guns:
Rockets:
Length:
Wingspan:
Cruise Speed:
Max. Speed:
Climb Rate:
Ceiling:
Range:
First flight:
Date Deployed:
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fighter
one
Allison V-1710-27/29
2- V 1,425 hp ea.
12,780 lbs.
21,600 lbs.
2,496 lbs.
4,000 lbs.
1- 20 mm
4- .50 cal.
ten
37' 10"
52' 0"
186 mph
414 mph
2,460 fpm
44,000 feet
2,260 miles
1/26/39
1941
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Radio Control Airplane
The rc P-38 Lightning from Nitro Planes.
Radio Control Airplanes
The picture above is for the rc P-38 Lightning ARF for sale from Nitro Planes.
Wingspan of the all wood airplane is 51 1/2" and length is 38 1/2". For engine
power you will need a pair of .12 two strokes. For motor power a pair of 400
size brushless motors will do the trick. Weight is around 4 lbs.
The first picture below is of the
rc P-38 Lightning ARF from Phase 3. Wingspan
is 42" with length 21". Included are brushless motors and controllers. RTF weight is
around 26 oz.
The ad below is of the rc P-38 Lightning airplanes for sale from
GWS.
Uncle Willies Plans has a rc P-38 Lightning scale model. The wing span is
94". Propelling it are 2 x .60 - 2c engines.
Next picture down is the scale rc P-38 Lightning for sale from E-Flite. The ARF has a wingspan of 48" with a length of 35".
The 2 1/2 lb. ready to fly weight model needs a pair of 450 type motors for power.
Guillow's has a toy-like two channel foamy P-38 Lightning rc airplane that comes ready to fly (RTF). Its wingspan is 19" and length is 13 1/2".
Flying Styro has a nice looking rc P-38 Lightning ARF foamy. It has a 44" wingspan with a 30" length and needs a pair of 400 size
motors for power. Weight is around 1 1/2 lbs.
JR Models has a rc P-38 Lightning ARF for sale. It is made from foam with a wingspan of 48" and a length of 35". They recommend
a pair of Park 450 BL motors to power the 2 1/2 lb. model.
Blitz Works has a larger foamy rc P-38 Lightning that is for sale as ready to fly. Wingspan is 55 1/2" and length is 40 1/2". Included
are a pair of 1150 kv brushless motors.
Arrowind has a rc P-38 Lightning profile radio control airplane. It is made from depron and comes ready tofly. It has a wingspan of 45" and a length of 29".
Included are a pair of Towerpro 2408 motors. Weight is about 19 oz.
Banana Hobby has a toy-like rc P-38 Lightning RTF with a two channel radio. It is made from EPP and has a 19" wingspan and a 15" length.
S&B Model Aircraft has a rc P-38 Lightning for sale with a 53" wingspan. Its fuselage is made from EPP and wings are foam sheeted. Weight is
about 2 lbs. It needs a pair of 400 size motors for power.
VQ Model has a giant scale rc P-38 Lightning for sale. Its wingspan is 83" and length is 57 1/2". It is made from balsa and plywood.
To power it you will need a pair of .40 to .46 two stroke or .52 to .70 four stroke engines.
The fourth picture below is Ray Harris and his giant scale rc P-38 Lightning from Nick Ziroli Plans. It has a 114" wing
span. Suggested power comes from 2 x 38 - 52 cc gas engines.
CMP has a giant scale rc P-38 Lightning. Wing Span of the ARF is 90" and suggested power for the RC
airplane can be 2 x .52 - 2c or 2 x .61 - 4c engines.
Kondor Model Products has a giant scale rc P-38 Lightning kit. It has a 86" wing span. Suggested power
comes from 2 x .58 - 2c or 2 x .70 4c engines.
Yellow Aircraft also has a rc Lockheed P-38 Lightning kit. Wing span is 80". Suggested power can be two
Supertiger 3000's, Moki 1.8's or 2.1's, or two O.S. BGX engines.
The final picture on this page is of the P-38 Lightning rc airplane from Ripmax. It is a ARF made from
foam and plastic. Wingspan is 42" and length is 21". It comes with a pair of 21L brushless motors and weighs 29 oz.
There are a number of P-38 Lightning rc airplanes for everyone. There are slope
soarers, electric power small park flyers, all the way up to giant scale
models.
If you have have a favorite rc P-38 Lightning, please email us.
Radio Control Airplane
Phase 3 rc P-38 Lightning.
Radio Control Airplane
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