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The Republic P47 Thunderbolt


p47db&w.jpg (39163 bytes)

USAAF photograph

In the 1930s, Republic Aviation had produced a small, fast, agile fighter - the P43 Lancer - for the United States Army Air Force. Its designer, Alexander Kartveli. was working on a replacement, the P44 Rocket. The definition of the Rocket was taking place against a debate amongst combat aircraft designers, who fell into two camps. Some were proponents of the small, light agile fighter, others believed that larger, heavily armed and armoured longer range fighters were the future. Historically Kartveli fell into the former camp however he was a designer who believed in researching his projects and it rapidly became apparent to him that the USAAF requirement would never be met by the Rocket. From the USAAF Kartveli established that they needed a fighter aircraft with the following attributes:

 High Powered Turbo Supercharged Radial Engine
 Firepower Heavy and Concentrated
 Heavy Armour To Protect The Pilot
 Greater Range
 40,000 Feet Max Ceiling
 Level Flight Speed In Excess Of 400 MPH
 Self Sealing Fuel Tanks
 Improved High Altitude Performance

The P47 Thunderbolt was designed to meet this requirement. First flown in December 1941, the P47 entered service in 1942. When production ceased at the end of the war 15,683 had been built, the highest production of any US Fighter.

 

P47 C and D Specifications

 Model

Wingspan

Length

Height

Weight (Empty)

 Take Off Weight (Max.)

 Power Plant

 Ma.Range

 Max Speed (mph)

  Max Ceiling

 Armament

 Number Built

 P47C

 44' 9 3/4"

 36' 1 3/4"

 14' 1 3/4"

 10,000 lb

 14,925 lb

 R-2800-21 2,000hp

 640

 353

 42,000'

 Eight 0.50 calibre guns

602

 P47D

 44' 9 3/4"

 36' 1 3/4"

 14' 7"

 10,000 lb

 19,400 lb

 R-2800-63 2,000hp

 475

 356

 42,000'

 Eight 0.50 calibre guns

 12,602

The P47C was the first model with the ability to carry external fuel tanks, whilst the P47D models acquired the ability to carry bombs and/or tanks under the belly and wings of the aircraft. The P47D also acquired water injection to give short term performance boosts and paddle bladed propellors to enhance performance below 15,000 feet and to improve climb performance.