Introduction
Write an introduction here
Production
The P-40 was one of the most produced fighter plane in WWII. The
P-40 is also a modified version of a plane.
The production for P-40 started on October 4, 1939. The P-40 was in
the top three produced fighter planes in it’s time. People volunteered to
make planes in that time. The P-40 was a modified version of the P-36. The
Curtiss-Wright corp. manufactured the P-40.
In the time it was manufactured there were 13738 built. The P-40
was a bomber escort and a bomber fighter. The P-40 was also an air
superiority fighter. In WWII the P-40 was used by the Ally powers.
The end of the P-40 was 1944. The P-40 did not retire after WWII the
P-40 was used in other countries
Description
The P-40 has many ways to describe it. It has many markings. It also
has a distinct wingspan and length.
The P-40’s length is 31.67 ft. (9.66m). The P-40 is shorter than the P-51
Mustang. The P-40 is longer than the P-36 Hawk. That size is average for a
fighter plane.
The P-40’s wingspan is 37.33 ft (11.38 m.). The P-40’s wingspan is
longer than the P-51 Mustang’s. The P-40 doesn’t have a longer wingspan
than the P-38 a bomber with very long wings.
My favorite part of the P-40 is its markings. There are many markings
but my favorite one is the shark mouth. There are many different markings
such as a tiger, no markings, stripes on the front, a picture of a wild cat,
and a bird.
Performance
The P-40 Has a very high rate of performance. It is fast
and can climb in the air very fastly. The P-40’s performance is very
interesting to some people.
The P-40’s max speed is 360 mph (310 kn, 580 km/h). This plane’s
cruise speed is 270 mph (235 kn, 435 km/h). The range is 650 (560 nmi,
1100 km).
The P-40’s rate of climb is 2100 ft/min (11m/s). This planes
service ceiling is 29000 ft (8800 m). The P-38 Lightning could climb 4750
ft/min. The P-38 could climb 2650 ft/min faster than the P-40.
Used by
After the Second World War the P-40 didn’t retire. Other
countries used this fighter plane. Many other countries won many wars with
this plane.
Another country that used the P-40 was Britain. The Royal Air Force
(RAF) used the P-40 in WWII, they called them Kittyhawks. The Desert Air
Force (DAF) used them up until they made Tropicalised Spitfires. The
British government donated 23 P-40’s to the Soviet Union.
Finland also used the P-40 in a war. The Finnish air force got a P-40
and repaired it and used other P-40’s.In the air war in Finland several
P-40’s were shot down. They also had to crash land due to the enemy
fighters. They had few P-40’s so they couldn’t fly them.
Flying Tigers
There was a volunteer group that flew P-40’s. They were called
The Flying Tigers. They were the first American Volunteer Group (AVG).
The Flying tigers had their first combat on December 20, 1941. They
were divided into three squadrons. Those squads were called the “Adam
and Eves”, “Panda Bears”, and “Hell’s Angels”. One of the names was
meant to be fierce and scare the enemy. The other two were meant to be
silly.
The Flying Tigers were not American they were Chinese. They
were in the Chinese Air Force and recruited from U.S. Aviators. The Flying
tigers group was founded in 1941. The request to start the group was
approved by President Franklin D. Roosevelt himself.
The Flying Tigers destroyed 297 enemy aircraft including 229 in the air.
They lost fourteen pilots in action. They were either K.I.A, captured, or
disappeared on combat missions. The Flying Tigers group was ended in
July 14, 1942. Many pilots received medals such as the Five Star or Ten
Star wing medal.