P38

[SCG_motoadve]

 

[rowdyb00t]

I bought a flight yoke last week just for this plane. I can’t wait to fly it!

[6FG_Big_Al]

Thank you very much for sharing! I can´t wait to get my hands on this bird. I think it was in 2012 or 2013 when I saw the Redbull P-38. Since then I have been fascinated by this special beauty. 

[Trooper117]

Great little video!

[Rjel]

I wonder if that's the P-38 he was flying when he died? Ethell was one of my favorite authors. 

 

Edited April 27, 2019 by Rjel

[Blitzen]

9 hours ago, rowdyb00t said:

I bought a flight yoke last week just for this plane. I can’t wait to fly it!

A yoke that works easily with GB? Does it have assignable buttons as well? Inquiring minds want to know...?

BTW-Jeff was a friend of mine and sadly died in a preventable pilot error incident :gas starvation & stall in final approach due to not switching to a full tank .Apparently this should have been done with what I understand is a under seat switch. Unlike the game we all play,trying to extend the glide had fatal results.His family was devastated as were friends & fellow enthusiasts. The owner of the P-38 took his wife to court suing her for the loss of the aircraft ( if I recall this P-38 was one rescued from Greenland ice & rebuilt,) adding insult to injury.

Edited April 27, 2019 by Blitzen

[BOO]

It was an L model Mr Ethell sadly died in. Glacier Girl (the one from Greenland) is still flying as far as i know. 

[Poochnboo]

3 hours ago, Blitzen said:

if I recall this P-38 was one rescued from Greenland ice & rebuilt,) adding insult to injury.

No, the one rescued from Greenland is a P-38F. Glacier Girl. It's still alive and well. Ethell was killed in a J model. 

Besides, Ethell died in 1997. The Glacier Girl restoration didn't take to the skies until 2002.

[rowdyb00t]

@Blitzen I haven’t used it yet, it’s the CH model’ I’ll let you know. I’m sorry to hear about your friend that’s a terrible way to pass

[Poochnboo]

5 hours ago, SCG_BOO said:

It was an L model Mr Ethell sadly died in. Glacier Girl (the one from Greenland) is still flying as far as i know. 

How the hell did I miss that someone had already posted that!?

And yes, you're quite right. It was an "L."

P-38L-5-LO Lightning Serial Number 44-26969

USAAF

Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank, California. At the factory, converted from a model L-5-LO to a F-5G-6-LO photographic reconnaissance version. One of 63 L-5 models converted to a photographic reconnaissance version. Delivered to the U. S. Army. Postwar On January 8, 1946 placed into storage at Kingman AZ. Sold by the War Assets Administration, Kingman, AZ, for $1,250 to Aero Exploration Co. Inc, Tulsa, OK, 1946-1948 and registered as NX53753. During 1949, sold to Mark Hurd Aerial Surveys Mark Hurd Aerial Surveys, Minneapolis, MN/Santa Barbara, CA and registered as N503MH during March 1958. During 1968, placed into outdoor storage in Santa Barbara, CA. During the late 1960s, acquired by Bruce L. Pruitt / Tillamook Naval Air Museum. During the 1980s to 1990s, this aircraft was restored to the original configuration during the 1990s. First flight after restoration was January 8, 1997. On December 4, 1996 registered as N7973. On June 6, 1997 at 1715 took off from Tillamook Airport piloted by Jeff Ethell on a practice flight for an upcoming P-38 pilot convention, making several low passes. Roughly 20 minutes into the flight, this aircraft spun and crashed near Tillamook, killing Ethell on impact. The FAA Concluded the crash was due to the "Failure of the pilot to maintain minimum control speed (VMC), after loss of power in one engine, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control and collision with terrain." Wreckage After the FAA investigation, the wreckage was released to the insurance company. On June 7, 1997 recovered by Harry Malette / H.L.M. Air Services, Inc. and stored at their facility in Independence, Oregon. Written wreckage release was executed on December 20, 1997.

© Pacific Wrecks - P-38L-5-LO Lightning Serial Number 44-26969
Source: https://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/p-38/44-26969.html