Aero-TV: Legacy of a Homebuilt P-38 Replica

Aero-TV: Legacy of a Homebuilt P-38 Replica
Aircraft is a WWII Era Dream Come True
William Presler, owner of Volar Avionics and Restorations, was given the opportunity to showcase his Uncle's homebuilt P-38 on day three of the 2024 EAA Oshkosh Airventure.
The aircraft, built by Jim O’Hara, is a ⅔ scale replica of the Lockheed P-38 Lighting. This is a World War II era single-seat, twin piston-engined fighter developed for the U.S. Army Air Corps. It has a distinct twin boom design and served several combat purposes, including bombing, strafing, photo reconnaissance and long range escort.
The replica received its first EAA recognition in 2009. Paul Poberezny, the EAA founder, wrote that O’Hara was the “epitome of an EAA-er: creativity, innovation, candid-spirit, and realizing a dream.” Poberezny was excited to welcome the aircraft to Airventure, where it was made a centerpiece.
O’Hara’s passion for the P-38 was clear from a young age, though he didn’t learn to fly until his sixties. After earning his instrument rating and purchasing two aircraft, he set out to build his own P-38 with the hope of eventually getting to fly it.
He was able to fly the aircraft for well over 100 hours, making several upgrades and alterations along the way. It was eventually passed down to his nephew, William Presler.
“Like all homebuilts, they’re always a work in progress, aren’t they? You know, it’s all about,” Presler explained, “you don’t quit and don’t die until your dream has a chance to fly.”
Aero-TV is a production of the Internationally syndicated Aero-News Network. Seen worldwide by hundreds of thousands of aviators and aviation adherents, ANN's Aero-TV has produced well over 5000 aviation and feature programs, including over 2500 episodes of our daily aviation news program, AIRBORNE UNLIMITED, currently hosted by Holland Lee. Now in its third decade of operation, parent company Aero-News Network, has the most aggressive and intensive editorial profile of any aviation news organization and has published well over a half-million news and feature stories since its inception -- having pioneered the online 24/7 aviation new-media model that so many have emulated.
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[@codybraden7946]

I was fortunate to know your uncle. I met him in college when I used to fuel his Red Navion and then their Meyers. I also got to watch your uncle Jim build the P38. From when he started building the plane in the hangar at Ducote Airpark to when he moved it to Mathis Field. As luck would have it he moved it two hangars down from our Champ. He was such a humble and pleasant person to talk to. And I was very blessed to watch him make the first flight on this amazing plane. So glad you took it to the next level and shared it with the rest of the world.

[@commonsenseisntcommon1776]

He actually lived his dream!! Amazing!

[@4catsnow]

Unbelievable amount of work...thing is breathtaking..

[@commonsenseisntcommon1776]

looks amazing

[@paulscountry456]

Fun to look at that.

[@mtacoustic1]

We want to see it flying!!!

[@billlarrabee9436]

A really great job! Take good care of it, it is priceless.

[@johndavey72]

What a fantastic achievement and a fitting tribute to the build and flight of this replica. I recall a gentleman who scratch built an Allison V12 powered Supermarine Spitfire .lt too, was an incredible feat. Thankyou

[@joeblow5037]

Since a child (I just turned 67) my favorite airplane also.

[@ohwell2790]

Have found only one picture of this P-38 in flight on the net. Lets see it fly. It was him and his wife flying on their vacation. Sad there is no video of this plane in the air.

[@rnbspowa7of69]

I thought that was a small P 38 lightning in the background I I was trying to make it just the perspective. 🤔

[@BobSmith-dk8nw]

At one time - iirc - you could by a flyable smaller scale version of an Fw-190 and I believe some other planes.
They had nothing like the performance of the originals - but they looked like them.
.

[@mhughes1160]

Sweet 👍
Are the guns functional ? LoL 😂

[@duncandmcgrath6290]

Aeroshell …Greased Lightning 😂