AirVenture 2024: Scaled P-38 Lightning

[@blancolirio]

Wow! Thanks for bring it to Airventure! Thanks for posting.

[@Jim-fe2xz]

My dad worked at Lockheed when P38's were being built. He was designing gun installations on Hudson bombers not the P38 but talked Tony Levier into giving him a ride in a P38. He was small enough to fit behind Tony without a seat. He later got a ride in the SR71 to the chagrin of Kelly. Those were the days!

[@GlideYNRG]

Thank you for posting. A very fitting tribute to the man, and wife who built this amazing aircraft. ❤️

[@JohnCBobcat]

That is a gorgeous airplane. Pleasure to see it presented.

[@srquint]

I saw a youtube video many years ago presented by Jim O'Hara on his consruction an flying of this 2/3 relica, and long wandered what became of it. His recreation was an astonishing accomplishment - especially considering that he built it late in life. Really pleased to see that it still exists! My father flew the F4 and F5 versions of the P-38 in WWII, and of the many different aircraft which he flew in has career, the P-38 is the only one that I have pictures of him standing by his aircraft!

[@kymidnight]

I wish he'd release whatever plans and data he has on it. Not that anyone could replicate it, but just so it's preserved and can inspire.

[@GeorgeBrownfield]

They have a FlyVolar web site with more on the plane

[@GeorgeBrownfield]

I talked to Jim a couple of times by phone on how he did it - I still have my notes on what book he used for the plans - I'm sorry I never got to meet him in person as we discussed - very glad that it's being shared

[@gsxr600rafii]

Would you be willing to share your notes and what book he used?

[@GeorgeBrownfield]

@@gsxr600rafii From nine years ago: Used drawings from “The Great Book of World War II Airplanes” - Rikyu Watanabe, illustrator Used a P-38 repair manual he found on Trade-a-Plane Used engines from a Piper Senaca V - TSIO-360 with included propellers Used landing gear from a Cessna 310 - very modified - did not fit well but cheap Trim tab issue - to scale but not authoritative enough - can not exceed 120 kt cruise (sounds like from the video they got some of that worked out)

[@GeorgeBrownfield]

PS we bought our son a large wall poster of the P-38 drawing that would be likely more useful than the book

[@Cherokee140Driver]

This is beyond amazing. What an absolute gem. I couldn't make it to Osh this year so thanks to AVweb for making this video.

[@chiibekwe7665]

Beautiful plane! Thanks for highlighting it!

[@baconsarny-geddon8298]

Incredible plane. Jim was a skilled man. God bless Aunt Mitsy.

[@flymachine]

I feel the emotion behind this machine probably because it’s so darn beautiful.

[@IFRYRCE]

One of the coolest things Ive ever seen. A life well spent.

[@hansschwoller7112]

Absolutely great ❤😊 Hans Schwoeller, developer of the SW-51 Mustang

[@johnbrooks1269]

William you paid your Great Uncle and Aunt a grand compliment with that presentation. And as you narrated the finer details, kudos to the camera person, especially liked the shot looking up from the grass under the belly. I can imagine your G.U. loving each rivet, screw and panel. The day he finished he might have savored that moment and at the same time felt a bit sad the building was over. And now its a great tribute to his genius. So glad you flew it in, cheers!

[@richardprice5978]

being im not certified ga-license ( only car's/heavy equipment's for now ) for flying but interested in the GA-hobby ( not as a job in any form for now ) im not buying the locoming/3I20 excuse's as there's better engine swaps that could have been used some are diesels certified and experimental-rating's and there's the experiment Toyota/gmc-LTX/ls-v8-planforms so my guess is there quietly looking for investors and full-certificates for flying and couldn't easily get it using anything others than monopoly-bs air-cool'd flat-6/8 and LL100 that wasn't intended for that airframe as it's made for turboprop/liquid-cooled piston's-V types anything else might have changed it's air flow and handling caricature's as cooling-air changes and or dummy-drag from not taking in air in the boom's cooling+main-intake's and main exhaust's-tail-fin's/under-wings and spoilers i mean no disrespect but it might be easier to repop-og size and design ( same issues with spitfire and mustang's as there not that but compared with b17's ect and more room to down scaling before hitting the you aren't comfortable and or luggage-limited/sub-one/2 sub20lb-bag-limited ect ) but within more modern navigation/electronics and or re-powered ie turboprop'd and yes i like v12/radial's air but finding them in 2024 and governments being okay can become challenging ect

