Hotter Lightning

The Air Forces this week cited one example of a fact all airmen know: the first model of an aircraft is not the best model, by a long shot.

The example was the twin-engined Lockheed Lightning (P-38), one of the world's most versatile military aircraft. The big thing about the improved P-38 is that its Allison engines have been boosted 30%, past 1,500 h.p. (by a better turbosupercharger system). Among the results:

P: The P-38, which has long been ferried across the Atlantic under its own power, now has even greater range, increased rate of climb, more ceiling (above 40,000 ft.), a lot more speed.

P: On one engine, the P-38's top speed is more than 300 m.p.h., a handy feature when a pilot has one engine shot out and has to streak for home.

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