Duxford Flying Legends 2011 #6 - 03/16 - 20110709_p38l_n25y_duxford_fl11-09_0039.jpg (1/1) - 270 kb

On 27/08/2011 10:18, Savageduck wrote:
On 2011-08-27 01:33:04 -0700, D. St-Sanvain
said:

Savageduck a écrit dans
news:2011082700122978840-savageduck1@REMOVESPAMmecom :
On 2011-08-26 23:23:57 -0700, (D.
St-Sanvain) said:


image

Regardless of what they might claim, that is no P-38L.

That Red Bull P-38 has the small, swept back "Lightning MkI & MkII"
through to P-38G nacelle chin vents. Also there are no
turbo-superchargers.

This is a P-38L. Note the larger nacelle chin vents;

Well... the serial number makes her a L, the external view doesn't.
She was used as a racer, and eventually underwent some modifications,
which may lead to an (X)P-38 (something) designation...
Same questions are asked about Zero modified T-6's...
Some even refer to her as a F-5 G !

I remember her as Lefty Gardner's "White Lightning". The RB guys did
this great restoration after a crash which should have written her off.
I suspect there have been a lot of salvaged parts integrated.
I just can't imagine an "L" without turbo-superchargers exposed on the
booms, or the inter-coolers to go with the large chin vents.

I just wonder when and why she was deprived of her distinctive "L"
appearance.


There's an item about the Red Bulls fleet in the September edition of
Aircraft magazine.

It says that N25Y was built as an F-5G, 44-53254. Sold To Lilee Products
in Chicago in 1946 as NX25Y. Started racing when owned by J.D. Reed of
Houston, and Charlie Walling flew it into 2nd place in the stock race at
Miami in 1947. Camera nose removed and other mods, and named Sky Ranger.
Two more owners, Hugh Wells and Vernon Thorpe, before passing to Lefty
Gardner. He painted it R/W/B and called it White Lightnin'. It had an
engine fire in 25 June 2001 and made a belly landing in a field at
Greenwood, MS. Sold to the Flying Bulls in January 2005.

I did read somewhere about the removal of the turbosuperchargers and the
reshaping of the nacelles, but I can't remember where. I also thought
when I first saw it that it couldn't be an L model, but it seems that
officially it is.

Great to see a P-38 again at Duxford.

--
Peter