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Lockheed P-38 Lightning - My First Plane

667 Mitchell6137SP  2 months ago

Wassup Simpleplanes Family!

About

The Lockheed P-38 Lightning is an American single-seat, twin piston-engined fighter aircraft that was used during World War II. Developed for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) by the Lockheed Corporation, the P-38 incorporated a distinctive twin-boom design with a central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament. 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 a long-range escort fighter when equipped with drop tanks.[4] The P-38 was also used as a bomber-pathfinder, guiding streams of medium and heavy bombers, or even other P-38s equipped with bombs, to their targets.[5] Used in the aerial reconnaissance role, the P-38 accounted for 90 percent of American aerial film captured over Europe.[6] Although it was not designated a heavy fighter or a bomber destroyer by the USAAC, the P-38 filled those roles and more; unlike German heavy fighters crewed by two or three airmen, the P-38 with its lone pilot was nimble enough to compete with single-engine fighters.[7]

Spotlights

General Characteristics

  • Created On Android
  • Wingspan 100.6ft (30.7m)
  • Length 70.8ft (21.6m)
  • Height 21.8ft (6.7m)
  • Empty Weight 25,278lbs (11,466kg)
  • Loaded Weight 51,656lbs (23,431kg)

Performance

  • Horse Power/Weight Ratio 0.387
  • Wing Loading 32.9lbs/ft2 (160.5kg/m2)
  • Wing Area 1,571.2ft2 (146.0m2)
  • Drag Points 9974

Parts

  • Number of Parts 106
  • Control Surfaces 16
  • Performance Cost 542