Lockheed P-38 Lightning

3h ago · © Unknown

Red Bull's pristinely restored Lockheed P-38 Lightning climbs in a clear sky, trailing smoke—a rare sight among WWII warbirds!

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Aircraft

P-38 Lightning P38

Red Bull (warbird/heritage livery with USAAF WWII fin flash)

Airline

Not an airline - privately owned/heritage operated (Red Bull)

Manufacturer

Lockheed

Achievements

Retro Wings, Rare Bird, Vintage Voyager, Livery Legend

4 badges earned

Photo grade

Silver

Score: 85.0

Superb climb angle and classic design—shine on the metal, clean sky, but a bit soft on finer details.

Location

Wittman Regional Airport

OSH/KOSH

43.9844, -88.5570

Open map

Wittman Regional Airport OSH

Airport

Insights

Aviation History

The Lockheed P-38 Lightning is an iconic WWII American fighter, famed for its twin-boom design and heavy armament; played a key role in the Pacific Theater, including shooting down Admiral Yamamoto’s aircraft.

Fleet Rarity

Fewer than 10 airworthy P-38s remain worldwide; the Red Bull P-38 is among the best-known restored examples.

Record Flights

Notable for long-range escort and reconnaissance during WWII; set records in speed and altitude during its era.

Safety & Events

Famed for the interception of Admiral Yamamoto in 1943. Warbirds like this one are now staples of airshow demonstrations worldwide.

Future Outlook

Preserved and flown at airshows; likely to remain airworthy as a restored heritage aircraft for the foreseeable future.

Specifications

Allison V-1710 (x2, piston engine)

Engine

15.85 meters

Wingspan

11.53 meters

Length

2,100 kilometers

Range

443 km/h

Speed

1 (pilot only)

Capacity

8,814 kilograms

MTOW

3.02 meters

Height

~1,150 hp (858 kW) each (piston engines, no jet thrust)

Thrust

Unknown (WWII era, non-compliant with modern ICAO noise standards)

Noise