P-38 dive flaps and aileron boost
- Thread starter hlbly
- Start date
Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
Good Day
From America's Hundred Thousand, the basic weight of a P-38J is listed at 12,780 pounds, a P-38L is listed at 12,800 pounds. However, the empty weights of both machines are 14,100 pounds. Empty weight is equal to basic weight plus the weights of trapped fluids, ammo, gunsight and camera, drop tank provisions, oxygen equipment and other equipment. I don't claim or infer that the dive flaps and aileron boost units totaled 20 pounds in weight, but checking out the sources used in AHT may be of value.
Eagledad
From America's Hundred Thousand, the basic weight of a P-38J is listed at 12,780 pounds, a P-38L is listed at 12,800 pounds. However, the empty weights of both machines are 14,100 pounds. Empty weight is equal to basic weight plus the weights of trapped fluids, ammo, gunsight and camera, drop tank provisions, oxygen equipment and other equipment. I don't claim or infer that the dive flaps and aileron boost units totaled 20 pounds in weight, but checking out the sources used in AHT may be of value.
Eagledad
- Thread starter
- #3
GregP
Major
The boosted ailerons started with the P-38J-25.
The Planes of Fame HAS a P-38J-20 (23 Skidoo) and it has manual arm-strong ailerons. Steve Hinton can rack it around quite well, but the boosted planes from the next dash number onward roll with much less pilot effort.
The other flying P-38 on Chino Airport is a P-38L and it HAS boosted ailerons.
We have a plan to steal his aileron boost setup but have never quite gotten it done yet ... Jack Crowell is a friend and we don't want to seriously piss him off.
The Planes of Fame HAS a P-38J-20 (23 Skidoo) and it has manual arm-strong ailerons. Steve Hinton can rack it around quite well, but the boosted planes from the next dash number onward roll with much less pilot effort.
The other flying P-38 on Chino Airport is a P-38L and it HAS boosted ailerons.
We have a plan to steal his aileron boost setup but have never quite gotten it done yet ... Jack Crowell is a friend and we don't want to seriously piss him off.
Last edited:
