And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
As a young child, I remember seeing that exact same airplane at McCarren International Airport around 1970 - 73ish during an airshow. McCarren airport was the only commercial airport in Las Vegas at that time.
The exhaust was diverted to the turbochargers located behind the engines. So what you're seeing is the exhaust after it's gone through the turbocharger. The ducting was rather complex and the Lightning was a relatively labor-intensive plane to build and maintain. Later models fixed most, if not all, of the issues that plagued it early on in Europe.
exhaust. yep. the earlier versions ducted the compressed inlet air into the wing leading edges to cool it and pilots at night could identify loose rivets by the little fireballs erupting from the wing's leading edge when the engines coughed and puked a bit of flame back into the plumbing. when you see a very large scoop beneath the propellers, you know that it is a later aircraft(as is yippie) because that is where the intercooler was moved to.the small scoops on the booms are coolant and oil radiators. keeping the pilot and guns warm enough in the ETO was a bit of a problem but the airplane did well in the pacific where cabin and gun heaters were not necessary.
Not only that, Charles Lindbergh flew in the pacific teaching combat pilots how to squeeze the last drop of mileage out of the motors and rumor has it, he participated, unsanctioned, in at least 1 combat mission and had a kill of his own.
Multiple combat missions, while he was documenting the fuel burn with his techniques. One killed confirmed, unfortunately, as when Gen Kenney heard about it, he tossed Lindbergh out of his AOR. May have been a couple others there prior to this one, which was somewhat noticeable to the other pilots when it exploded in his face. 90 degree deflection shot, VERY close. I think it was an Oscar.
He got an invite to work with the Marines on their Corsairs, afterwards. Ground attack missions prepping for an island invasion. Designed a new bomb rack for the aircraft, and increased the capacity from 1k lb bomb to 4k lb bomb! He, of course, flew a bunch of mud moving missions while working on this. If he encountered any Japanese aircraft, he kept he mouth shut, as usual.
IIRC, he about doubled the range of the P-38, just with better engine management. He flew multiple combat missions to show that his techniques didn't damage the engines, which was the fear of the maintenance group and long term pilots. He did a lot of long distance flying with his wife in the 30's, all over the world, and figured out how to do it better.
I still believe Gen. Kenny's response to Lindy's shoot down of a zeke was an error. Recall, Lindberg was a former reserve officer. A bit old in WW3. but still, I can see the other side of Gen Kenny's decision to kick him down the road. he did great service for the pilots in all the services.
I seem to recall reading those are the air intakes, located aft like that because the limited fuselage space required the superchargers be ducted forward to the motors because that's the only place they'd fit.
As a young child, I remember seeing that exact same airplane at McCarren International Airport around 1970 - 73ish during an airshow. McCarren airport was the only commercial airport in Las Vegas at that time.
ReplyDeleteFighter with a steering wheel.
ReplyDeleteStupid question: Why is the top of the twin fuselages brown like that - is that the exhaust stream or something?
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly what it is.
DeleteThe exhaust was diverted to the turbochargers located behind the engines. So what you're seeing is the exhaust after it's gone through the turbocharger. The ducting was rather complex and the Lightning was a relatively labor-intensive plane to build and maintain. Later models fixed most, if not all, of the issues that plagued it early on in Europe.
Deleteexhaust. yep. the earlier versions ducted the compressed inlet air into the wing leading edges to cool it and pilots at night could identify loose rivets by the little fireballs erupting from the wing's leading edge when the engines coughed and puked a bit of flame back into the plumbing. when you see a very large scoop beneath the propellers, you know that it is a later aircraft(as is yippie) because that is where the intercooler was moved to.the small scoops on the booms are coolant and oil radiators.
Deletekeeping the pilot and guns warm enough in the ETO was a bit of a problem but the airplane did well in the pacific where cabin and gun heaters were not necessary.
Turbo-superchargers.
ReplyDeleteThey greased Yamamoto with those.
ReplyDeleteNot only that, Charles Lindbergh flew in the pacific teaching combat pilots how to squeeze the last drop of mileage out of the motors and rumor has it, he participated, unsanctioned, in at least 1 combat mission and had a kill of his own.
DeleteMultiple combat missions, while he was documenting the fuel burn with his techniques. One killed confirmed, unfortunately, as when Gen Kenney heard about it, he tossed Lindbergh out of his AOR. May have been a couple others there prior to this one, which was somewhat noticeable to the other pilots when it exploded in his face. 90 degree deflection shot, VERY close. I think it was an Oscar.
DeleteHe got an invite to work with the Marines on their Corsairs, afterwards. Ground attack missions prepping for an island invasion. Designed a new bomb rack for the aircraft, and increased the capacity from 1k lb bomb to 4k lb bomb! He, of course, flew a bunch of mud moving missions while working on this. If he encountered any Japanese aircraft, he kept he mouth shut, as usual.
IIRC, he about doubled the range of the P-38, just with better engine management. He flew multiple combat missions to show that his techniques didn't damage the engines, which was the fear of the maintenance group and long term pilots. He did a lot of long distance flying with his wife in the 30's, all over the world, and figured out how to do it better.
I still believe Gen. Kenny's response to Lindy's shoot down of a zeke was an error. Recall, Lindberg was a former reserve officer. A bit old in WW3. but still, I can see the other side of Gen Kenny's decision to kick him down the road. he did great service for the pilots in all the services.
DeleteThanks for the additional info, Will. Always nice to learn a little somethin. I had no idea about his work on the Corsair.
DeleteAnyone know why the scoops on the rear fuselage?
ReplyDeleteI seem to recall reading those are the air intakes, located aft like that because the limited fuselage space required the superchargers be ducted forward to the motors because that's the only place they'd fit.
DeleteThose are the engine coolant radiators. The air intake for the supercharger and the turbocharger was in the cowling below the prop.
DeleteIntake for the radiators! Thanks.
DeleteThe "Yippee" P-38 was the 5,000th example produced.
ReplyDeletehttp://iloveww2warbirds.com/yippee-p-38-lightning/