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Republic P-47 Thunderbolt |
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Evolved from Major Alexander P. deSeversky's radial-powered P-43, thebig Republic P-47 Thunderbolt wasdesigned under the leadership ofAlexander Kartveli to become one ofAmerica's three outstanding fighters ofthe war, First flown on 6 May 1941, theXP-47B was designed around the 1492-kW (2,000-hp) Pratt & Whitney R-2800with exhaust-driven turbocharger inthe rear fuselage; armament was eight12.7-mm (0.5-in) machine-guns in thewings. 171 production P-47B fighterswere built with minor improvementsand a top speed of 691 km/h (429 mph),this version being brought to the UK inJanuary 1943 by the 56th and 78thFighter Groups; they were first flown incombat on 8 April that year, flyingescort for B-17s. Early P-47s proved topossess poor climb and manoeuvrability,but were popular on account oftheir ability to survive heavy battledamage. A lengthened fuselage andprovision for an under-fuselage droptank identified the P-47C. The majo^version (of which no fewer than 12,60were built) was the P-47D with waterinjection power boost, and cut-dowirear fuselage with 'bubble' hood 01later sub-variants; P-47Ds served iithe UK, the Mediterranean and the FaEast. In Burma 16 RAF squadrons flevthe P-47B (as the Thunderbolt Mk Iand P-47D (Thunderbolt Mk II), a totaof 826 being delivered. Developed a:a result of demands for a 'sprint' version, the P-47M with improved turbocharger and a top speed of 762 km/1(473 mph) at 9755 m (32,000 ft) reachecEurope at the end of 1944, while theP-47N with blunt-tipped enlargedwing and increased fuel capacity wasdeveloped purely for service in thePacific; a total of 1,816 was producedand these flew escort for B-29s in theirraids on Japan in 1945, A total of 15,675P-47s was produced.SpecificationRepublic P-47D-25 (ThunderboltMkll)Type: single-seat long-range fighterPowerplant: one 1716-kW(2,300-hp)Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59 radial pistonenginePerformance: maximum speed689 km/h (428 mph) at 9145 m(30,000 ft); climb to 6095 m (20,000 ft) in9.0 minutes; service ceiling 12800 m(42,000 ft); maximum range 2028 km(1,260 miles)Weights: empty 4536 kg (10,000 lb);maximum take-off 8800 kg (19,400 lb)Dimensions: span 12.43 m (40 ft 9'/2 in);length 11.01 m (36 ft 1% in); height4.32 m (14 ft 2 in); wing area 27.87m2(300.0 sq ft)Armament: eight 12.7-mm (0.5-in)machine-guns in the wings, plus up totwo 454-kg (1,000-lb) bombs
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