How good is p38 Lightning?

It was 30-70 mph faster than any German piston-engine fighter until the Fw-190D and had better acceleration, while its maneuverability and climb rate matched or exceeded anything the Luftwaffe could field.

What was the P-38 Lightning used for?

P-38, also called Lightning, fighter and fighter-bomber employed by the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. A large and powerful aircraft, it served as a bomber escort, a tactical bomber, and a photo-reconnaissance platform.

How much is a p38 Lightning worth?

So far, a Ford Trimotor that flew the first transcontinental passenger route between New York and San Diego has been sold, and now, a 1945 P-38L Lightning airplane has been placed on the block with a price tag of $6.75 million.

What made the P-38 so good?

In addition to their normal fighter duties of intercepting enemy formations and escorting friendly bombers, they were also used in a ground attack role, strafing enemy vehicles and troop concentrations. Their longer range and endurance made the P-38s the only fighters in the theater capable of the longest missions.

What was the fastest propeller plane in ww2?

Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire The propeller plane’s elliptical wing helped it achieve higher speeds than its contemporaries and made it a fierce competitor in combat. The plane reached it’s record speed of 606 mph at a 45-degree dive in 1943; it was later estimated to have reached 690 mph in a dive following the war in 1952.

Are there any airworthy lightnings?

Of the 10,037 planes built, 26 survive today, 22 of which are located in the United States, and 10 of which are airworthy.

Is the P-52 Merlin available to all pilots?

Originally designed to pair with the RSI Constellation, the P-52 Merlin is now available to all pilots! A dedicated parasite fighter, the Merlin is designed to be transported from place to place aboard a larger ship.

What was the purpose of the P-52 Hunter?

Ideal for racing, local reconnaissance and fast combat. The Fashionable Hunter: Kruger Intergalactic P-52 versatile short-range fighter is designed to offer larger civilian vessels support in combat situations as well as reconnaissance.

What was the P-38 Lightning used for in World War 2?

In the South West Pacific theater, the P-38 was the primary long-range fighter of United States Army Air Forces until the introduction of large numbers of P-51D Mustangs toward the end of the war. Unusual for a fighter of this time, the exhaust was muffled by the turbo-superchargers, making the P-38’s operation relatively quiet.

Why was the P-38 Lightning called the 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.