Lockheed XP-58 Chain Lightning?

[The Nerd]

hey, im looking for info on the Lockheed XP-58 Chain Lightning, like what is it, what was it used for, and so on. Any pics would be awsome.

 

[Smokey]

A google search found this:

The site offers a model if you want one

http://www.anigrand.com/AA2038xp-58.html

In 1940, Lockheed and USAAF reached an agreement that Lockheed was enable to sell the P-38 to England and France, with responsibility for designing a more advanced version of P-38 for US needs. The configuration of this advanced lightning was similar to P-38, central cabin between twin engine-buried booms but larger sized and more powerful armaments. The designation XP-58 Chain Lightning was given to the project. The original design was a single seat pursuit airplane, then requested to change into a double seats attacker, then into a bomber, and then into a tank buster, and finally into a bomber destroyer. The power-plants and armament configurations were also kept changing until 1943. The XP-58 prototype were finally rolled out and made its first flight in June 1944 after 4 years its design was begun. After completed 25 test flights in 1945, the XP-58 program was cancelled not only by the engine problems, but also USAAF had no further needs for the bomber destroyers.

A site about the completed model

http://modelingmadness.com/scotts/allies/us/xp58.htm

 

[syscom3]

It looks like a P61.

 

[The Nerd]

Thanks for all your help.

 

[evangilder]

It looks like a P61.

It does. It also kind of looks like the Fokker G1.A

 

[FLYBOYJ]

I knew a guy at lockheed that worked on it - he said it was a beast!

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

big, fat and hairy??

 

[FLYBOYJ]

big, fat and hairy??

And leaked all over the place!

 

[wmaxt]

big, fat and hairy??

And leaked all over the place!

I don't remember the exact quote but Johnson called it the 10 engined fighter because the AAF kept switching engine types on it.

wmaxt

 

[HealzDevo]

So the XP-58 Chain Lighting was proposed as an updated version to improve the P-38 Lightning?

 

[FLYBOYJ]

So the XP-58 Chain Lighting was proposed as an updated version to improve the P-38 Lightning?

Yes and no - it was a whole new airframe and was supposed to be a bomber killer.

 

[HealzDevo]

Okay, they just looked so similar that I just assumed that the XP-58 Chain Lightning used the same airframe and parts as the P-38 Lightning except for engines...

 

[Matt308]

Anyone ever see the Smithsonian Air Space magazine that published a pic of an USAAC P-38 with modified armament that included something like 12 .50BMGs or some such. I apologize that I cannot recall the magazine month/year, but I want to say it was about 2-3 years ago maybe? It was a one of a kind that was a personal airplane of some high-up-mucky-muck. Reminded me instantly of the XP-58.

 

[HealzDevo]

No, but wow, that would have packed a punch if you needed to use them. 12 .50 BMGs would certainly damage a target if they hit...

 

[IdahoRenegade]

Due to the number of times the AAF changed their minds on what engine was to go in it, and the amount of re-design required, Kelly Johnson referred to it as the world's only 10 engined fighter.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

You do realize this thread has been dead for 8 years?

 

[herman1rg]

Welcome to the resurrection thread

 

[Capt. Vick]

I actually have quite a bit of photographic information on this beast. At the next conjunction of time and memory I will post. Got an interesting picture of the jump seat behind the pilot from the museum at Edwards AFB.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

I actually have quite a bit of photographic information on this beast. At the next conjunction of time and memory I will post. Got an interesting picture of the jump seat behind the pilot from the museum at Edwards AFB.

I knew two people who worked on it while it was being flight tested. From what I remember they told me it was a maintenance nightmare.