All Wood Wings: P-38 Lightning Model, USAF

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P-38 Lightning, USAF

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Scale 1:35 Length 13" Wingspan 17.8"

The P-38 Lightning was designed in 1937 as a high-altitude interceptor capable of climbing to 20,000 feet in less than six minutes with a ceiling of 44,000 feet.. The first one built - the XP-38 - made its public debut on February 11, 1939 by flying from California to New York in seven hours. Because of its unorthodox design - which was a shortened fuselage centered between twin booms - the airplane experienced "growing pains" and it required several years to perfect it for combat.

Late in 1942, it went into large-scale operations during the North African campaign where the Luftwaffe named it "Der Gabelschwanz Teufel" or "The Forked-Tail Devil".

Equipped with droppable fuel tanks under its wings, the P-38 was used extensively as a long-range escort fighter and saw action in every major combat area of the world. The Lightning was a very versatile aircraft used for dive bombing, level bombing, ground strafing and photo reconnaissance missions. The single-seat aircraft was also produced as a 2-seat night fighter, the P-38M.

Crew:           Pilot only
Length:        38 ft
Wingspan:   52 ft
Engines:      Two Allison V-1710s of 1,475 hp each
Speed:         414 mph maximum, cruise 275 mph
Ceiling:        40,000 ft
Range:         1,100 miles
Armament: Four.50-cal machine guns and one 20mm cannon plus 3,200 lbs of bombs