Is the P-38 hard to fly?
However, the fighter’s unconventional configuration had its downsides, notably an infamous tendency for the controls to lock up in steep, high-speed dives, with often fatal results. The engines were finicky and required high levels of pilot training that were frequently lacking.
What does the P mean in P-38?
Although “Opener, Can, Hand, Folding” is its official Army nomenclature, it soon acquired the popular name P-38. Historians disagree as to which of three theories explains the moniker. One is that soldiers called it the P-38 because it could open a can faster than the P-38 Lightning fighter plane could fly.
Was the P-38 any good?
When Major John Mitchell led 16 P-38s to attack and kill Japan’s Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto on April 18, 1943, the mission spanned about 420 miles (see “Death by P-38,” May 2013). The P-38 Lightning inspired young men, fought a global war and earned a reputation as one of the greatest fighters of all time.
What did the Germans call the P-38 Lightning?
fork-tailed devil
Developed for the United States Army Air Corps, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament. Allied propaganda claimed it had been nicknamed the fork-tailed devil (German: der Gabelschwanz-Teufel) by the Luftwaffe and “two planes, one pilot” by the Japanese.
What made the P 51 so good?
The Mustang, with its high speed, long-range, low-cost, and six . 50 caliber M2 Browning machine guns, made it the ideal fighter for the job. The P-51 dominated air combat in Europe, destroying nearly 5,000 enemy aircraft. It was also a very capable fighter-bomber and could carry 1,000 pounds of bombs and rockets.
How many guns did the P-38 have?
The Ultimate Weapon Hibbard and his then assistant, Clarence “Kelly” Johnson, the twin-boomed P-38 was the most innovative plane of its day, combining speed with unheard-of advances: two supercharged engines and a potent mix of four 50-caliber machine guns and a 20-mm cannon.
What does P stand for in P-51?
pursuit
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.
How many P-38 Lightnings are left in the world?
26
The Lockheed P-38 Lighting is an American two-engine fighter used by the United States Army Air Forces and other Allied air forces during World War II. Of the 10,037 planes built, 26 survive today, 22 of which are located in the United States, and 10 of which are airworthy.
Why was the P-51 so fast?
Over the years, new features and technology were added to the P-51 to keep it updated with the times. These updates began as early as 1942 when the Mustangs were equipped with the British Merlin engine for speed. Adding the Merlin engine increased the speed of the P-51A (original Mustang) by 110 mph.
What was the range of a P-38 Lightning?
2,100 km
Lockheed P-38 Lightning/Range
What made the P-51 so good?
When did the P-38K Lightning come out?
The P-38K Lightning is a premium gift rank IV American twin-engine fighter with a battle rating of 5.3 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced during Update 1.53 “Firestorm” when it became available as part of a Christmas Sale Bundle in 2015, and again in the 2017 Summer Sale in the “Daredevil” bundle.
What was the weight of the Lockheed P-38?
The XP-38 airframe proposal carried 400 USG of fuel internally, employed a near to symmetrical NACA 23016/4412 section and grossed out at 11,400 lb. Designed for 1,150 HP engines, the Model 22 was built to exceed 360 kts at altitude, stunning performance for the time.
What kind of Guns does a P-38K have?
The P-38K is armed with: 1 x 20 mm AN/M2 cannon, nose-mounted (150 rpg) 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, nose-mounted (500 rpg = 2,000 total) The main and only tactic of the P-38K is, solely an air superiority and it excels at that.
What’s the best way to play the P-38K?
When playing the P-38K, climb to a high altitude, search for the enemy and locate an enemy you feel confident in engaging. Assuming you are above the enemy target, put the aircraft into a gradual descent, which allows you to maintain a speed advantage.