Very early in the Pacific War, a scheme was proposed to fit Lightnings with floats to allow them to make long-range ferry flights. The floats would be removed before the aircraft went into combat. There were concerns that saltwater spray would corrode the tailplane, and so in March 1942, P-38E c/n 5204 was modified with a tailplane raised some 16-18 in (41–46 cm), booms lengthened by two feet and a rearward-facing second seat added for an observer to monitor the effectiveness of the new arrangement. A second version was crafted on the same airframe with the twin booms given greater sideplane area to augment the vertical rudders. This arrangement was removed and a final third version was fabricated that had the booms returned to normal length but the tail raised 33 in (84 cm). All three tail modifications were designed by George H. “Bert” Estabrook. The final version was used for a quick series of dive tests on 7 December 1942 in which Milo Burcham performed the test maneuvers and Kelly Johnson observed from the rear seat. Johnson concluded that the raised floatplane tail gave no advantage in solving the problem of compressibility. At no time was this P-38E testbed airframe actually fitted with floats, and the idea was quickly abandoned as the U.S. Navy proved to have enough sealift capacity to keep up with P-38 deliveries to the South Pacific.
Proposed floatplane P-38E testbed, 41-1986, c/n 222-5204, shown with second version of upswept tail designed to keep tail out of water upon takeoff
There was a P-38J fitted with experimental retractable snow ski landing gear, but this idea never reached operational service either.
P-38J-LO, “Lightning”, #213565
so you’re saying that the Z-8 is going to swing that cylinder down to the fuselage?
btw the merlin AEW cg and italian merlin are different, are you sure that huge dish on the bottom of the Italian Merlin is not the repositioned radar?
Since Wanshan answered the second part (in regards to the Italian Merlin AEW version, anyway), I’ll answer both the first part and remind you of the British Sea King AEW configuration and their Merlin AEW proposal.
Look closely at the lower aft fuselage of that Z-8. There is a slot just forward of the radome… this will be where the stalk the antenna is mounted on swings downward in flight. I have drawn a crude illo of this. Note that this is similar to how the radome on the British Sea King and Merlin AEW helicopters works.
Here is the Sea King antenna in stowed and deployed positions:
And here is the proposed installation in Merlin in stowed and deployed position:
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