Lockheed P-38 Lightning Manual

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Dedicated to Laura, Jamie, Jaan, Zack, Stephen & family, and a special thank you to my family for all
the love and support. God Bless.
P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 1 -
PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS (Page 1 of 16 pages)
1. FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS
(1) Deleted.
(2) Continuous.inverted flight.
(3) Airspeed or accelerations in excess of those given on the DIVE LIMITS (No. la. see diagram
which is posted in the cockpit of each airplane). Do not exceed 3.5 Ga negative acceleration.
CAUTION:
Extreme care must be given during acrobatic maneuvers which require a downward recovery.
Acrobatics should not be attempted at altitudes below 10,000 feet.
(b) AIRSPEED LIMITATIONS
Condition Max. allowable airspeed (I.A.S.)
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DIVING ...................................................... See Diagram Ia. (Fig. 25)
P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 1 -
Landing EXTENDED;.................................... 175 mph
Flaps 100% EXTENDED.............................. 150 mph
Flaps 50% EXTENDED ................................ 250 mph
Landing Light EXTENDED ........................... 140 mph
300-gal. drop tanks installed............................250 mph
WARNING:
Dangerous instability exists when the center of gravity is aft of 32% mac (32% gear up
corresponds to 28.5% gear down). Under these tail heavy conditions, full down elevator will be
required to prevent stalling the airplane if the airspeed is allowed to drop below 90 mph indicated
with flaps down, power on9and landing gear up.
NOTE: Tail heavy conditions may be relieved by lowering the landing gear.
2. ON ENTERING PILOT'S COMPARTMENT
a. CHECK FOR ALL FLIGHTS.
(1) Battery switch OFF if battery cart is used. ON if cart is not used.
(2) Cross-feed switch OFF. (Cross-feed switch is replaced by a cross-feed position of
the tank selector valves on later airplanes).
(3) Turn the tank selector valves to OUTER WING ON (or outer wing tank switches
ON)
Check operation of outer wing tank booster pumps by checking the fuel pressure.
b. Check the condition of the low level warning light bulbs by pushing the test button on the side
of the warning light box, or (on modified airplanes) press the bulbs into their sockets.
(4) Oxygen pressure 400 to 450 lbs/sq. in.
(5) Throttles 1/10 OPEN (3/4 inch)
(6) Propeller control INC RPM (Full forward)
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(7) Propeller selector switches AUTO CONSTANT SPEED
P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 1 -
(8) Propeller circuit breakers ON
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P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 2 -
PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS (Page 2 of 16 pages)
(9) Propeller circuit breakers (fig. 4--5) ON
(10) Propeller feathering switches (fig. 4-13) NORMAL
(11) Mixture (fig. 4-6) IDLE CUTOFF
(12) Oil cooler flap switches (fig. 5-17) AUTOMATIC
(13) Generator switch (fig. 5-17 or 8-11) ON
(14) Coolant flap overide switches (fig. 5-13)
(15) Intercooler flaps (fig. 5-12) OPEN (if installed)
(16) Gun-sight light (fig. 5-10) operating and seat adjusted so that the sight reflection is easily
visible.
(17) Inverter switch (fig. 5-9) (or compass switch on main switch box) ON
(18) Contactor heater ON if contactor is to be used during the flight
(19) Armament switch (on control column) OFF
(20) Fuel quantity (fig. 8-20 and 21) adequate. Check the fuel level in outer wing tanks by
pressing the low level test button (fig. 12-4), or (on modified airplanes), by operating the low
level test switch on the side of the warning light box).
(21) Turbo-supercharged warning lights functioning (if installed)
(22) Carburetor air filters (fig. 4-8) AS REQUIRED
NOTE: The use of carburetor air filters reduces the critical altitude and range of the
airplane and should be avoided in clear air.
(23) Clock and altimeter set
(24) SPECIAL CHECK FOR NIGHT FLYING - Test by operating
(I) Landing lights (fig. 5-7) (not more than 5 sec. for test)
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(2) Recognition lights (fig. 7-13) (not more than 10 secs. for test)
P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 2 -
(3) Cockpit lights (fig. 5-11)
(4) Fluorescent light (fig. 5-5)
(5) Position lights (fig. 5-6)
(6) Spot light (fig. 4-1)
FUEL MANAGEMENT (SYSTEM)
GENERAL:
On unmodified airplanes fuel is supplied to each engine by an engine driven fuel pump
and one master booster pump which draws fuel from either the main reserve ordropable
tank depending on the setting of the selector valve. (An additional booster pump for the
outer wing tank is installed on airplanes equipped with these tanks). On modified
airplanes, fuel is supplied to each engine by an engine driven fuel pump and an
individual booster pump for each tank. The dropable tanks on modified airplanes arc
also pressurized to five to seven pounds per square inch.
