Beechblixten
Följande står det i Beech Aircraft and their Predecessors av A J Pelletier:
During 1981, Beech modified a Model 58P as a proof-of-concept aircraft to investigate the feasibility of a pressurized single-engined propeller-turbine aircraft. The prototype (PD 336, c/n EJ-1, N336BA) was powered by a 550shp Garrett AiResearch TPE-331-9 engine and accomplished its maiden flight on 14 June 1982, piloted by Lou Johansen. A total of 133 flights were logged and the last flight of the Model 38P was made on 14 November 1983. The PD 336 prototype was also fitted with a 630shp UACL PT6A-40 powerplant and was flown by Lou Johansen on 9 March 1984. This aircraft logged 68 flights before the last flight was made on 8 August.
Three variants were expected to be offered to customers: the Model 38P powered by a PT6A-40, the Model 38P-1 powered by a PT6A-116 and the Model 38P-2 powered by a TPE-331-9. In spite of 75 letters of intent, Beech announced during the summer of 1984 that further development work on the Model 38P Lightning was being suspended because of poor market conditions.
Model 38P: One 550shp UACL PT6A-40. Span 37ft 10in (11.53m); length 29ft 10in (9.09m); height 9ft 2in (2.79m); wing area 188.lsq ft (17.48sq m). Maximum take-offweight 5,800lb (2,361 kg); wing loading 30.8Ib/sq ft (135kg/ sq m). Maximum cruising speed 279mph (448km/h) at 20,000[t (6, 100m); cruising speed 238mph (383km/h) at 25,000ft (7,620m); maximum range (maximum cruising power) with 45 min reserves 1,075 miles (1,730km).