[@tpf340]

@@richardprice5978 what a killjoy. when you build yours power it any way you wanr

[@b.chuchlucious5471]

Incredible work of art! Hope to make it up there in time to see it in person.

[@tomdchi12]

Not biased. This is really cool!

[@Lee-qp6gf]

What a treat to see this aircraft. Unbelievable one man could design such a fine plane when you think of all the people involved to design the original.

[@andrewgellert6172]

By far the most bueatiful expreimental getting around these days.

[@SeeUsFly]

One of my favorite planes of all time. My dad was on the P-38 project at Burbank beginning in '41 and thru the war during his a 31 year-long career as a design engineer at Lockheed.

[@emanuelparedes9187]

The wind rises quote... nice! One of my favorites

[@musoseven8218]

Wow! What an aircraft!! Beautiful. That panel and interior is to die for too. Remarkable 💜✌️👍 Thanks for sharing all💜✌️👍😊

[@CX0909]

This is now the 2nd video of this beauty where it's sitting still. We all want to see it start, taxi, and fly!

[@freedomforever6718]

A dream with wings.

[@silasthomas1454]

Wow, I’m blown away by this beauty! Thanks for sharing it!

[@wb6anp]

I want to see it fly, so far everything I have seen has always been on the ground.

[@kibrickj]

Absolutely beautiful. Stunning. Living art.

[@transparentaluminum]

WOW! This story is pretty much the epitome of aviation enthusiasm. So cool.

[@coldisle]

I am blown away by this achievement, and the fulfillment of such an incredible dream. What a magnificent air machine!!!

[@scottbovard5552]

Awesome bird and even better story. What a beauty, Jim did a phenomenal job. Thank you for sharing.

[@jstephenallington8431]

I've never heard of the P-38 having an issue with spinning, or recovering from a spin. It did have an issue with what was called "The Compressabilty Problem" whereby the airflow over the main wing in between the central nacelle and the outboard engine nacelles would (during a dive) pass over the wing and then down and back up again pressing up on the underside of the elevators. This caused the plane's nose to pitch down into an ever steeping, uncontrollable dive. The designer, Kelly Johnson, (the same brilliant engineer who designed the SR-71 Blackbird) never determined the exact cause of the uncontrollable dive, but years later it was decided that the large radius filets between the central nacelle and the wing roots were a chief contributer to the issue. Still a beautiful aircraft, your uncle was a supremely gifted and talented man, and your aunt a model of trust!

[@dlkline27]

This aircraft is too remarkable for words. It completely blows me away. What a masterpiece!

[@cgtbrad]

I've loved watching this be brought back to life at M54 (my home base)!

[@austinrose9509]

That's not a P-38, it's a P-25.3333333!

[@rossr100]

Darn, you beat me to it by a day lol

[@mpetersen6]

P-38X2/3

[@garyreed2206]

A favorite aircraft for most of my life. So envious. Awesome build.

[@shaunweaver2107]

Clearly your uncle Jim was a Craftsman and a GENIOUS! Beautiful on so many levels.

[@RandyHodder-z1k]

This AIRCRAFT IS HISTORY ON A WING......HOW THINGS WERE REALLY DONE....I am beyond Impressed....So proud our USA craftsmen can build such wonderful machines....pure ..pure....INSPIRATION....!!!!