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PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS (Page 3 of 16 pages)
P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 3 -
Normal Use
(I)
Warm up taken off and fly for the first fifteen minutes on reserve tanks. This is to provide space in
the reserve tanks for the vapour return from the carburetors. Switch both engines to the left
dropable tank until almost dry then shift to right dropable tank until almost dry. Determine hourly
fuel consumption from the charts in Appendix II. Fuel gauges are not installed in the dropable
tanks. Do not drop external tanks unless for increase range or for combat. Use up the fuel in the
outer wing tanks (if inst) then use main tanks, and switch back to RESERVE for the remainder of
the flight.
WARNING:
Always check the fuel level in the tank before trying to operate the engine from that
tank. To check the level in the outer tank, press the low level test switch on the side of
the warning light box. It is not possible to check the fuel level in the dropable tanks.
(2)
On modified airplanes the booster pumps should be operated during take-off) and landing to
prevent engine failure which may result from engine-driven fuel pump failure. The booster pumps
should also be operated during flight whenever necessary to maintain the required 16 to 18 lb/sq.
in. fuel pressure. On modified airplanes the booster pump master switches should be on at all
times. The speed control switch should be in the EMERGENCY position during take-off and
landing to prevent engine failure which may result from engine-driven fuel pump failure. The
booster pumps should also be operated on EMERGENCY whenever necessary during flight to
maintain the desired fuel pressure of 16 to 18 lb/sq. in. The speed control switches have no effect
on the dropable tank booster pumps. On modified airplanes the booster pump switches merely
supply power to the booster pumps. The proper pump is turned on by contacts on the tank selector
valve.
NOTE: Never exceed 250 mph indicated with 300 gallon dropable tanks installed.
(3)
To release drop tanks:
(a) Raise flaps and landing year.
(b) Turn tank selector valves to MAIN, RESERVE or OUTER WING.
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(c) Move the arming switch to ARM or SAFE.
P-38 PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS- Page 3 -
(d) Turn the selector switches ON for tank(s) to be dropped.
(e) Press the release button when flying at an angle not greater than 30.degrees from the horizontal.
(f) Full fuel tanks may be dropped without danger at airspeeds up to 400 mph. Empty 150 gallon
tanks should be dropped only while flying at an airspeed of 160 mph or less. On late airplanes,
dropable tanks are equipped with displacement struts which increase the safe dropping speed to
350 mph.
WARNING:
EMPTY 300 GALLON TANKS ARE TO BE DROPPED ONLY IN AN
EMERGENCY as the tanks may hit the airplane when released. To drop the tanks, it
is necessary to slow the airplane down to 120 mph with landing gear and flaps up to
avoid serious damage.
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PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS (Page 4 of 16 pages)
b. LONG RANGE FERRY FLIGHT
Whenever flying with drop tanks, it is advisable to operate both engines from the LEFT
drop tank until empty and then operate both engines from the RIGHT droppable tank.
This procedure empties the left tank in the minimum time and, if necessary it can be
released sooner by operating each engine from its own individual tank.
c. CR0SS FEED OPERATION
On early airplanes the left and right fuel systems are connected by an electrically
operated "cross-feed" valve which makes it possible to operate either engine from any
tank, except the outer wing tank'. Late airplanes have a cross-feed position on the tank
selector valves. When prolonged single engine flight makes it necessary to use fuel from
the dead engine side, or when operating both engines from one droppable tank, operate
the fuel system as follows:
(a) Airplanes with four-way fuel tank selector valves.
I. Turn tank selector valve to the tank supply fuel.
2. Turn the cross-feed switch to CROSSFEED.
3. Turn other tank selector valve OFF.
(b) Airplanes with five-way tank selector valves.
I. Turn tank selector valve to the tank to supply fuel.
2. Turn other tank selector valve to CROSS-SECTI0N.
NOTE: It is not possible to cross-feed from the outer wing
tanks.
CAUTION:
Do not attempt to use the booster pumps on modified airplanes during cross-feed,
operation if there is a leak in the fuel lines to the dead engine. The booster pumps will
pressurize the fuel lines, forcing fuel out through the leak.
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3. STARTING ENGINES
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NOTE: Engine fire extinguishers are NOT installed in this airplane. Strict
adherence to the following instructions as to the mixture control positions will
reduce the possibility of fire. If fire does occur, move the mixture control to idle
cut off, and shut off tank selector valve, electric fuel pump and ignition to the
effected engine. See pilot's check list.
Check for normal fuel pressure 16 to 18 lb/sq. in. with electric fuel pumps OFF.
Check for idling pressure of 9 lb/sq. in.
Set prop selector switch to FIXED PITCH, with 2300 RPM, 35 in Hg.
(10) Check magnetos, max. normal drop, 100 RPM after shifting from both to either left or
right magneto.
With RPM at 2300
1. Check propeller control levers DEC. RPM then INC RPM (full forward)
2. Check propeller selector switches DEC. RPM then INC RPM, then return to AUTOMATIC
CONSTANT SPEED.
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