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.
Look at those big arse twin superchargers. Sweet! Imagine over 500mph with piston engines. Thats some hi-performance right there. Reliable kind too. Long as the fuel mixture is in range that is.
Wonder what the max G loads you could pull? Must been pretty high, what with the twin boom and structure to hold those engines. Lockheed made some good stuff back then.
The air intake is up front in the chin cowling which also holds the oil cooler and intercooler for the supercharged air leaving no room for the radiators which are in those bulges on the booms. Kelly Johnson designed this one, as well as the U2 and the Blackbird. Al_in_Ottawa
I think it was Robin Olds who shot down a German fighter while gliding with both engines dead due to fuel starvation. He got excited while charging after a group of Luftwaffe fignters, and forgot to change the fuel valves before dumping his drop tanks. Lots of pre-fight prep for the P-38 before you could engage the enemy, and it is thought that some were shot down while the pilot was busy and distracted getting his plane ready for combat. Poor design of the cockpit and controls, especially the fuel system. First fighter for the manufacturer, and they didn't get everything right. The last P-38, and pilot, lost to this poor design was about ten years ago. Because they are "classics", no one bothered to re-design the fuel system to correct the stupidity.
Look at those big arse twin superchargers. Sweet!
ReplyDeleteImagine over 500mph with piston engines. Thats some hi-performance right there. Reliable kind too. Long as the fuel mixture is in range that is.
Wonder what the max G loads you could pull? Must been pretty high, what with the twin boom and structure to hold those engines. Lockheed made some good stuff back then.
ReplyDeleteThey could be outfitted with a massive gun load.
ReplyDeletecool pik i'm keepin it
ReplyDeleteflying can opener
ReplyDeleteLooking at this got me to wondering how much turbo exhaust was going down the intakes.
ReplyDeleteThe air intake is up front in the chin cowling which also holds the oil cooler and intercooler for the supercharged air leaving no room for the radiators which are in those bulges on the booms.
DeleteKelly Johnson designed this one, as well as the U2 and the Blackbird.
Al_in_Ottawa
Thanks for the clarification.
DeleteTwin Forked Devils according to the Germans. Implement of Destruction by Dick Bong.
ReplyDeleteSpin
I think it was Robin Olds who shot down a German fighter while gliding with both engines dead due to fuel starvation. He got excited while charging after a group of Luftwaffe fignters, and forgot to change the fuel valves before dumping his drop tanks. Lots of pre-fight prep for the P-38 before you could engage the enemy, and it is thought that some were shot down while the pilot was busy and distracted getting his plane ready for combat. Poor design of the cockpit and controls, especially the fuel system. First fighter for the manufacturer, and they didn't get everything right. The last P-38, and pilot, lost to this poor design was about ten years ago. Because they are "classics", no one bothered to re-design the fuel system to correct the stupidity.
Delete