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LOCKHEED P-38 LIGHTNING
Specifications
Type: Single Seat Long Range Fighter
Origin: Lockheed
Models: XP-38 to P-38M, F-4 and F-5
First Flight: January 27 1939 (XP-38)
Service Delivery: June 8, 1941 (USAAC)
Combat Debut: August 1942
Final Delivery: September 1945
Total Produced: 9,942
Powerplant:
Allison V-1710 Liquid Cooled V12
(All P-38 engines handed with opposite propeller rotation, hence pairs of engine sub-type numbers)
   XP-38: 1,090hp V-1710-11/15 (C9)¹
   YP-38: 1,150hp V-1710-27/29 (F2)
   P-38E: 1,225hp V-1710-49/52
   P-38F: 1,225hp V-1710-49/53 (F5)
   P-38G: 1,325hp V-1710-51/55
   P-38H to P-38J: 1,425hp V-1710-89/91
   P-38M: 1,600hp V-1710-111/113
      ¹Inwardly rotating airscrews.
Fluids:
Fuel Capacity: Internal
    Early model through H: 306 U.S. Gallons
    P-38L & J: 416 U.S. Gallons
Fuel Capacity: External
    Typical: (2) 165 U.S. gallon tanks
    Ferry: (2) 300 U.S.gallon tanks.
Fuel Grade: 115/145 in the 8th Air Force
Fuel Specifications:
    AN-7-28, Grde 100/130 or AN-7-26, Grade 91
Engine Oil Capacity: 13 U.S. Gallons¹
    Type: AN-VV-O-446, Grade 1120²
      ¹ Each Engine
       ² AN-VV-O-446, Grade 1100A for cold weather operations
Supercharger Oil Type:
   AN-VV-446, Grade 1065
Engine Coolant Type:
   AN-E-2 (Ethylene Glycol-inhibited w. NaMBT)
Hydraulic Fluid Type: AN-VV-O-366

Other systems:
Oxygen System Low pressure: 400-450 psi
Dimensions: Typical
Wing span: 15.86m (52 ft.)
Length: 11.53m (37 ft. 10 in.)*
Height: 3.9m (9 ft. 10 in.)
Wing Surface Area: 327.5 sq. ft.
*F-5G, P-38M and certain "droop-snoot" conversions fractionally longer
   Performance:
Maximum Speed:
    YP-38: 405 mph at 20,000 ft.
    P-38F-15-LO: 347 mph at 5,000 ft.
    P-38F-15-LO: 351 mph at 10,000 ft.
    P-38F-15-LO: 395 mph at 25,000 ft.
    P-38G-1-LO: 345 mph at 5,000 ft.
    P-38G-1-LO: 360 mph at 10,000 ft.
    P-38G-1-LO: 400 mph at 25,000 ft.
    P-38J-25-LO: 360 mph at 5,000 ft.
    P-38J-25-LO: 390 mph at 15,000 ft.
    P-38J-25-LO: 414 mph at 25,000 ft.

Initial climb:
      About 2,850 ft. (870m) per minute

Time To Climb:
    YP-38: 6 minutes to 20,000 ft.
    P-38F-15-LO: 4 minutes to 10,000 ft.
    P-38F-15-LO: 8.8 minutes to 20,000 ft.
    P-38G-1-LO: 3.7 minutes to 10,000 ft.
    P-38FG-1-LO: 8.5 minutes to 20,000 ft.
    P-38J-25-LO: 2 minutes to 5,000 ft.
    P-38J-25-LO: 5 minutes to 15,000 ft.
    P-38J-25-LO: 7 minutes to 20,000 ft.

Service Ceiling:
    P-38F-15-LO & P-38G-1-LO:
      39,000 ft.
    P-38H, J, L: 44,000 ft.

Range: Internal Fuel
    P-38F-15-LO:
      400 mi at 333 mph at 25,000 ft.
    P-38F-15-LO:
      900 mi at 219 mph at 10,000 ft.
    P-38G-1-LO:
      350 mi at 333 mph at 25,000 ft.
    P-38G-1-LO:
      850 mi at 219 mph at 10,000 ft.
    P-38J-25-LO:
      475 mi at 339 mph at 25,000 ft.
    P-38J-25-LO:
      800 mi at 285 mph at 10,000 ft.
    P-38J-25-LO:
      1,175 mi at 175 mph at 10,000 ft.

Range: Max. Fuel
    2,260 Miles at 186 mph at 10,000 ft.

Avionics:
P-38G - SCR-274N radio.
P-38M - nightfighter equipped with ASH radar)

Weights:
Type:
 Empty:
 Loaded:
 Maximum:
YP-38
 -
 - 14,348 lbs. (6,508 kg.)
P-38D
 -
 - 15,500 lbs. (7,031 kg.)
P-38E
 -
 - 15,482 lbs. (7,023 kg.)
P-38F-15-LO
 12,264 lbs.(5,563 kg.)
 15,900 lbs.(7,212 kg.)
 19,900 lbs. (9,026 kg.)
P-38G-1-LO
 12,200 lbs.(5,538 kg.)
 15,800 lbs.(7,167 kg.)
 19,800 lbs. (8,981 kg.)
P-38H
 -
 - 20,300 lbs. (9,208 kg.)
P-38J-25-LO
 12,780 lbs.(5,797 kg.)
 17,500 lbs.(7,938 kg.)
 21,600 lbs. (9,798 kg.)
P-38H
 -
 - 21,600 lbs. (9,798 kg.)

Armament:
XP-38:
Four 23mm Madsen Cannon with 50 r.p.g.
Four .50 Colt-Browning MG 53 m.g. with 1,000 r.p.g.
YP-38: 37mm Oldsmobile cannon, two .50 and two .30 machine guns
P-38: 37mm Oldsmobile cannon and four .50 machine guns.
   P-38E:
20mm Hispano M1 Cannon with 150 rounds
Four .50 Colt-Browning MG 53-2 m.g. with 500 rounds per gun.
P-38L:
20mm Hispano M2(C) Cannon with 150 rounds
Four .50 Colt-Browning MG 53-2 m.g. with 500 rounds per gun.
Bombs and other Drop Ordnance:
P-38F First model to incorporate in wing pylons and could accomodate 1,000lbs of bombs, torpedoes, tanks or other stores. P-38L: This model had a bomb load of 4,000 lbs of bombs or ten rockets. This model was often used in level flight bombing with formations being led by a Droop-Snoot conversion. (See below)
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