Interactive P-38 Pilot Training Manual (1 Viewer)

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I love the comment on page 13 about a slow roll:

"Note: this maneuver is always done to the left. A slow roll to the right can cause the nosewheel door to pop open and break off."

That would make your eyes water in combat!
 
The reason is simple. The P-38 was a fighter, not an aerobatic sportplane. Combat does not use slow maneuvers since hitting a slow-moving target is EASY. So the P-38 nosewheel door was not designed for extended lifting airflow. Sustinaed inverted flight was never anticipated and would be, at best, a rather stupid maneuver if you aren't in an airshow. The P-38 was not designed for inverted flying at airshows.
 
The reason would be, more probably, that there was no lock on front wheel door. There is a picture at the US 100000 book with a P-38 that has the door a bit opened while in level flight. Same problem caused many of P-51s to broke their wings during maneuvers. Cure was to install the locks.
 

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