Interactive P-38 Pilot Training Manual
- Thread starter Thorlifter
- Start date
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- interactive manual p-38 pilot training
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bobbysocks
Chief Master Sergeant
Nice...thanks.
Cool find! Thanks for sharing.
KiwiBiggles
Senior Airman
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!
"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!
GregP
Major
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.
