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Lockheed P-38 Lightning Pilot's Manual

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  • Page 1 THE ULTIMATE P-38 LIGHTNING & WARBIRD SITE! THE #1 RESOURCE FOR WARBIRDS AND WW2 P38 Store Wallpapers Gallery Training Films Links Aircraft Specs Squadrons Noseart Pinups Manuals Warbirds Yank Girl Fighter Pilots War Posters Existing 38s Combat Tactics Contacting Webmaster...

  • Page 2: Flight Restrictions

    P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 1 - Dedicated to Laura, Jamie, Jaan, Zack, Stephen & family, and a special thank you to my family for all the love and support. God Bless. PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS (Page 1 of 16 pages) 1.
  • Page 3 P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 1 - DIVING ............See Diagram Ia. (Fig. 25) Landing EXTENDED;........175 mph Flaps 100% EXTENDED......150 mph Flaps 50% EXTENDED ........ 250 mph Landing Light EXTENDED ......140 mph 300-gal. drop tanks installed......250 mph WARNING: Dangerous instability exists when the center of gravity is aft of 32% mac (32% gear up corresponds to 28.5% gear down).
  • Page 4 P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 1 - (7) Propeller selector switches AUTO CONSTANT SPEED (8) Propeller circuit breakers ON http://ftd38.tripod.com/p38op1.html (3 of 3) [02/11/2002 9:38:36 PM]...
  • Page 5 P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 2 - PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS (Page 2 of 16 pages) (9) Propeller circuit breakers (fig. 4--5) ON (10) Propeller feathering switches (fig. 4-13) NORMAL (11) Mixture (fig. 4-6) IDLE CUTOFF (12) Oil cooler flap switches (fig. 5-17) AUTOMATIC (13) Generator switch (fig.

  • Page 6: Fuel Management (System)

    P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 2 - (2) Recognition lights (fig. 7-13) (not more than 10 secs. for test) (3) Cockpit lights (fig. 5-11) (4) Fluorescent light (fig. 5-5) (5) Position lights (fig. 5-6) (6) Spot light (fig. 4-1) FUEL MANAGEMENT (SYSTEM) GENERAL: On unmodified airplanes fuel is supplied to each engine by an engine driven fuel pump and one master booster pump which draws fuel from either the main reserve or dropable...
  • Page 7 P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 3 - PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS (Page 3 of 16 pages) Normal Use Warm up taken off and fly for the first fifteen minutes on reserve tanks. This is to provide space in the reserve tanks for the vapour return from the carburetors. Switch both engines to the left dropable tank until almost dry then shift to right dropable tank until almost dry.
  • Page 8 P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 3 - (c) Move the arming switch to ARM or SAFE. (d) Turn the selector switches ON for tank(s) to be dropped. (e) Press the release button when flying at an angle not greater than 30.degrees from the horizontal. (f) Full fuel tanks may be dropped without danger at airspeeds up to 400 mph.
  • Page 9 http://ftd38.tripod.com/p38op4.html PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS (Page 4 of 16 pages) b. LONG RANGE FERRY FLIGHT Whenever flying with drop tanks, it is advisable to operate both engines from the LEFT drop tank until empty and then operate both engines from the RIGHT droppable tank. This procedure empties the left tank in the minimum time and, if necessary it can be released sooner by operating each engine from its own individual tank.

  • Page 10: Starting Engines

    http://ftd38.tripod.com/p38op4.html 3. STARTING ENGINES NOTE: Engine fire extinguishers are NOT installed in this airplane. Strict adherence to the following instructions as to the mixture control positions will reduce the possibility of fire. If fire does occur, move the mixture control to idle cut off, and shut off tank selector valve, electric fuel pump and ignition to the effected engine.
  • Page 11 P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 5 - PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS (Page 5 of 16 pages) 3. With the generator switch ON, check the voltmeter .for approximately 28 volts and the ammeter for charge. Leave the generator ON. 4. Move the inter-cooler flap controls to OPEN and check operation of the turbo-chargers. by opening throttles individually to take-off power.
  • Page 12 P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 5 - 6. Dive flaps UP. 7. Wing flaps – UP wing flap lever CLOSED. Up to 1/2 flaps may be used for short take-off run. 8. Flight controls free and proper movement. NOTE: Look at the surfaces for this check to see that they move in the right direction.

  • Page 13: Engine Failure During Take Off

    P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 6 - PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS (Page 6 of 16 pages) 14. Taxi a few feet "straight" down the runway so that the nose wheel will be in line when take-off power is applied. Maximum performance take-offs require holding the airplane with brakes at the end of runway until power reaches the desired setting.
  • Page 14 P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 6 - and speed have been established. 6. CLIMB a. Mixture AUTO RICH. b. lntercooler flaps OPEN. c. Refer to the take-off, climb and landing chart in Appendix II, for best climbing speed at sea level is 160 mph.
  • Page 15 P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 7 - PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS (Page 7 of 16 pages) e. The following maximum manifold pressures are to be used for "War Emergency" ONLY: "Never exceed 60 in Hg. in a climb above 25,000 feet. GENERAL FLYING CHARACTERISTICS a.
  • Page 16 P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 7 - cruising below 170 mph i.a.s. is not recommended because the airplane requires more attention and ranges not increased. STALLS a. With power off., the airplane stalls at the following air speeds and gross weights noted. 15,000 lbs 17,000 lbs 19.000 lbs Flaps and landing gear up 94 mph...
  • Page 17 P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 8 - PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS (Page 8 of 16 pages) c. (Cont’d) no tendency to spin. Under these conditions, the nose drops slightly and as the speed increases, the wing will come up. d. On airplanes equipped with rocket installation the stall characteristics are the same. SPINS a.
  • Page 18 P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 8 - The airplane without these flaps becomes very nose heavy and starts to buffet above diagram dive speeds (Dia.2.). The dive recovery flaps which are installed under the wings between the booms and tile ailerons restore the lift to this portion of the wing and thus cause the uncontrollable nose heaviness to occur at a higher speed.

