Walk Around Pg 1

xp-38n-home-sm.jpg (6379 bytes) Walk Around Pg 1

Walk Around Pg 1

Photos from first visit to EAA Musuem. Spring 2001.

The images on this page were shot with a standard SLR camera and standard film and then scanned with a medium-quality scanner.

The Museum is fairly well-lit, but having only 100 ASA film at the time, I was forced to use my flash on most occasions (next time I'm bringing 400!). Thus, some of the photos are a little dark in areas where the flash did not illuminate well.

[click on thumbnail photo to see it larger]

	1. View from mezzanine. No flash. 1/15th sec exposure at F2. (supported camera on rail).
	2. Another view from mezzanine. No flash 1/15th sec exposure (supported camera on rail).
	3. Similar to #1, but with flash. All remaining photos were taken with flash, because I did not have any means to support the camera for 1/15th second exposure.
	4. Close-up of "Marge," and victory markings. The flash has washed-out the light cream color on Marge's face. The lettering under the markings reads: US ARMY P-38J-15-LO AIR FORCES SER.4210 993 CREW WEIGHT 200 LBS SERVICE THIS AIRPLANE WITH 100 OCTANE FUEL SUITABLE FOR AROMATICS
	5. In the center of this shot the wing/fuselage fillet that was added to reduce tail buffeting. The Curtis Electric propeller and cooling intakes are shown as well.
	6. The starboard dive recovery flap is seen in the center of this shot. Dive recovery flaps were added in late-model J and standard on all L models to increase the speed at which compressibility occurred. This crucial feature allowed pilots to safely enter and execute steep dives. Also, the main Fowler flap is partially extended. (That's a mannequin standing next to the car...)
	7. The right boom's right Prestone Cooler. Also, note the end plate on the landing gear doors.
	8. This rear view was taken from just behind the elevator's top mass balance. These mass balances were added during YP-38 tests as an attempt to solve the tail buffeting problem (eventually overcome by added the wing fillets). Kelly Johnson, the original designer of the P-38, maintained that these balances were unnecessary, but the Army insisted in retaining them.
	9. This shot was taken just to the left of the previous shot, just behind the left tail rudder. I was particularly impressed with how thin the rudder edge was: approximately 1/8 to 1/4 inch. If you look closely at the canopy, it appears that it is not completely flush with the roll-up window., a condition that can only be attained when someone latches it from the inside.
[missing]	10.
	11. This shot shows the turbosupercharger air scoop mounted to the boom, very close to out-board Fowler flap. Notice its reflection in the polished metal, indicating that its rear tip is not adjoined to the boom.
	12. This shot shows the out-board Fowler flap just barely extended, perhaps in the MANEUVER setting.
	13. Here is the left boom's left Prestone Cooler. Some details of the turbosupercharger and cockpit interior can be seen as well. In the background you can see the red circle of a Japanese Ki-43 "Oscar."
	14. A side view of the top mass balance.
	15. Another shot similar to #11. Note the details of the turbosupercharger.
	16. This picture shows several things on the left side of the plane: the inset landing light on top, (unique to the L-series), fuel booster pump blister on the left the dive recover flaps in the center and pitot tube on the right. The shot also provides a good front view of the turbo and engine coolant intakes.
	17. On the L-series, the gun camera is mounted on left wing pylon (the little black square on the front portion of the pylon). Details of the landing are also seen.
	18. I stood back a bit for this shot, trying to get most of the plane in while still being close enough for the flash. You can see the non-authentic nose antenna and modern avionics antenna under the rear portion of the fuselage. There is also an unidentified metal blister just aft of the nose antenna.
	19. Here is another attempt to get most of the plane in one picture.
	20. This shot is from the same angle as #9, but from a little farther away. Notice that the rudder is very thin at its edge. The mezzanine, from which #1-3 were taken can be seen in the background.
	21. A shot of the rear of the right boom permits a limited view in to the cockpit. While not noticeable in the scanned photo, the panel gauges are visible in the actual print.
	22. This is another shot of the right propeller and spinner. Two fuel booster pumps are visible under the wing: one next to the fuselage, and the other in front of the dive flap. The modern antenna is seen in the lower right, partially eclipsed by the camera's data stamp.
	23. This low vantage shot taken shows the two wing pylons fairly well. Also, the modern antenna and modern identification light are seen at the rear of the fuselage.
	24. A really low vantage photo,reveals the innards of the nose wheel bay..