Author Topic: P38 Wear and Tear (Read 678 times)

bustr · « **on:** January 22, 2008, 07:44:44 PM »

I was just looking at a photo of 4 P38H in a right echlon over Burbank CA. around 42-43. What caught my attention is the closest two birds had a similare repair.

The left outside top forward wing panel from the tip assembly base into the engine boom root, center spar forward to leading edge had been replaced on the two closest 38. The give away was the american insignia had been cut in half by the replacement.

did 38's have any unusal wear and tear issues on their top outboard wing panels?

Guppy35 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 22, 2008, 08:22:33 PM »

Early 38s through the H had the intercoolers in the wing leading edges. Probably a replacement intercooler in th left wing and touch up paint for a training bird that saw hard use.

I've seen a similar photo of a worn 38 over the Florida marshes. That was the explaination given there.

Later 38s had the leading edge fuel tanks

bustr · « **Reply #2 on:** January 22, 2008, 08:31:53 PM »

Thanks, two planes with the same repair is a question in the making...

angelsandair · « **Reply #3 on:** January 25, 2008, 05:50:00 PM »

well i may be wrong, but didnt the really early ones have bad engine and wing stabalizing prolbems? i read somewhere that they had it, not too sure though, it was a long time ago

Captain Virgil Hilts · « **Reply #4 on:** January 25, 2008, 06:49:43 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by angelsandair
well i may be wrong, but didnt the really early ones have bad engine and wing stabalizing prolbems? i read somewhere that they had it, not too sure though, it was a long time ago

No.

Guppy35 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 25, 2008, 08:42:40 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by angelsandair
well i may be wrong, but didnt the really early ones have bad engine and wing stabalizing prolbems? i read somewhere that they had it, not too sure though, it was a long time ago

I think you might be referring to the fillet that was added to the wing near the cockpit on the early 38s. Not the same as the wing leading edge intercoolers or fuel tanks on later models.

angelsandair · « **Reply #6 on:** January 25, 2008, 08:53:06 PM »

ooo okay, i heard something bad about the old ones, just couldnt really put my finger on it.