HISTORY
DISTINCTION
The Museum’s P-38J, built in Burbank, California and delivered into service in May 1944, has the distinction of being the 5,018th P-38 built - halfway to the total number of “Lightnings” produced. It was assigned to the 483rd Air Base Squadron in Santa Maria, California - a Replacement Training Unit providing combat crew training for P-38s during WWII. In September 1945, the aircraft transferred to the Hancock College of Aeronautics where it was used to instruct maintenance personnel. The Museum acquired the aircraft in 1959. In 1988, it was restored to flight thanks to a generous donation from Bob and Josie Pond. The museum's P-38 was used in the filming of Iron Eagle III.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Status: Flyable |
| Manufacturer: Lockheed Aircraft Corporation |
| Year: 1943 |
| Model: P-38J-20-LO Lightning |
| Registration Number: N138AM |
| Serial Number: 44-23314 |
| Crew: 1 |
| Max T/O Weight: 20,300 lb. |
| Span: 52 ft. 0 in. |
| Length: 37 ft. 10 in. |
| Height: 9 ft. 10 in. |
| Maximum Speed: 402 mph |
| Cruise Speed: 290 mph |
| Rate of Climb: 4000 ft/min |
| Power Plant: 2 x 1,425hp turbo-charged Allison V-1710 12-cylinder liquid-cooled engines |
| Range: 350 miles |
| Service Ceiling: 44,000 ft. |
| Armament: Four 0.50-cal machine guns & one 20mm cannon |
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