Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II 
English Electric Lightning
Lockheed P-38 Lightning
Posted on 07/07/2006 11:02:07 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Three generations of Lightnings compared
Today's christening of the Lockheed Martin F-35 as the Lightning II marks a perfect opportunity to compare three generations of fighters bearing that illustrious name - the first two with distinguished in-service records behind them.
The table below clearly shows the advances that have taken place in technology and capability since World War II, but also illustrates how differing threats breed their own solutions.
In particular, the UK's Lightning - designed as the purest of pure air defence fighters to tackle the Soviet threat during the Cold War - stands out for its afterburner-assisted maximum speed, but short-range and minimal weapon load. Its endurance could be terrifyingly short for the pilot.
The new F-35, with its reliable single engine, is hugely superior in every way - the era of the M2.0+ fighter having come and gone with the theoretical capability scarcely ever used.
Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II
English Electric Lightning
Lockheed P-38 Lightning
Ping!!
Absolutely Awesome!!
Reminds me too much of the hapless Mustang II.
from what I read, the wwII p-38 could not dogfight.
It was excellent at ground support and fast enough to run away from an air fight, but just could not manuever to dog fight.
Reminds me of the Thunderbolt II (A-10). There's a happy example.
I've always heard that the P-38 did well dogfighting, particularly in the Pacific theater.
Is that the same as an F-22 Raptor?
http://www.f22fighter.com/Specs.htm
Dick Bong.....
No.
Maneuverability is overrated. History has shown that a less maneuverable plane with a higher top speed can engage and disengage a more maneuverable opponent at will and will eventually kill him.
Then again, the A-10 is actually the Thunderbolt II. Then again, the F-5E Tiger II was sort of ill-fated...
Most kills 'by all sides' were not achieved by dog fighting (turning as tight as possible). The P-38 was fast, and it had a fast rate of climb, albeit at a shallow angle. Given that the top two U.S. aces flew it against the most maneuverable aircraft then produced, I'd say it was a very capable aircraft.
The P-47 Thunderbolt could not manuever with German fighters, either. That was not much of a factor in combat for a well-trained pilot, however. The P-47 was faster, could accelerate quicker, could dive away from anything and no aircraft of the time could match it in a barrel roll.
How was the F-5 ill-fated?
The Mitsubishi J2M was also called "Lightning", and I think it may have been used by the Italians and Germans as well.
Eight Browning .50's did quite a number as well.
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