Inside the Issues
Issue 14 - P-38 Lightning: Contents
16 February 2012
On January 27, 1939, Lockheed test pilot Ben Kelsey took the prototype XP-38 Lightning into the air for the first time. The big, twin-engined, twin-boomed fighter was to become one of the most easily identifiable fighters of the Second World War, and was to be the only US fighter aircraft to remain in production throughout the conflict. Its unusual design had a number of advantages.
Issue 14 - P-38 Lightning: Big, bad & dangerous to get in front of
16 February 2012.
Well, this turned out to be a fascinating aircraft to research, since it tied together so many famous people in a single design. One of the greatest aircraft designers of all time, Clarence L “Kelly” Johnson was responsible for the layout of the aircraft, famous test pilots such as Milo Burcham and Tony LeVier were responsible for working the bugs out of the advanced design, and many of the greatest US aces of the Second World War were to fly the big fighter in combat, achieving remarkable results with the large twin against much more agile opponents.
Issue 14 - P-38 Lightning: Tricycle and twin – defining a classic
16 February 2012.
How to build a brand new type of fighter without anyone realising... When the US Army Air Corps issued Circular Proposals X-608 and X-609 for new fighter aircraft in February 1937, they went out to Bell, Boeing, Consolidated, Curtiss, Douglas, Lockheed and Vultee. From these six companies, just three proposals were considered. One remained unbuilt and the others, from Lockheed and Bell, would lead to two of the most unusual fighters of the Second World War.
Issue 14 - P-38 Lightning: The ultimate Lightnings
16 February 2012.
The P-38K, L and M - The last three variants of Lockheed’s big fighter included the model produced in the largest numbers, a two-seat radar-equipped night fighter and the fastest and highest climbing Lightning, of which only two were built.
Issue 13 - F-14 Tomcat: Contents
22 November 2011.
Born out of the US Navy’s Naval Fighter Experimental programme, the Tomcat first flew in December 1970 and was instantly recognised as the best fleet defence fighter and long range interceptor in the world. With its heavy armament of guns and air to air missiles, including the massive long range AIM-54 Phoenix missile, when combined with its powerful Hughes AWG-9 radar it gave the Tomcat the capability of engaging targets at up to 100 miles. Aside from its excellent service with the US Navy and interestingly, the Iranian Air Force, the Tomcat also found fame as a movie star, firstly in The Final Countdown and later in the Tom Cruise blockbuster Top Gun. This issue of Aviation Classics will tell the complete story of the aircraft, its development, service career and retirement from the US Navy as well as take the reader backstage to find out how the movie Top Gun was made, the story told by the aircrew who flew the aircraft in the film.
Issue 13 - F-14 Tomcat: Anytime, baby!
22 November 2011.
Well, producing this magazine has been a real learning curve again, and this time one for which I am deeply grateful, as it has cleared up many questions I had often pondered regarding the programmes that led to the F-14. It also posed a particular problem. Let me try to explain...
Issue 13 - F-14 Tomcat: The Iranian F-14 – the last Tomcat
22 November 2011.
The last operator of the F-14 in front line service is also the only export customer for the aircraft. David Oliver tells the story of Iran’s acquisition and combat use of the Tomcat.
Issue 13 - F-14 Tomcat: Why move the wings?
22 November 2011.
David I Roberts explains a brief history of swept wing and variable geometry aircraft up to the TFX.
Issue 12 - F4U Corsair: Contents
28 September 2011.
The mighty Corsair has to be one of the most instantly recognisable of Second World War fighter aircraft. Big, powerful, its gull wing design, high cockpit and large radial engine gave it a very distinctive look. The first prototype was delivered in 1940, and series production began in 1942. This was not to end until 1953 with 12,571 being built, the longest production run of any American fighter. The fighters saw active service during the Second World War, the Korean War, the First Indochina War, Algerian War, the Suez Crisis and finally in 1969 in the Football War between El Salvador and Honduras, certainly one of the longest combat records of any military aircraft. Although it achieved a kill ratio of 11 to 1 in US Marine Corps service, this very successful aircraft was initially rejected for service with the US Navy, its early development being dogged by setbacks. This issue of Aviation Classics tells the whole story of this remarkable machine, its designers and pilots.
Issue 12 - F4U Corsair: Team Players - Editor's introduction
28 September 2011.
Well, the magazine is officially two years old with this issue, No. 12, the Chance Vought, or Vought, or Goodyear or Brewster, F4U or FG-1 or F-3A, Corsair. Almost as many manufacturers and designations as the Harrier in the last issue, but also like that aircraft, one immortal name.
Current Issue: Lockheed P-38 Lightning
On January 27, 1939, Lockheed test pilot Ben Kelsey took the prototype XP-38 Lightning into the air for the first time. The big, twin-engined, twin-boomed fighter was to become one of the most easily identifiable fighters of the Second World War, and was to be the only US fighter aircraft to remain in production throughout the conflict. Its unusual design had a number of advantages. The guns, being grouped close together in the nose, gave the P-38 a tremendous concentration of firepower. The tricycle undercarriage made ground handling simple when compared with the tailwheel designs common to the period. The P-38 was used across the world, undertaking long range fighter escort, fighter-bomber and reconnaissance missions in Europe as well as across the Pacific and Far East.
This issue of Aviation Classics tells the whole story of this ground breaking aircraft, as well as the people behind the development and operational success of this beautiful machine.
PLUS:
• Next issue on sale: 30th March 2012
