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Aviation History
1945
1945 - 0593.PDF
MARCH 29TH, 1945 FLIGHT 337 P-38L Lightning Lockheed Designation 422 : US. Army Designation P-38L (Fighter) and F—5E (Photo Reconnaissance) "ON TO TOKIO " ; The latest model of the Lightning, the P-38L, has many improvements, including anti-buffeting flaps (left) and hydraulic aileron servo. excess of,425 m.p.h. Range has been increased by instal- lation of fuel tanks within the wings, and its range of 1,700 to 1,800 mjtes en/bledLii-io be the first type to land in the invasion < f fceyte an fi^ te e/bledLiif fceyte and >f" drop tanks ban the-' lippines.axfrnum Efinge is in- ^Q The rate m climb has jy new superchargers on •• the Allison iid fihbb h dl LT HE first of the Lockheed Lightnings took off from March Field on January 27th, 1939. Since that time a never-ending research and development pro- gramme has resulted in a succession of variants of the original machine, and the tasks for which it has been successfully employed have included fighting, intercepting, ground-strafing, dive bombing, reconnaissance, photo- graphy, laying smoke screens, long-range bomber escort, rocket-firing, low-level skip-bombing, tank-busting, tor- pedo dropping, and towing troop and cargo gliders. In the model L, the subject of the heading illustration, the Lightning has reached its 18th version. Known as the On to Tokio,'' this version is the most formidable of the series so far, but it would be rash to assume that no further development is possible. Changes and improve- ments of various sorts have resulted in a speed increase of 6 per cent., and it is claimed that the top speed is in By the addition creased to more 1 been improved y pg engines. As a t%in-engined fighter-bomber the mode can carry a bomb load of 4,000 lb. Tts normal loaded weight is 18,000 lb., but it can be operated at an over- load weight of 21,400 lb. The wing loading is then in excess of 65 1b./sq. ft.! The stalling speed figure of 75 m.p.h. quoted by the makers may be assumed to refer to conditions of a much lower weight, such as would obtain on the return from an operation, with all the bomb load discharged and much of the fuel consumed. Anti-Buffet Flaps Among the new features of the model L may be men- tioned the dive flaps and the "boosters" incorporated in the aileron controls. Both may be said to have been necessitated by the high speeds that may be attained, particularly in a dive. The flaps are of an unusual type, as shown in the photograph. Trouble was encountered in earlier models due to turbulence at high speeds. The
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