Lockheed P-38 "Lightning" Reg. N25Y – another jewel of Flying Bulls at SIAF

We have written  about one of the gem of the Flying Bulls team which will arrive for the first time on the 1 and 2 September 2018 at SIAF. Visitors will not miss this year´s International Aviation Days because of another unique performance.  On 1 and 2 September not only will B-52 Mitchell but also the aircraft Lockheed P-38 Lightning  be introduced there. This WW2 veteran will be piloted by Raimund Riedmann, Flight Operations Manager.

Real aircraft for real pilots

Parameters of the aircraft speak volumes about it: max. speed 666 km/h, ceiling 13,420m and range 3,636km. According to the Americans it never belonged to the aircraft used in free time and for fun of “Sunday pilots“. In reality it represented the American answer to ME-109, the unique WW2 jet fighter. The jet fighter conscructed by Kelly Johnson executed a maiden flight on 27 January 1939 and became one of the most famous American WW2 aircraft  in an interceptor and reconnaissance version.

From the USA to the Hangar No.7 in Salzburg

From the US Air Forces the aircraft P-38 F-5G-6-LO (serial number 44-53254) was struck of charge  in September 1945 and consequently registrated as N25Y. Before the aircraft could park in Hangar No.7 in Salzburg it must have flown, sailed and taxied a good deal of airways. J.D.Reed, one of her owners and air racing enthusiasts, optimised the speed of the plane from  a modified carburettor to  water injection and  aerodynamically  designed propellers and wing tips and reaped the harvest.

Flying Bulls Fleet jewel

In 2001 the aircraft P-38 was seriously damadged during emergency landig with engine struck by flames. Eight years later after comprehesive restoration at Ezell Aviation in Breckenridge (USA) the unique transportation came from Texas to Central Europe. The aircraft P-38 ends her journey in Hangar No.7 in Salzburg as one of the Flying Bulls Fleet jewel.

Source: The flying Bulls press info, WW2 Aircraft (Otto´s encyclopaedia)