3D Printed P-38 Lightning

We flew something we’ve never flown before…a 3D printed plane! This particular design was created by 3D Lab Print, which has plans that can be downloaded and printed on a 3D printer.

This plane requires a 12-channel radio, so we used the Graupner 24 Pro transmitter and had the plane programmed in about five minutes.

Instead of using the 3000 mAh battery, we used two 2250 batteries to make it a bit lighter since the printed airframe is fairly heavy on its own.

The P-38 can be printed from two different materials, PLA and PETG, and the materials for the build only cost about $15­–$18 (plus $40 to download all the STL files).

This plane is an advanced flyer and flies like a big, slow, heavy gas warbird and looks incredible in the air!

Thanks to 3D Lab Print for sending us the P-38 files! We had a great experience flying this beautifully designed plane!

Learn more about the P-38 Lightning on the 3D Print Lab website, and be sure to check out the incredibly detailed owner’s manual!

3D PRINTED P-38 LIGHTNING SPECS

Length: 1042mm (41.0in)
Wingspan: 1410mm (55.1in)
Height: 298mm (11.7in)
Wing area: 30.5 dm2
Wing loading: 65.9 g/dm2
Airfoil: aircombat modificated
Print weight: 1160g
Empty weight (w/o battery): 1750g
Takeoff weight (3s 3000 lipo): 1980g
Max takeoff weight: 2200g
Never exceed speed, VNE: 205 km/h
Design maneuvering speed, VA: 165km/h Stall speed, VS: 34 km/h
Propeller: aeronaut ELP 9/6 or APC 9/6 – 9/7.5
Motor: 2x Turnigy D3530/14 1100KV or similar 3530-35 1100kv
ESC: 30A Electronic Speed Controller or similar
30-40Amps Battery: Turnigy nanotech 3000 mAh/3s/11.1V, 238g, 25C