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.

The twin-engine design of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning and its high fuel capacity made it an ideal fighter and recon plane.

The Lockheed P-38 Lightning 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.

Powerfully armed and able to carry nearly 2,000 kilos of bombs, this fighter has the distinction of being the first twin-engine and dual-gun fighter. The P-38 Lightning has a large range of action, allowing it to perform deep raids, but it is still less manageable than conventional hunters.

The pilot in a new American fighter, the P-38 Lightning, peeled down from the skies over Iceland on August14, 1942. True to its name, the P-38 was akin to a force of nature: fast, unforeseen and immensely powerful. The aircraft’s target, was a German Focke-Wulf …

Delivered and accepted Lightning production variants began with the P38-D model. There were no Bs or Cs delivered to the government as the USAAF allocated the 'D' suffix to all aircraft with self-sealing fuel tanks, armored windshield and armor. 36 aircraft.

Jan 14, 2013 · The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was the first military type developed by the Lockheed Aircraft Corps. It was designed to meet an Air Corps specification issued in 1936 for a twin-engined interceptor…

The P-38 mission entailed flying 600 miles (965 km) at wave top level with a return trip of 400 miles (644 km). F4F Wildcats and F4U Corsairs available at the time didn't have the required range, and only P-38s (with drop tanks) were capable of performing the …

Aug 10, 2022 · Today, only about half a dozen P-38 Lightnings are still flyable, and one of those is Planes of Fame Air Museum’s “23 Skidoo.” “23 Skidoo” is a P-38J Lightning that was built in Burbank, California as the 5,018 th aircraft produced by Lockheed.

The P-38D differed from the P-38 in having a low-pressure oxygen system, self-sealing fuel tanks, a retractable landing light, and provision for flares.