The  hard  part may be in finding the Sun to Planetary gear that
 is the
 same
 ratio,  and gives counter rotation, but it appears to have the  fewest
 physical  obstacles to the  desired modification. I willl  also
 ckeck out
 AIRMASTER
 AND VESTA.

 About the "one engine out"  thing - the P-38 has  two rudders
 (directly in
 the prop thrust line),  and there is always  "cheating" and
 building them a
 little over-size.  This is the case with the  cockpit that came
 out 21 3/4"
 wide
 at  60%. I will have to cheat there to  get a minimum of 24"
 width. At 6'
 7"
 and 280 lbs, I think I will have to do  a wood mock-up, just to be
 sure.

 I knew I could count on super-terrific  ideas from you guys!
 Already a
 wealth of stuff in just 7 replies so  far!     Bernie.


 Bernie,

 It is not simply a matter of where  the rudder(s) is(are) located.
 When you
 loose an engine, there is severe  asymmetric force put on the
 airframe.Although  a rudder directly in  back of the prop blast
 will mitigate the
 problem
 somewhat, I doubt that it  will have the  curative effect you
 think. If
 this were the case, the  selection of counter rotating props in
 the 38 would
 have  been a moot  point as the increased expense (Not in $ but in
 maintenance
 and   parts). When you loose an engine, the drag created by the
 "bad" side
 as
 well as  the prop must be counteracted. Perhaps a knowledgeable  aero
 engineer
 type can  chime in.

 Rich

 I think the P38  pilots were told to bail when they lost an engine :)

 Paul Lamar

 Paul,

 I think that there was a big problem in bailing out of the 38.
 Pilots would
  eject but would be hit by the horizontal stabilizer. (similar to the
 bailout of  a pusher aircraft) I heard, but cannot be sure, that
 there were
 explosive  charges which would go off, severing the tail booms to
 allow for a
 semi-safe  bailout.

 Rich

 Quote P38 POI


 "EMERGENCY EXIT:

 Recommended Method:

 Slow down as much as possible (below 200 mph) and trim the
 airplane in an approximately level attitude. If time permits
 head airplane towards an unpopulated area. Pull the emergency
 hatch release control (fig. 23-4) to release the top hatch,
 crank or push either side window down, crawl out and slide
 off the wing head first.

 Alternate Method:

 If it is still possible to control the airplane, turn
 the airplane upside down, unhook the safety belt and fall out."


 Paul Lamar

Everyone always thinks that a person flys backward off an airplane [think pc of paper]
When in reality everyone falls down[relatively] from an airplane [sounds obvious, but isn't ]

If look on youtube [search skydivers], they fall at the same speed as a plane
and therefore fall [basically] straight down, relative to the position on the plane..
as they pick up vertical speed they will reduce horizontal speed until they are basically
falling vertically but this takes 5-10 seconds depending on various factors..[body size, weight
clothing type etc]

I've had people try and jump backwards off a 182 and try and touch the tail w/out success..
Just don't pull the chute the second you clear the canopy and your golden.. [don't ask how I know
this one..  :)  and yes I'm speaking from experiance]

Dropped over 5500 skydrivers one summer...  [as well as a few 'drop's myself]

I'd dive out of a P38, if I had to, and not think twice about the horz stab..

Fwiw

Jarrett

Hi Jarrett, Would you convert this stp file to a Solid Works file for
me. The machine shop is having a bit of problem with the stp file.

Thanks

Paul Lamar