――The P-38 Lightning is a twin-boom twin-engine aircraft with a unique style, and was unique among American fighters during World War II.
--The XP-38 made its maiden flight on January 27, 1939, but during the takeoff climb, the flaps vibrated and destroyed three hinges, making the flaps inoperable at the time of landing. I'm dressed up.
――After that, I repaired the aircraft and made several flights to improve many problems.
--And on February 11, 1939, a record flight was made across the continent of North America from the west coast to the east coast, but failed to land on Mitchellfield in New York, jumping out of the runway and wrecked. It's gone.
――However, the maximum speed of 676km / h was achieved with a tailwind during this flight, and the pilot was safe, so the effect of this demonstration was great, and Lockheed succeeded in receiving an order for 13 YP-38s shortly after the accident. Did.
――Initially, the essential mass production system was not in place, and the first flight of YP-38 was on September 7, 1940.
――After that, the mass production system was gradually set up, and the full-scale mass production type E type stopped the 37mm gun, and the 20mm M1 cannon and 4 12.7mm machine guns were combined with the nose, and since then it became the basis of the P-38 series. Next, it is produced as F, G, H type, and in J type, the problem of engine cooling is solved by moving the intercooler just behind the propeller under the engine nacelle, and the shape is also a style with a jaw and it is easy to identify. became.
--The new cooling system enables the P-38J to have an emergency output of 1600hp (altitude 8077mm) with the same V-1710-89 / 91 engine as the P-38H.
--In addition, after P-38J-25 type, an electric swoop flap is adopted to eliminate the buffet (vibration of the aircraft caused by the turbulent air flow) that affects the tail wing, and it is used in the middle of recovery of the swoop. , I changed the direction of the air flow from the main wing so that this air flow does not hit the tail wing.
――The L type has the same structure as the J-25 type and later except that the landing light is embedded in the leading edge of the left wing, but it is an engine reinforced type with the engine replaced with V-1710-11 1/113. ..
--Data: Crew: 1 person, Overall length: 11.53m, Overall width: 15.85m, Overall height: 3.0m, Combat weight: 7,940kg, Engine: Allison V1710-89 (left side) / 91 (right side) 2 units Output: 1,600hp ( (Emergency rating) / 8,230m, maximum speed: 666km / h / 7,620m, armament: 20mm AN-M2 machine gun x 1, 12.7mm machine gun x 4, maiden flight: 1939.1.27 (XP-38)
( This is a machine translation. Please allow for possible misinterpretations in the text. )