Lockheed P-38 Lightning - Specifications (P-38L)

Specifications (P-38L)

Data from Lockheed P-38 Lightning Pilot's Flight Manual

General characteristics

  • Crew: One
  • Length: 37 ft 10 in (11.53 m) (11.53 m)
  • Wingspan: 52 ft 0 in (15.85 m) (15.85 m)
  • Height: 12 ft 10 in (3.91 m) (3.91 m)
  • Wing area: 327.5 ft² (30.43 m²)
  • Airfoil: NACA 23016 / NACA 4412
  • Empty weight: 12,800 lb (5,800 kg)
  • Loaded weight: 17,500 lb (7,940 kg)
  • Max. takeoff weight: 21,600 lb (9,798 kg)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Allison V-1710-111/113 V-12 piston engine, 1,725 hp (1,194 kW) each
  • Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0268
  • Drag area: 8.78 ft² (0.82 m²)
  • Aspect ratio: 8.26

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 443 mph (713 km/h) (712 km/h) on War Emergency Power: 1,725 hp at 64 inHG and 28,000 ft (8,530 m)
  • Stall speed: 105 mph (169 km/h) (170 km/h)
  • Range: 1,300 mi (2,100 km) combat (1,770 km / 3,640 km)
  • Service ceiling: 44,000 ft (13,000 m) (13,400 m)
  • Rate of climb: 4,750 ft/min (24.1 m/s) maximum
  • Wing loading: 53.4 lb/ft² (260.9 kg/m²)
  • Power/mass: 0.16 hp/lb (0.27 kW/kg)
  • Lift-to-drag ratio: 13.5

Armament

  • 1× Hispano M2(C) 20 mm cannon with 150 rounds
  • 4× Browning MG53-2 0.50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns with 500 rpg.
  • 4× M10 three-tube 4.5 in (112 mm) rocket launchers; or:
    • Inner hardpoints:
      • 2× 2,000 lb (907 kg) bombs or drop tanks; or
      • 2× 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs or drop tanks, plus either
        • 4× 500 lb (227 kg) bombs or
        • 4× 250 lb (113 kg) bombs; or
      • 6× 500 lb (227 kg) bombs; or
      • 6× 250 lb (113 kg) bombs
    • Outer hardpoints:
      • 10× 5 in (127 mm) HVARs (High Velocity Aircraft Rockets); or
      • 2× 500 lb (227 kg) bombs; or
      • 2× 250 lb (113 kg) bombs

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