P-38 Floatplane

[KJ_Lesnick]

Does anybody have dimensions on the plane? 
I've done some searching, I have found nothing.

[rickshaw]

Kendra/Robyn, I'd expect it to be the same size as a normal P-38...   

[wuzak]

Very early in the Pacific War, a scheme was proposed to fit Lightnings with floats to allow them to make long-range ferry flights. The floats would be removed before the aircraft went into combat. There were concerns that saltwater spray would corrode the tailplane, and so in March 1942, P-38E 41-1986 was modified with a tailplane raised some 16–18 in (41–46 cm), booms lengthened by two feet and a rearward-facing second seat added for an observer to monitor the effectiveness of the new arrangement. A second version was crafted on the same airframe with the twin booms given greater sideplane area to augment the vertical rudders. This arrangement was removed and a final third version was fabricated that had the booms returned to normal length but the tail raised 33 in (84 cm). All three tail modifications were designed by George H. "Bert" Estabrook. The final version was used for a quick series of dive tests on 7 December 1942 in which Milo Burcham performed the test maneuvers and Kelly Johnson observed from the rear seat. Johnson concluded that the raised floatplane tail gave no advantage in solving the problem of compressibility. At no time was this P-38E testbed airframe actually fitted with floats, and the idea was quickly abandoned as the U.S. Navy proved to have enough sealift capacity to keep up with P-38 deliveries to the South Pacific.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_P-38_Lightning

[wuzak]

This is one of the trial tail plane arrangements

[sandiego89]

This is one of the trial tail plane arrangements

That is uuuuugly.  Wonder why insted of the bananna shaped booms they just didn't move the horizonatal stab closer to, or to the top of the tail tips (like a OV-10 Bronco, Sea Vixen, etc)? 

[PR19_Kit]

Maybe the fins weren't strong enough to take the vertical loads that such a tailplane position would generate?

And yes, it sure is UGLY!

[ericr]

It makes me think about a Zwilling Caribou...

gosh

[KJ_Lesnick]

rickshaw

Kendra/Robyn, I'd expect it to be the same size as a normal P-38...   

Actually, considering the tail was lengthened, I would assume it was longer to a degree...


wuzak

That's the plane!


PR19_Kit

Maybe the fins weren't strong enough to take the vertical loads that such a tailplane position would generate?

Interesting possibility.

[rickshaw]

rickshaw

Kendra/Robyn, I'd expect it to be the same size as a normal P-38...   

Actually, considering the tail was lengthened, I would assume it was longer to a degree...

As the quote mentioned, the tailplane was returned to the original length, before the project was abandoned, Kendra/Robyn...   

[KJ_Lesnick]

rickshaw

As the quote mentioned, the tailplane was returned to the original length, before the project was abandoned, Kendra/Robyn...   

I mean while it was lengthened...

[pyro-manic]

Did you even read the replies above? It's already been posted....

[KJ_Lesnick]

Pyromanic

Sorry, I missed it

[KJ_Lesnick]

I'm curious why the P-38 had the original radiator design that it did and not something bigger?

[PR19_Kit]

I'm curious why the P-38 had the original radiator design that it did and not something bigger?

Lockheed were hardly likely to fit it with larger radiators just for the hell of it, were they? Any larger would have increased the drag for no benefit whatsoever, so they made them as big as they needed to be...................

[kerick]

Don't forget there is one on each side of the tail boom so if you add those two together it's about the size of a p-40 radiator. Lockheed was trying a lot of new ideas on the P-38, interesting lessons in aircraft designing.