Airports & Sceneries
– New Features:
– Auto Lean / Auto Rich mixture simulation – The mixture lever now properly simulates the real P-38L’s three-position operation: Cutoff, Auto Lean, and Auto Rich. Engine performance and fuel consumption respond realistically to mixture setting.
– Flight Model Improvements:
– Major handling overhaul – Pitch, roll, and yaw behaviour has been comprehensively retuned for a more responsive and natural flying experience across the speed envelope.
– Higher-fidelity aerodynamics – Increased the CFD resolution for a deeper simulation of flight dynamics.
– Refined flight dynamics – Moment of inertia values have been corrected for all three axes, giving the aircraft more faithful rotation and handling characteristics.
– Improved turbulence response – Roll, pitch, and yaw stability and gyro damping have been individually tuned for more natural behaviour in turbulent air.
– Better crosswind ground handling – Crosswind forces at zero to low speeds have been reduced, making takeoff and landing rolls in windy conditions more realistic and controllable.
– Enhanced control surface behaviour – Elevator, rudder, and aileron effectiveness and response has been retuned for smoother, more authentic stick feel throughout the flight envelope.
– Improved compressibility modelling – Elevator authority degradation at high speed has been refined for more realistic dive behaviour and recovery.
– Retuned flap settings – All three flap positions have been adjusted. Flap 1 (8 degrees) now functions more effectively as a manoeuvring flap.
– Engine & Systems:
– Improved engine temperature simulation – Oil, coolant, and carburettor temperatures now heat up and cool down at a more realistic, gradual pace.
– Correct oil temperature on startup – Oil temperature now initializes to a proper warm value when starting a flight with engines already running.
– Bug Fixes:
– Cockpit instrument interaction in MSFS 2024 – Fixed a clickspot issue that made certain interior clickables difficult to interact with in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
– Unwanted roll tendency with gear retraction – Fixed an incorrect center-of-gravity shift value on the right landing gear that caused the aircraft to roll when retracting the gear.
– Left engine oil cooler simulation – Corrected the oil heating calculation so the left engine oil temperature now behaves correctly.
– Oil cooler switch tooltips – Swapped AUTO/MANUAL labels on both left and right oil cooler switches so the tooltips match the actual switch positions.
With over 10,000 built between 1941-1944 (and nearly 4000 of these as the P-38L), the P-38 Lightning is an iconic American Warbird, easily distinguished by its unique twin-boom and central nacelle design. The “Fork-tailed devil” inspired terror across Europe & the Pacific as not only a fighter, but a highly effective fighter-bomber, night fighter and long-range escort.
The Lightning is capable of speeds up to 414 mph and an excellent rate of climb, powered by its powerful twin Allison V-1710 Engines. The Allison engines drive a 3-bladed Curtiss Electric Constant-speed propeller, counter-rotating to eliminate yaw tendencies, generating up to 1600 HP in each engine at a 2:1 gear reduction ratio. Dogfight performance is improved drastically with the addition of innovative technology for its time, such as the hydraulically powered Aileron Boosters, Manoeuvre flaps and Dive Flaps.
Features:
• High-quality, extensively detailed and accurate 3D Model & texturing brings to life every rivet, screw & oil streak of the P-38L
• Immersive Wwise Sound design built from professional recordings of a real P-38 and Allison V-1710. Highly dynamic sound design captures each detail of flight in stereo; dynamic wind noise, drag & buffer sounds, high-g effects, airframe stress & so much more!
• 9 included liveries, including Richard Bong’s iconic livery. Professional quality nose art included in many liveries.
• Detailed & Extensive simulations of the Lightnings core systems, including accurate, code-driven replications of the Lightnings Fuel, Engine, Cooling and Electrical Systems.
• Incredibly realistic Flight Model created by our newest team member, the highly respected GotGravel!
• Custom code-driven heat & thermodynamics modelling, extensive engine management simulation
• Realistic Engine Start-up modelling (don’t forget your checklists!)
• Optional Drop Tanks
• Custom damage modelling & failures, including heat damage & operating limits
• 3D GNS 430 fully integrated into the cockpit (optional)
• Modern Radio / Transponder Unit
• Inclusion of FlyingIron’s UI Tablet (optional). The tablet incorporates many useful GUI features and puts them in an easily accessible and realistic in-cockpit Touchscreen Tablet.
• Interactive checklists available to guide you through start-up and flight procedures