[@constitutionalUSA]

No words can describe the admiration for Jim, the perfection of the finished product, and the awe of it. P38 has always been my favorite

[@towcub]

Beautiful airplane. Thanks for the video.

[@flywiseman]

Genius is absolutely the perfect description

[@pcdoodle1]

Special bird indeed

[@txflyguy0076]

By far one of the best works i have ever seen, and I've seen a few. Well done sir.

[@meatshield2682]

This is such a beautiful story. Made me a little "misty-eyed" to listen. What a wonderful labor of love for dearly loved family. The fact that it flies doesn't even matter that much. So lucky to have such a tight family I wish I had people like this in my family. . . . Just beautiful. Thx, Doc

[@igclapp]

Incredible, even has counter-rotating props and two "critical" engines like a real P-38!

[@davidrasmussen2975]

That is one greatly engineered 2/3 scale version of the historic Lockheed by Johnson. Nice you brought it for EAA members to see.

[@IRAMightyPirate]

Amazing aircraft, thanks for sharing this.

[@Skinflaps_Meatslapper]

Built right here at my home airfield, KSJT! It was always a good day when you saw it fly over :D

[@mrsaskriders]

Incredible uncle

[@steveshoemaker6347]

HOW VERY BEAUTIFUL P-38 IS.....Thanks my friend for the amazing tour and its history !! Old F-4 II Pilot Shoe🇺🇸

[@davidrobinson7112]

Beautiful A real work of art and science.

[@HappyTrails1]

Thank you what a treat to hear.

[@freesk8]

Wonderful! Wanted to see it fly! Thanks.

[@rodrickewing4824]

Your emotion talking about this plane and your uncle and aunt brought a tear to my eye May your family sentiment, commitment and appreciation continue for many generations to come She is an absolute beautiful piece of art, engineering and workmanship

[@dougg1075]

As a kid in the 70’s , these planes in toy form were everywhere. Very popular plane. This plane is super fine

[@jjsgarage3634]

I mean it’s so hard to comprehend how intelligent one individual can be! I love the passion Will his voice as he talk about his great uncle and aunt. Congratulations on bringing it out to safe flying condition and sharing it at EAA 2024.

[@iliasgeorgiadis1610]

A M A Z I N G !!!!!! I am sure your uncle will be smiling up there when he sees you flying his great plane. 👍

[@dieselyeti]

Like the guy who built a full-scale Spitfire replica, this is incredible work.

[@rjhinnj]

I’m current constructing an ultralight I designed (am designing… as anyone who has ever designed and then started constructing an airplane… designing/redesigning never seems to stop!), I can’t even imagine the toil and thought (and money) that Mr. O’Hara put into this awesome aircraft! Heck, I can’t even tell you how many hours it took me to design a wing fitting… and then I look at this aircraft… holy smokes! How did he do it in “only” 25 years????!!!!! The vision, the fortitude, the patience, the sweat…. not to mention the brilliance! Just absolutely jaw dropping!!! 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@jimgolden9666]

Saw this in "Sport Aviation" magazine (been an EAA member since the 80's). Beautiful ship! I'm an aerospace engineer myself and have designed a plane that I need to get cracking on. Got sidetracked fixing up my Beech Bonanza but really need to get back to experimentals. They don't get much better than this one!

[@g.l.g.6064]

One word "WOW" !😎

[@scottbrown6746]

It's a beautiful plane. Absolutely beautiful.

[@SkinPeeleR]

That's absolutly beautiful.

[@bodieb.1239]

In any scale, they are beautiful. My goodness more than beautiful.

[@scottwooster4102]

That is an amazing work of art!

[@fobbitoperator3620]

An amazing homage, to a beautifully exotic aircraft of it's day, or any day for that matter!

[@mtacoustic1]

One gorgeous piece of engineering and craftsmanship!! This should be parked with the scaled B-17 and B-29. Two planes I would also love to see replicated is the Convair Model 48 Charger and the de Havilland DH-103 Hornet. Famed Brit test pilot Eric 'Winkle' Brown called the Hornet his favorite aircraft of the hundreds he flew - a 'wonderfully over-powered delight to fly'!

