Lockheed XP-58 Chain Lightning?

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The Nerd

Airman
36
0
Sep 14, 2005
Snohomish Washinton
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.
 
A google search found this:

The site offers a model if you want one

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

AA2038xp-58real4.jpg


AA2038xp-58real1.jpg


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

xp58g.jpg


xp58e.jpg


xp58h.jpg
 
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...
 
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.
 
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.
 
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 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.
 

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