Smooth, Sweet Sounds of the Allison V-1710 Engines on the Lockheed P-38 Lightning !

[mreid08]

I dont care what it did or does at any altitude. I'm just happy to see it fly and am thinking now about going and watching these in person.

[gooniac33]

So basically the turbos are mufflers in this case...LOL So why aren't they functional? Too much strain on the motor or were they only for high altitude flying? After all that is why turbos were originally invented...LOL

[octane130]

@gooniac33: For what this aircraft is flown for (displays and airshows), the turbos are superfluous. Disabling the turbos reduces the complexity and potential maintenance costs. Luckily, the engines sound exactly the same as a P-38 with operable turbos---sweet!

[gooniac33]

@octane130 Yeah I answered my own question. Turbos and superchargers on airplanes are for making power at altitude. It's a pretty cool sounding muffler though I am sure! LOL

[BigUnitBeef]

Why are the turbos not being used? I'm sure this hurts the plane preformance.

[octane130]

@BigUnitBeef: The P-38 is a very complex aircraft (and expensive) aircraft to operate and maintain for a private owner and the turbos just add to the expense. Since the aircraft will never operate at high altitude where the turbos would be of use (their is no need to ever go to high altitude), the turbos were disabled. Of the seven P-38s flying today (2011), only one has operable turbos. Thanks!

[BigUnitBeef]

@octane130, will it still do 400 mph under 10,000 feet?

[octane130]

@BigUnitBeef: No, it won't. It won't go 400 mph at any altitude. Even the wartime P-38Js (with turbochargers) could not attain 400 mph until they reached 14,500 ft with 150-octane fuel or 17,500 ft with 130-octane fuel. The turbocharger really adds very little performance below 10,000 ft.

[BigUnitBeef]

@octane130, wow, I guess what they print in books is the best possible speed under the best conditions. I've learned a great deal from this conversation. Thanks for all your input!

[fordroad]

Lord have mercy the sounds of those huge twin engines, American horse Power at its finest. Those babies were the last sounds Adm Yamamoto heard before joining his ancestors of Qualacanal 1942, yes sir the last sound heard by many Krauts, as they died for their Father Land. Yes sweet music and American fire power.

USAAF we will never see their like again.

[michaejlt]

Some sweet sounds from those Allisons...