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I believe there was more to it like you say, if memory serves the electric props were giving issue, I'll try to track down the story, I do remember ignition was not an issue as you say but I don't think it was a fuel problem either.
Now if the electric props lose power they will go into low pitch (IIRC) and remain there, not the most economical way to fly in both speed and fuel consumption.
P-38J-15 (second block IIRC), along with improved fuel management and improved cockpit ergonomics.
I think S/R described all the things that had to be done before the battery drained, like feathering props etc.
Well you don't feather the props if your engines are still running, as stated, the Mags will provide ignition spark. I don't have a P-38 flight manual in front of me right now but I'm almost certain that if you lost electrical power the props would automatically go into low pitch
I thought the discussion was about losing one engine, the one that produces electrical power?
Yes, if you lost your left engine (early P-38s) you would lose electrical power, so yes, feather that engine, but the right engine would go into low pitch when all the power drains from the battery.
Just did a search on S/Rs posts. There were a lot of systems that relied on electricity, like aux fuel pumps, oil cooling as well as the obvious like lights and radio, a real challenge to conserve battery life especially at night.
Nothing! Thank God!
It is a challenge -
Your magnetos will keep your plugs sparking, but you'll lose control of your props. They will freeze at whatever pitch they're in at the moment, and you'll be flying a fixed pitch airplane, so be ready to switch to a different set of throttle reflexes. (Unless, of course, you are lucky enough to be flying one of the models equipped with hydromatic props!)
Great info Wes but depending what type of propeller system will determine what pitch setting the prop will go into when power is lost (if we a talking an electric prop). I'm pretty certain on the P-38, the prop will go into low pitch.
Guess I need to do some more research. What I was taught in A&P school was that the prop's gearing between drive motor and pitch change ring had so much mechanical advantage that aerodynamic and centrifugal loads couldn't budge the motor from its frozen position. My instructor was an 8th AF mechanic in War II, and the odd mix of planes his outfit maintained included a couple marks of PR Lightnings, and he said they would freeze at whatever pitch they were at. Also pilots focused on combat or escaping pursuit would often not notice a generator failure until their props start misbehaving and the radios go dead. By then it's a bit late. I saw no reason to doubt his word.
Bullseye! I can't find the story at the moment but that's the issue, he couldn't control his electric props and was unable to keep his Lightning airborne.
Even a bingo profile probably won't get you home on your remaining fuel if your props are stuck in low pitch. Your engines have also probably endured a serious overspeed when the props went south.
Agree but again I know it depends on the prop set up. Some hydromatic props with counterweights will definitely go "flat" with pressure loss I think most found on larger multi engine aircraft will lock in place. My A&P school was about 90% WW2 vets, one guy was a B-25 driver who flew in the SWP. The school I went to was located right across the street from LAX and IIRC was an actual AAF training center run by North American which was right down the street.
