Unmistakeable. Terrifying. Master of the skies: The fork-tailed devil.
With over 10,000 built between 1941-1944 (and nearly 4000 of these as the P-38L), the P-38 Lightning is an iconic American Warbird, easily distinguished by its unique twin-boom and central nacelle design. The ‘’Fork-tailed devil” inspired terror across Europe & the Pacific as not only a fighter, but a highly effective fighter-bomber, night fighter and long-range escort.
The Lightning is capable of speeds up to 414 mph and an excellent rate of climb, powered by its powerful twin Allison V-1710 Engines. The Allison engines drive a 3-bladed Curtiss Electric Constant-speed propeller, counter-rotating to eliminate yaw tendencies, generating up to 1600 HP in each engine at a 2:1 gear reduction ratio. Dogfight performance is improved drastically with the addition of innovative technology for its time, such as the hydraulically powered Aileron Boosters, Manoeuvre flaps and Dive Flaps.
Key Features
- High-quality, extensively detailed and accurate 3D Model
- Ultra-realistic, high-res Texture work (built with the aid of photogrammetry)
- Immersive FMOD Sound design built from professional recordings of a real P-38 and Allison V-1710
- 9 included liveries, including Richard Bong’s iconic livery. Professional quality nose art included in many liveries.
- Detailed & Extensive simulations of the Lightnings core systems, including accurate, code-driven replications of the Lightnings Fuel, Hydraulic, Propeller, Cooling and Electrical Systems. All systems are programmed to function virtually identically to the real-world P-38 Systems. Almost all default X-plane systems have been overridden and/or enhanced significantly.
- Incredibly realistic Flight Model made possible with carefully data-matched simulations of the NACA 23016 & NACA 4412 Airfoils. Flight performance has been verified against real-world Performance & handling tests to ensure extensive realism. We’ve gone so far as to model the drag from individual coolant flaps!
- Custom heat & thermodynamics modelling, extensive engine management simulation
- Realistic Engine Start-up modelling (don’t forget your checklists!)
- Realistic External Tanks Integration
- Custom damage modelling & failures, including heat damage & operating limits
- Fitted with 4 x .50 Cal Nose guns and a 20mm Nose Gun by default, and also compatible with X-planes weapons systems (bombs).
- 3D Garmin 530 GPS fully integrated into the cockpit (optional)
- Modern Radio / Transponder Unit
- AviTab Integration
- Inclusion of FlyingIrons UI Tablet (optional). The tablet incorporates many useful GUI features and puts them in an easily accessible and realistic in-cockpit Touchscreen Tablet. Included in the tablet is:
- Settings Page / Config
- Flight Setup / Weight & Balance Page (Custom – Graphical)
- AviTab
- GPS & Radio toggles
- X-plane Map & IOS apps
- Ground Services app
- VR Ready
- Custom Particle FX
- Detailed User Manual & Checklists
Key Specs
Built: 3810Wing Span: 15.84m
Length: 11.53m
Height: 3.91m
Wing Area: 30.43m2
Empty Weight: 5806kg
Gross Weight: 7938kg
Top Speed: 414 mph
Service Ceiling: 44,000 ft / 13km
Max Range: 2600 miles / 4185 km
Climb: Up to 4750 ft/min (24.1m/s)
Powerplant: 2 × Allison V-1710-111 V-12 liquid-cooled turbo-supercharged piston engine, 1,600 hp (1,200 kW) WEP at 60 inHg (2.032 bar) and 3,000 rpm (counter-rotating)
Armament: 1 x 20mm Nose Cannon, 4 x .50 Cal Nose Guns + 4 Pylons for mounting various bomb & rocket configurations (up to 3000 lbs of bombs)