Beechcraft Model 38P Lightning
Beechcraft · United States · first flew 1982 · light aircraft
The Beechcraft Model 38P Lightning was an experimental turboprop aircraft built and tested by Beechcraft in the 1980s.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turboprop, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Baron 58P fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single turboprop in the nose
- Low-wing layout using a Bonanza wing
- Baron 58P fuselage
A low-wing, six-seat single-engined turboprop with a pressurised Baron-derived fuselage.
Specifications
- The Beechcraft Model 38P Lightning has a length of 9.12 m (30 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.53 m (38 ft).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was created by fitting a turboprop in the nose of a Baron 58P fuselage and mating it with a Bonanza B36TC wing. It first flew on 14 June 1982 with a Garrett TPE-331-9, and flew with a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-40 from 9 March 1984.
Variants
Only the Model 38P prototype was built. The Model 38P-1 with a PT6A-116 and the Model 38P-2 with a TPE-331-9 were planned but not built.
Where you'll see it
Beechcraft planned production, but a downturn in the US general aviation market led to the project being shelved. The last flight was on 8 August 1984, and deposits from customers were returned.
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