Lockheed F/A-19 A/B Typhoon

Knightflyer · June 17, 2021, 03:02:22 AM

Quote from: Pellson on June 17, 2021, 02:46:05 AM
Quote from: PR19_Kit on June 17, 2021, 02:42:25 AM
It'd have been difficult to 'evaluate' the turbo-less P-38s without flying them....................

I don't know about that, considering the track record of military procurement in general..

So I think we need to agree on the difference between operational flying (the RAF operated 'Aircraft X' during the war) and flying carried out for evaluation purposes (the RAF evaluated 'Aircraft X but decided it didn't meet requirements) The RAF has flown three 'Lightnings' (anybody want to add the Arado 'Blitz'

) but has only operated two 'Lightnings' ..... somebody is now going to find an obscure First World War aircraft called the Lightning now!

kitbasher · June 17, 2021, 04:03:04 AM

Four Lightnings:
P-38 (ordered, tested then cancelled but one or two subsequently 'borrowed' and used on ops.
Arado 234 'Blitz'
EE/BAC Lightning
F-35 Lightning II (to the US, that is - should we Brits get like we did with James VI/James I and call it 'Lightning III?)

EDIT: since posting have seen Kit's interjection regarding Lightning III.

zenrat · June 17, 2021, 04:05:47 AM

Thunderbolt is also a name for lightning.

Just saying...

kitbasher · June 17, 2021, 04:06:19 AM

Quote from: McColm on June 17, 2021, 02:19:57 AM
You are correct, there were no RAF P-38 Squadrons during WWII but that didn't stop American pilots from flying them with RAF roundels painted on them.

Really? Not convinced.

McColm · June 17, 2021, 05:31:39 AM

I think my medication is kicking in please ignore anything that doesn't make sense.

NARSES2 · June 17, 2021, 06:01:35 AM

Quote from: Scotaidh on June 17, 2021, 02:01:29 AM

IIRC, the US considered the P-38's turbochargers "secret" and wouldn't let them be exported.

I've certainly read that somewhere in the past.

scooter · June 17, 2021, 06:21:54 AM

Quote from: kitbasher on June 17, 2021, 04:03:04 AMF-35 Lightning II (to the US, that is - should we Brits get like we did with James VI/James I and call it 'Lightning III?)

Yes. Because it'll mess with USN/USMC squadrons cross-decking on to the QE(II) and PoW(VII)

jcf · June 18, 2021, 12:14:59 PM

The secret turbochargers thing is a bit of a myth, the Anglo-French Purchasing Commission
ordered the Model 322(P-38) with the same Allison V-1710-C15 engines used in the Hawk
81A(P-40) they had already ordered. The decision was taken for logistical reasons.

The engines were not "handed", unlike the rest of the various Lightning models, which
probably played a role in the negative impression during the RAF testing of the three
examples that were sent to the UK.

I can imagine that the lack of counter-rotating propellers, in combination with the relatively
small vertical stabilizers and rudders of the P-38 design, would have been detrimental to the
handling of the aircraft.