{{Short description|Experimental Turboprop Aircraft}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2017}} {{Infobox aircraft |name= Lightning |image=Baylescraft Lightning (N241FS, cn RB01) (12-12-2023).jpg |caption=Beechcraft Lightning replica at the Beechcraft Heritage Museum |type= Civil utility aircraft |manufacturer= Beechcraft |designer= |first_flight= June 14, 1982 |introduction= 1982 |retired= 1984 |status= |primary_user= |more_users= |produced= |number_built= 1<ref name="Pelletier">{{Cite book |last=Pelletier |first=A.J. |title=Beech Aircraft |publisher=Putnam Aeronautical Books |year=1995 |isbn=1-55750-062-2}}</ref> |developed_from = Beechcraft Baron |variants= }}
The '''Beechcraft Model 38P Lightning''' was an experimental turboprop aircraft built and tested by Beechcraft in the 1980s.
== History == The Model 38P ('''P'''ressurized) (also known as the model PD.336) was created by installing a Garrett AiResearch TPE-331-9 engine in the nose of a Beechcraft Baron 58P fuselage, which was mated to a Beechcraft B36TC Bonanza wing in place of the Baron's wing with two engines.<ref name="BP"/> This resulted in a low-wing aircraft with six seats including the pilot's. The aircraft flew for the first time on June 14, 1982.<ref name="BP"/> After 133 flights over almost 18 months the aircraft was temporarily grounded so that the TPE331 could be removed and a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-40 engine fitted in its place.<ref name="BP"/> The aircraft flew in this configuration for the first time on March 9, 1984 and the last flight was on August 8 the same year.<ref name="BP"/> Beechcraft originally planned to put the Lightning into production but the economic downturn among general aviation manufacturers in the United States in the 1980s led to the project being shelved<ref>[http://www.wingsoverkansas.com/murphy/article.asp?id=645 "The Beeches that got away", Wings Over Kansas website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130407111201/http://www.wingsoverkansas.com/murphy/article.asp?id=645 |date=April 7, 2013 }} retrieved December 20, 2007.</ref> shortly after the first flight with PT6A power.<ref name="BP">Phillips, Edward H., ''Beechcraft - Pursuit of Perfection, A History of Beechcraft Airplanes''. Flying Books, Eagan, Minnesota 1992. {{ISBN|0-911139-11-7}}</ref> Several Model 38Ps were pre sold to customers by the Beechcraft dealer network, but the purchase deposits collected were returned when the decision was made not to produce the aircraft.{{Citation needed|date=March 2026}}
== Variants == ;Model 38P :One prototype modified from a Model 58P Baron with a Garrett AiResearch TPE-331-9. Plans to produce the 38P with a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-40 were abandoned.<ref name="Pelletier"/> ;Model 38P-1 :To be powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-116. Not built.<ref name="Pelletier"/> ;Model 38P-2 :To be powered by a Garrett AiResearch TPE-331-9. Not built.<ref name="Pelletier"/>
== Specifications (Model 38P, PT6A engine, performance estimated) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=Jane's 1983–84 Aviation Review<ref name="jaa p80">Taylor 1983, p. 80.</ref> <!-- reference --> |prime units?=imp <!-- General characteristics --> |genhide=
|crew=1 |capacity=5 passengers |length m= |length ft=29 |length in=11 |length note= |span m= |span ft=37 |span in=10 |span note= |height m= |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft= |wing area note= |aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes --> |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb= |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight kg= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity= |lift kg=<!-- lighter-than-air --> |lift lb=<!-- lighter-than-air --> |lift note= |more general= <!-- Powerplant --> |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-40 |eng1 type=turboprop
|eng1 shp=550–650<!-- prop engines --> |eng1 kn=<!-- jet/rocket engines --> |eng1 note= |power original=
|prop blade number=<!-- propeller aircraft --> |prop name= |prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft --> |prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft --> |prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft --> |prop dia note=
<!-- Performance --> |perfhide=
|max speed kmh= |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |max speed mach=<!-- supersonic aircraft --> |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph=316 |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note=(max cruise, at {{convert|25000|ft|m|abbr=on}} |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles=1285 |range nmi= |range note= |combat range km= |combat range miles= |combat range nmi= |combat range note= |ferry range km= |ferry range miles= |ferry range nmi= |ferry range note= |endurance=<!-- if range unknown --> |ceiling m= |ceiling ft=25000 |ceiling note= |g limits=<!-- aerobatic --> |roll rate=<!-- aerobatic --> |glide ratio=<!-- sailplanes --> |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |power/mass= |thrust/weight=
|more performance=
|avionics= }}
==See also==
{{Aircontent
|related=
|similar aircraft= * Piper Malibu Meridian * Socata TBM
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}}
== References == {{commons}} {{Reflist}}
*Taylor, Michael J.H. (ed). ''Jane's Aviation Review: 1983–84''. London: Jane's Publishing Company, 1983. {{ISBN|0-7106-0285-5}}.
{{Bonanza family}} {{Beechcraft}}
Category:1980s United States civil utility aircraft Category:Low-wing aircraft Lightning Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft Category:Single-engined turboprop aircraft Category:Abandoned civil aircraft projects of the United States Category:Aircraft first flown in 1982 Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear