P-38 Lightning

Hi. I’m the P-38 Lightning. I was designed by Lockheed engineer Clarence “Kelly” Johnson and his team of designers in strict secrecy. I had four .50 cal machine guns plus a 20 mm cannon. I have enough armament to sink a ship, and I sometimes did. My tricycle landing gear and twin boom configuration completed the list of major deviations from what you might consider the conventional Army Fighter airframe. My maiden flight was on January 27, 1939, with Air Corps test pilot and P-38 project officer Lt. Benjamin S. Kelsey at the controls. I am powered by two liquid cooled Allison V-1710 enjines turning 11 ½ foot Curtiss Electric inward turning counter rotating propellers. Eventually, two of my .50 cal machine guns became .30 cal machine guns, and my 20mm cannon became a 37mm cannon. My wingspan is 52 feet with an area of 328 sq. feet. From nose to tail I am 37 feet 10 inches. I weigh 12800 lbs. empty and 17500 lbs. gross. I could carry 410 gallons internally, which could be increased to 1,010 gallons with two external drop tanks for a range of 450 miles, making me the first fighter suitable as a long range bomber escort. I could also carry up to 4000 pounds of external weapons including bombs and rockets. I had 1,425 horse power.