The Nerd
Airman
what was the best fighter in the Pacific theater of war?
what was the best fighter in the Pacific
- Thread starter The Nerd
- Start date
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FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
P-38L USAAF/ F4U-4 USN
syscom3
Pacific Historian
Its hard to disagree with your choices. I will say the same.
Although, a Ki84 that was put together with good materials and flown by an experienced pilot, would have been equal.
Although, a Ki84 that was put together with good materials and flown by an experienced pilot, would have been equal.
trackend
Chief Master Sergeant
F4U
Having seen them fly at air shows (and this Sunday coming)
nothing goes like it or makes manouvers with so little effort .
An incredible aircraft.
Having seen them fly at air shows (and this Sunday coming)
nothing goes like it or makes manouvers with so little effort .
An incredible aircraft.
Agreed FBJ.FLYBOYJ said:
P-38/F4U can not be disputed in my opinion.
lesofprimus
Brigadier General
Agreed 100%, and Ill throw the N1K2-J on top of the Ki-84.....
I will agree with you on that too Les.
syscom3
Pacific Historian
trackend said:
At Chino, they have their P38 do maneuvers that not even the Corsair will do. Nothing like seeing a P38 do some rolls at low altitude.
cheddar cheese
Major General
Agreed guys.
trackend
Chief Master Sergeant
I admit to not having seen a Lighting in the flesh flying so I shall bow to those with the knowledge. All I will say is the F4U was so incredibly smooth and I think a lot of that is down to that whopping great 18 pot radial lump.
How accurate these figures are I'm sure you guys can verifie
but if these are right the Corsair seems to have a considerable speed and range advantage over the Lightning
Specifications:
Vought F4U-4 Corsair
Dimensions:
Wing span: 41 ft (12.5 m)
Length: 33 ft 8 in (10.3 m)
Height: 16 ft 1 in (4.90 m)
Wing Area: 314 sq ft (29.17 sq m)
Weights:
Empty: 9,205 lb (4,175.3 kg)
Gross: 12,420 lb (5,633.6 kg)
Maximum Take-Off: 14,670 (6,654.2 kg)
Performance:
Maximum Speed: 446 mph (717.75 kph) @ 26,200 ft (7,985.8 m)
Cruise Speed: 000 mph (000 km/h)
Service Ceiling: 41,500 ft (12,649.2 m)
Normal Range: 0,000 miles (0,000 km)
Maximum Range: 1,560 mi (2,510.5 km)
Powerplant:
One Pratt-Whitney R-2800-18W Double Wasp eighteen-cylinder radial
engine, developing 2,100 hp (1,567 kW) for take-off, 1,950 hp (1,455 kW)
@ 23,300 ft (7,101.8 m), 2,450 hp (1,828.4 kW) for "War Emergency".
Armament:
Six .50 cal (12.7 mm) Colt-Browning M2 machine guns (some variants had four 20mm cannon) and two 1,000 lb (453.6 kg) bombs or eight 5 in (127 mm) rockets.
Specifications:
Lockheed P-38L Lightning
Dimensions:
Wing span: 52 ft. 0 in (15.84 m) 12:49 PM 4/14/2000
Length: 37 ft. 10 in. (11.53 m)
Height: 12 ft. 10 in. (3.91 m)
Weights:
Empty: 14,100 lb. (6,395 kg)
Operational: 17,500 lb. (7,937 kg)
Performance:
Maximum Speed: 390 mph (627 km/h) @ 15,000 ft. (4,572 m)
Service Ceiling: 40,000 ft. (12,192 m)
Range: 900 miles (1,448 km) @ 30,000 ft. (9,144 m)
Powerplant:
Two Allison V-1710-111/113 , liquid cooled engines. Engine power
developed 1,425 hp (1,062 kw) @ sea level and 26,500 ft. (8,077 m).
Under war emergency conditions 1,600 h.p. (1,193 kw) was available.
Armament:
One 20 mm. Hispano AN-M2C cannon. and four .50 calibre Browing machine guns.
External bomb load of 4,000 lbs. or ten 5 in. rockets.
