Variants
| Variant | Built or Converted | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| XP-38 | 1 | Prototype |
| YP-38 | 13 | Evaluation aircraft |
| P-38 | 30 | Initial production aircraft |
| XP-38A | 1 | Pressurized cockpit |
| P-38D | 36 | Fitted with self-sealing fuel tanks/armored windshield |
| P-38E | 210 | First combat-ready variant, revised armament |
| F-4 | 100+ | reconnaissance aircraft based on P-38E |
| Model 322 | 3 | RAF order: twin right-hand props and no turbo |
| RP-322 | 147 | USAAF trainers |
| P-38F | 527 | First-fully combat-capable P-38 fighter |
| F-4A | 20 | reconnaissance aircraft based on P-38F |
| P-38G | 1,082 | Improved P-38F fighter |
| F-5A | 180 | reconnaissance aircraft based on P-38G |
| XF-5D | 1 | a one-off converted F-5A |
| P-38H | 601 | Automatic cooling system; Improved P-38G fighter |
| F-5C | 123 | based on P-38H |
| P-38J | 2,970 | new cooling and electrical systems |
| F-5B | 200 | reconnaissance aircraft based on P-38J |
| F-5E | 605 | P-38J/L conversion |
| P-38K | 1 | paddle props; new engines |
| P-38L-LO | 3,810 | Improved P-38J new engines; new rocket pylons |
| P-38L-VN | 113 | P-38L built by Vultee |
| F-5F | - | reconnaissance aircraft based on P-38L |
| P-38M | 75 | night-fighter |
| F-5G | - |
Over 10,000 Lightnings were manufactured in all, becoming the only U.S. combat aircraft that remained in continuous production throughout the duration of American participation in World War II. The Lightning had a major effect on other aircraft; its wing, in a scaled-up form, was used on the L-049 Constellation.
Read more about this topic: Lockheed P-38 Lightning
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