PILOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS (Page 1 of 16 pages)
1. FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS
(1) Deleted.
(2) Continuous.inverted flight.
(3) Airspeed or accelerations in excess of those given on the DIVE LIMITS (No. la. see diagram which is posted in the cockpit of each airplane). Do not exceed 3.5 Ga negative acceleration.
CAUTION:
Extreme care must be given during acrobatic maneuvers which require a downward recovery. Acrobatics should not be attempted at altitudes below 10,000 feet.
(b) AIRSPEED LIMITATIONS
Condition Max. allowable airspeed (I.A.S.)
DIVING ...................................................... See Diagram Ia. (Fig. 25)
Landing EXTENDED;.................................... 175 mph
Flaps 100% EXTENDED.............................. 150 mph
Flaps 50% EXTENDED ................................ 250 mph
Landing Light EXTENDED ........................... 140 mph
300-gal. drop tanks installed............................250 mph
WARNING:
Dangerous instability exists when the center of gravity is aft of 32% mac (32% gear up corresponds to 28.5% gear down). Under these tail heavy conditions, full down elevator will be required to prevent stalling the airplane if the airspeed is allowed to drop below 90 mph indicated with flaps down, power on9 and landing gear up.
NOTE: Tail heavy conditions may be relieved by lowering the landing gear.
2. ON ENTERING PILOT'S COMPARTMENT
a. CHECK FOR ALL FLIGHTS.
(1) Battery switch OFF if battery cart is used. ON if cart is not used.
(2) Cross-feed switch OFF. (Cross-feed switch is replaced by a cross-feed position of the tank selector valves on later airplanes).
(3) Turn the tank selector valves to OUTER WING ON (or outer wing tank switches ON)
Check operation of outer wing tank booster pumps by checking the fuel pressure.
b. Check the condition of the low level warning light bulbs by pushing the test button on the side of the warning light box, or (on modified airplanes) press the bulbs into their sockets.
(4) Oxygen pressure 400 to 450 lbs/sq. in.
(5) Throttles 1/10 OPEN (3/4 inch)
(6) Propeller control INC RPM (Full forward)
(7) Propeller selector switches AUTO CONSTANT SPEED
(8) Propeller circuit breakers ON
The entire manual can be downloaded as a zip file containing a version of the manual in.rtf format.
The .rtf format can be read by most word processors.
This material is courtesy of Stan Wood WW2 P-38 Pilot in the Pacific.
More about Stan Wood and his P-38 experiances: Click Here