How accurate these figures are I'm sure you guys can verifie
but if these are right the Corsair seems to have a considerable speed and range advantage over the Lightning
Specifications:
Vought F4U-4 Corsair
Dimensions:
Wing span: 41 ft (12.5 m)
Length: 33 ft 8 in (10.3 m)
Height: 16 ft 1 in (4.90 m)
Wing Area: 314 sq ft (29.17 sq m)
Weights:
Empty: 9,205 lb (4,175.3 kg)
Gross: 12,420 lb (5,633.6 kg)
Maximum Take-Off: 14,670 (6,654.2 kg)
Performance:
Maximum Speed: 446 mph (717.75 kph) @ 26,200 ft (7,985.8 m)
Cruise Speed: 000 mph (000 km/h)
Service Ceiling: 41,500 ft (12,649.2 m)
Normal Range: 0,000 miles (0,000 km)
Maximum Range: 1,560 mi (2,510.5 km)
Powerplant:
One Pratt-Whitney R-2800-18W Double Wasp eighteen-cylinder radial
engine, developing 2,100 hp (1,567 kW) for take-off, 1,950 hp (1,455 kW)
@ 23,300 ft (7,101.8 m), 2,450 hp (1,828.4 kW) for "War Emergency".
Armament:
Six .50 cal (12.7 mm) Colt-Browning M2 machine guns (some variants had four 20mm cannon) and two 1,000 lb (453.6 kg) bombs or eight 5 in (127 mm) rockets.
Specifications:
Lockheed P-38L Lightning
Dimensions:
Wing span: 52 ft. 0 in (15.84 m) 12:49 PM 4/14/2000
Length: 37 ft. 10 in. (11.53 m)
Height: 12 ft. 10 in. (3.91 m)
Weights:
Empty: 14,100 lb. (6,395 kg)
Operational: 17,500 lb. (7,937 kg)
Performance:
Maximum Speed: 390 mph (627 km/h) @ 15,000 ft. (4,572 m)
Service Ceiling: 40,000 ft. (12,192 m)
Range: 900 miles (1,448 km) @ 30,000 ft. (9,144 m)
Powerplant:
Two Allison V-1710-111/113 , liquid cooled engines. Engine power
developed 1,425 hp (1,062 kw) @ sea level and 26,500 ft. (8,077 m).
Under war emergency conditions 1,600 h.p. (1,193 kw) was available.
Armament:
One 20 mm. Hispano AN-M2C cannon. and four .50 calibre Browing machine guns.
External bomb load of 4,000 lbs. or ten 5 in. rockets.
syscom3
Pacific Historian
The range figures of the Lightning doesnt reflect it being able to carry long range drop tanks.
I know the Lightning was doing some really long range missions in 1945. I remember reading about P38's flying from Morotai to Singapore! I also talked with a P38 pilot at Chino who did a couple of missions from Biak to Balikpapin in Borneo, which also was a really long flight.
I know the Lightning was doing some really long range missions in 1945. I remember reading about P38's flying from Morotai to Singapore! I also talked with a P38 pilot at Chino who did a couple of missions from Biak to Balikpapin in Borneo, which also was a really long flight.
Both aircraft were great. This could lead to some good discussions.
cheddar cheese
Major General
P-38L actually cracked 443mph, all P-38's done over 400mph so I dont know where the 390mph figure came from. Could also reach 44,000ft and carry 5,200lbs of bombs.
Glider
Captain
I would like to suggest the Ki100. The Ki84 was an excellent aircraft but the JAF considered the 100 to be the best.
On paper it might not stack up but I am not going to argue against the pilots flying the Ki100 who were confident when flying against the American aircraft of the day
On paper it might not stack up but I am not going to argue against the pilots flying the Ki100 who were confident when flying against the American aircraft of the day
wmaxt
Staff Sergeant
cheddar cheese said:
Your right CC.
The F model was flown in late 42/early 43 at Eglin, Florida in very hot/humid conditions and limited boost to 43" and that gave 395 and it frequently given as the top speed. Even normal L speeds show METO or 414 @ 1,425hp. The P-38L-O5, At WEP and 1,825hp it could do 443mph.
wmaxt
FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
I was waiting for you guys to jump on that!
The lowest I have seen a P-38's max speed at was 404mph and that was questionable. I would go with the 415 to 443 mph range.
trackend
Chief Master Sergeant
I just pulled those figures off the net and pasted them I find it interesting that with nearly all the aircraft there is always some desrapancy on the stats between sites however I must agree, I thought when I saw it,under 400mph was a bit on the slow side for the Lightning.
