Fire Eaters A-26

SaxMan · **Posted:** Thu Aug 02, 2012 10:28 pm

IIRC, the Lightning at Udvar-Hazy is one of the P-322s, although not necessarily one used in the movie. I really like this particular Lightning...conserved, not restored. It really makes for an interesting exhibit.

Also, IIRC, the British called the 322s "Castrated Lightnings", or at least that was what they said on the Wings documentary from 20 some-odd years ago.

The Inspector · **Posted:** Thu Aug 02, 2012 10:40 pm

SaxMan wrote:

IIRC, the Lightning at Udvar-Hazy is one of the P-322s, although not necessarily one used in the movie. I really like this particular Lightning...conserved, not restored. It really makes for an interesting exhibit.

Also, IIRC, the British called the 322s "Castrated Lightnings", or at least that was what they said on the Wings documentary from 20 some-odd years ago.

That was because it was a TV program meant for wide distribution, so you couldn't say !CxCU&+#!!!!, you had to refer to 'it' as @#N(_+ so that no one would be 'offended'.
I'm offended @ your claiming to be offended! Whip that one on the clowns in H.R. :lol:

Lynn Allen · **Posted:** Thu Aug 02, 2012 11:23 pm

Speedy wrote:

mustangdriver wrote:

I always wondered how they shot that scene with the A-26 rolling out on the runway with the props not turning, but the plane is still rolling. Great movie. Where is the PBY from the movie now?

I think it was in an Air Comix article where they said they started a take-off run, and then shut-down/feathered both props while it was rolling....at which point they started filming.

Watching that part, wasn't there a cable pulling the A/C?

leo · **Posted:** Fri Aug 03, 2012 10:00 am

I think Caidin called them "Castrated" also.
Makes sense. No turbo's, no counter rotation, I would think they would be wimpy and downright dangerous.

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Sat Aug 04, 2012 12:31 am

SaxMan wrote:

IIRC, the Lightning at Udvar-Hazy is one of the P-322s.

It's a P-38J-10-LO..but I agree with you about the condition, it's an incredible time capsule. I don't think any of the P-322s have survived. I understand the US wouldn't allow the export of turbosuperchargers, as they were critical to our aircraft production buildup, and sensitive bits of hardware we didn't want to risk falling into the hands of potential enemies (we were still neutral at the time.) I assume the Brits ordered them with non-counter-rotating props for parts commonality reasons. I think the P-322s also had strictly machine gun armament, without the 20mm cannon (don't know if the Brit machines had .50s or .303s.) In any case, without the turbos and with same-handed engines, the performance was decidedely lackluster, so the Brits only ended up evaluating a couple of prototypes before cancelling the order.

SN

ZRX61 · **Joined:** Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:16 am **Posts:** 2308

mcrdrk888 wrote:

I think I'm going to win the lottery this month, or possibly next. Then I'm gonna paint and polish her like the Keck A-26, although I'd like to have a deep sea blue instead of the blue/grey Keck uses.

No need, I hear both of his A26's are for sale... so I would assume that also applies to his stash of spares etc..

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