I find it hard to believe the government would be responsible for any of this indecision and waste of funds.

My cousin flew P-38s reconnaissance during WW2 in Europe. He told me his only armament was a 45 pistol, leaving room for high resolution film cameras and made light enough to outfly anything the Germans were flying. He had some great stories.

It's refreshing to hear how many designs failed simply from governments unable to make up their mind or pushing for fantasy designs the current technology couldn't realize.

I was in the Air Force for 20 years and THE GOVERNMENT can ruin anything. The old saying that " An elephant is a mouse built to government specification" is always so true.

Ride The Lightning was absolutely their best album

The term "Gross Weight" was probably invented for this design

US Goverment: I have altered the deal. Pray I dont alter it any further.

It would not surprise me if George Lucas used the XP-58 as inspiration for the ARC-170 fighter in Star Wars.

Interfering is all the government knows how to do.

The UK wasn't a P-38 user - the RAF was sent three Model 322s, without turbochargers or handed engines, rejected them and cancelled their order!

To be absolutely honest, this project was never an "upgrade" to the P-38.

I always thought that the Northrop P-61 “Black Widow” was developed as a larger version of the P-38 “Lightning”, but it actually went into production and was deployed during WW II, Apparently, government interference didn’t disrupt it’s development. Of course it was deployed as a reconnaissance aircraft and also as a night fighter, however it is very similarly configured as the P-58, and it also very similar in size as the P-58 as well. Perhaps the government had both companies involved in similar projects simultaneously, but the P-61 actually survived through the process.

Nice history lesson…well done!👍👍 the one that the government meddled the most with was the first flying wing….a few senators and their greed set back aviation 30 years….

If I had the 12 million it would cost, I’d love to build a P-38 with Griffon engines and those wicked contra rotating propellers.

Honestly thought this project was going to evolve into a design with b29 engines with cockpits behind the engine in the nacelles. With no center fuselage just a quad 37mm gun pod in it's place. Based on the insane narrative.

God damn. I’m wondering how on earth so many drastic revisions would be pushed on this design without Lockheed responding with “Okay, we’ll take all prior requests into the design, but we respectfully request that further alteration be withheld so we can get the damned thing out.”

never forget the p-38's contribution to auto design in the form of the original cadillac tailfins.

Engine choices failing to live up to expectations or being cancelled seems to have been a very common occurrence during the war years. It would be interesting to hear more about some of the almost engines mentioned in this video, to see how close they were to achieving their promise.

"I'm from the Government and I'm here to help"......RUN LIKE HELL!!!!!!!!!!!

I've always loved the P-38. While the P-58 seems to have been complete dead-end from the start, I wish they would've pursued a naval version. That kitbashed model floating around the internet of a P-38 with radials (aka "Trident") always intrigued me.