  • Page 19: Approach And Landing

    P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 9 - PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS (Page 9 of 16 pages) APPROACH AND LANDING General Extreme tail down landings possible only with flaps up, may cause the fins to strike the runway. 1. With the landing gear DOWN and the flaps at MANEUVER, START the approach at 120 i.a.s. When the approach is assured put the flaps all the way down and come over the fence at 110 mph.
  • Page 20 P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 9 - gear or descended below 500 ft. you cannot again circle the field and you must make a landing. If however the flaps are not fully extended and your elevation is still 500 feet or more and you want to go around again, proceed as follows before beginning to circle.

  • Page 21: Things To Avoid

    P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 10 - PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS (Page 10 of 16 pages) 5. Reduce power carefully as needed. 6. Neutralize rudder trim tab. 7. Continue approach at not less than 120 mph. 8. Do not extend full flaps until certain the airplane will make the field. 9.
  • Page 22 P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 10 - Retract flaps and proceed in normal take-off technique. http://ftd38.tripod.com/p38op10.html (2 of 2) [02/11/2002 9:39:48 PM]...

  • Page 23: Engine Failure During Flight

    P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 11 - PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS (Page 11 of 16 pages) EMERGENCY OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS 1. ENGINE FAILURE DURING FLIGHT a. Failure of one engine (I) PERFORMANCE - The airplane flies well on one engine. Using normal rated power, it will climb to about 26,500 feet, and can be flown at more than 255 mph (true speed) in level flight at 20,000 feet.
  • Page 24 P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 11 - under ELECTRICAL FAILURE, Section IV, paragraph 10. (this is not applicable to F-SB, P38L, and late P38J airplanes which have a generator on each engine. (3) SINGLE ENGINE APPROACH AND LANDING CAUTION: Concentrate sharply on your approach - because once you have fully extended the flaps, and the landing gear or descended below 500 feet, you cannot again circle the field an you must make a landing.

  • Page 25: Further Information

    P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 12 - PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS (Page 12 of 16 pages) 2. Accelerate to at least 160 mph and 3. Raise the flaps. It is recommended that the inexperienced pilot practice single engine landing by completely closing one throttle and setting the corresponding propeller lever to the DECREASE RPM (full rear) position.
  • Page 26 P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 12 - reducing power on the approach and avoid being forced to apply excessive power at low airspeeds. (5) FEATHERING - PRACTICE. (a) Close throttle. (b) Mixture - IDLE CUT-OFF. (c) Move propeller feathering switch to feathering position. CAUTION: On all airplanes, except F-5B, P-38L, and late P-38J airplanes which have a generator on each engine, shut down the right-hand engine so that the generator which is on the left engine will remain in operation.

  • Page 27: Emergency Exit

    P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 13 - PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS (Page 13 of 16 pages) (a) Propeller control (fig. 4-4) DEC RPM (full rearward) (b) Throttle 1/10 to 1/4 open. (c) Return propeller feathering switch to NORMAL position. (d) Lift the guard on the propeller selector switch to the feathered propeller. NOTE: It is recommended that the above operation be performed immediately after featherin9 is completed so that the engine may be started quickly in case the live engine should fail during practice.
  • Page 28 P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 13 - Slow down as much as possible (below 200 mph) and trim the airplane in an approximately level attitude. If time permits head airplane towards an unpopulated area. Pull the emergency hatch release control (fig. 23- 4) to release the top hatch, crank or push either side window down, crawl out and slide off the wing head first.

  • Page 29: Flight Planning

    P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 14 - PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS (Page 14 of 16 pages) FLIGHT OPERATION CHARTS, TABLES, CURVES AND DIAGRAMS FLIGHT PLANNING The following outline may be used as a guide to assist personnel in the use of the FLIGHT OPERATION INSTRUCTION CHART for flight planning purposes.
  • Page 30 P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 14 - (3) Select a figure in the fuel column equal to, or the next entry less than, the available amount of fuel in the airplane as determined in paragraph 2,a, (2) above. Move horizontally to the right or left and select a figure equal to, or the next entry greater than the air miles (with no wind) to be flown.
  • Page 31 http://ftd38.tripod.com/p38op15.html PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS (Page 15 of 16 pages) (5) The airplane and engine Operating values listed below "Operating Data" in any column except are calculated to give constant miles per gallon at any altitude listed. Therefore, the airplane may be operated at any altitude and at the corresponding set of values given so long as they are in the same column listing the range desired.
  • Page 32 P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 16 - PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS (Page 16 of 16 pages) 1. Name engine type and horsepower? Allison 1710 - 111 R.H. Rotation ) 1450 H.P. 1710 - 113 L.H. Rotation ) 2. Maximum RPM and boost for take-off? 3,000 RPM 54"...
  • Page 33 P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 16 - Explain the reason for the red knob beside the aircraft levers and describe how it is used? Solenoid for emergency raising of u/c or if selector fails to move then roll red knob counter clockwise at same time apply selector.
  • Page 34 FIGHTERTOWN U.S.A: THE ULTIMATE P38 TRIBUTE & WARBIRD SITE! B. ALEX TAYLOR P38 Store Wallpapers Gallery Training Films Links Aircraft Specs Squadrons Noseart Pinups Manuals Warbirds Yank Girl Fighter Pilots War Posters Existing 38s Combat Tactics Contacting Webmaster Updated: FEB 07, 02 You are the person to visit this site.

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