LOOKHEED P-38J                      November 24, 1992

In February 1937 the US Army Air Corps asked the American
Aircraft industry to submit designs for an experimental
pursuit having "the tactical mission of interception and
attack of hostile aircraft at high altitude".  Specifications
called for a minimum true speed of 360 mph (579 km/h) at
altitude and climb to 20,000 ft (6,096 m) within 6 minutes.

In essence the Air Corps was asking for a major breakthrough
in performance, since there were no engines of sufficient
power to produce the expected results.  Sixteen hundred
(1,600) horsepower would be necessary and the only engine
coming close to that kind of power was General Motors' small
Allison Division V-1710-C8 which in February 1937 had yet to
be tested at 1,000 hp.

One of the solutions to this problem was to design and build
a fighter using two Allisons.  The result of the endeavor,
was the creation of the LOOKHEED P-38 LIGHTNING.  (The Great
Book of World War II Airplanes, 1984, Bonanza Books)

SPECIFICATIONS

POWER PLANT
o. Allison V-1710-111 (left side) and V-1710-113 (right side)
o. 12-cylinder Vee-type liquid cooled, turbo-supercharged
   engines
     1,425 hp each for take-off
     1,425 hp at 26,500 ft (8,080 m)
     1,600 hp in "war emergency" power at 28,700 ft (8,750 m)
o. Curtiss electric three-bladed variable pitch constant
   Propeller diameter
     11 ft 6 in (3,51 m)
o. Internal fuel
     410 US gal (341.4 Imp gal, 1,552 ltr)
o. Auxiliary fuel tanks
     Two 75-300 US gal (62.5-250 Imp gal, 284-1,136 ltr)
o. Oil tanks
     Two 13 US gal (10.8 Imp gal, 49 ltr)

PERFORMANCE
o. Maximum speed
     414 mph (666 km/h) at 25,000 ft (7,620 m)
o. Landing Speed
     105 mph (169 km/h)
o. Time to climb to 20,000 ft (6,100 m)
     7 min
o. Service Ceiling
     44,000 ft (13,410 m)
o. Range with 3,200 lb (1,452 kg) bombs
     450 mls (720 km)
o. Ferry range
     2,600 mls (4,180 km)

ARMAMENT
o. One 20 mm M2 cannon with 150 rounds
o. Four 0.50-in (12.7 mm) M2 machine guns with 500 rounds
   each
o. Ten 5-in (127 mm) rockets
o. Two 1,600 lb (726 kg) bombs

WEIGHTS
o. Empty
     12,800 lb (5,810 kg)
o. Gross
     17,500 lb (7,940 kg)
o. Max take-off
     21,600 lb (9,800 kg)

DIMENSIONS
o. Span
     52 ft (15.85 m)
o. Length, level position
     37 ft 10 in (11.53 m)
o. Height, tip of propeller at top
     9 ft 10 in (3.00 m)
o. Undercarriage track
     16 ft 6 in (5.03 m)
o. Span of Tailplane
     21 ft 9 in (6.63 m)
o. Wing area
     327.5 sq ft (30.4 m2)


NOTE:

The addition of AIRCRAFT AND ADVENTURE FACTORY (AAF) to the
growing library of add-ons to MICROSOFT'S FLIGHT SIMULATOR,
has greatly enhanced the abilities and capabilities to design
and bring back to "LIFE" many a different planes.

Even if certain limitations still exist with the software, I
have tried to painstakingly recreate the P-38J to the best of
AAF, MICROSOFTS' FS, and my abilities.  I am very pleased
with the final outcome, and hope to continue to improve my
designing capabilities.  The P-38 is the first of hopefully
many more to come.

Information I have received by word of mouth, stated that
flying the P-38 was challenging, and somewhat more difficult
to fly than other fighters of that era.  Believe it, you will
find that out to be true, as you attempt to fly the P-38J.

Please remember to trim your elevators fairly quickly upon
take off, if not the plane will make a very fast straight
ascend.  After trimming the elevators you will find the plane
"fairly" easy to control.

This design is copy protected.  But it can be freely copied
and distributed without modifications.

If you have any comment, on how to further improve the P-38J
please send me a note, either leaving me a note on LYNX BBS
at (713) 746-3484, or dropping me a line at

                   ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿
                   ³     Jim Goldman       ³
                   ³   574 E. Parktown     ³
                   ³ Deer Park, Tx  77536  ³
                   ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ


                    ***HAVE A GOOD FLIGHT***