[@jimjohnson3244]

Wish I was there to see it in person! It’s absolutely gorgeous! I can’t imagine what it took to build it. Pure determination and skill ! I can see why you would get so emotional about it. 👍😎👏👏

[@monostripeexplosiveexplora2374]

that is super awesome.. happy landings!

[@AAABTonto]

OUTSTANDING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! * * * salute * * * ❤❤

[@Bonanza06c]

Beautiful piece of art

[@lasskinn474]

how could you not be biased standing next to a thing like that. glad he got to fly it.

[@zapfanzapfan]

What a gem!

[@jamestregler1584]

Amazing ; thanks from old New Orleans 😎

[@autorepairexpert]

Awesome, thanks for bringing it out and sharing

[@drcovell]

I’ve always loved the *Lightning* which in my opinion is the most beautiful and *pugnacious-looking* of the WWII fighters. Those machine-guns and cannon in the nose meant that deflection shots would have been much easier. Not surprised that the top American ace, Richard (Dick) Bong, flew a P-38.

[@hardychip3736]

What a beautiful airplane & wonderful story!

[@2bigbufords]

Beautiful

[@dougtaylor7724]

That’s amazing.

[@trappedinkalifornee]

That is ONE BEAUTIFUL AIRCRAFT!👍🏼😃👍🏼😃

[@Pilotc180]

My god it’s beautiful and the time and engineering involved is unbelievable

[@ErikJohnston]

Great Walkaround.

[@jllucci]

Beautiful plane!

[@ditzydoo4378]

A truly stunning aircraft and story. a great name for this would be something like, "Diminutive Darling" or "Shrunk in the Wash". ^~^

[@DownsouthMan]

WOW! That man was a genius!

[@nathanrieben2925]

Super cool!

[@65gtotrips]

That is way too cool 😎 What it must be like to move through the skys in her !

[@Lyle-In-NO]

Absolutely beautiful. Nuff said.

[@retorenfer8702]

Absolutely outstanding!

[@ericyeoman2687]

Awesome! that's a word that's used too often these days, but,,it is!

[@fromaggiovagiola9128]

The WAR Corsair and this P 38 are going to look great together.

[@bryanbeers7209]

Mr. Presley ... Amazing work by a true genius engineer, metal fabricator and artist! Kudos to your uncle! If I'm understanding my P-38 history correctly, one of the major airworthiness issues with the full-scale aircraft was frozen controls in a dive due to compressibility. I believe the corrective action was to create extendable/retractable "dive flaps" under the wings to disturb the airflow, thereby restoring controllability when the aircraft was in a dive. Is/was this an issue in your 2/3 replica? Thanks for bringing this video to us Mr. Anglisano!

[@Cruiser777]

Those engines are smooth and economical, good choice😅 beautiful bird

[@easttexan2933]

Well, I would hope to see it fly at Osh. Do you have video of it flying? Absolutely gorgeous. He was definitely a man with a vision.

[@ctwalston1565]

I saw this plane at the J O Dockery 4th of July Fly In at Colorado its Texas! If I recall correctly, they were from San Angelo Texas .

[@chipjumper]

Incredible!

[@richardthomas1566]

Need to see it fly

[@conradnelson5283]

Sweet plain nice video

[@jazzyj6122]

Very nice video!

[@nunyabisness4300]

Whoa. Thought it was just a giant RC.

[@ohwell2790]

Not one video if this plane flying. That is the shame. Searched the web and only found one photo of the plane in the air and of Mr. O'hara and his wife and the EAA chapter he belonged to.

[@agairinc]

True. I’ve looked all over

[@williamhatmaker2202]

That's wonderful that he got to fly it in his wife I can hear your voice crack I know you cared God bless and thank goodness they got to fly in it