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| Curtiss P-40E Warhawk
USAAF 49th FG, 9th FS, "Texas Longhorn", John Landers, Port Moresby, New Guinea, December 1942. |
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The Curtiss P-40 was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938.
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It was used by the air forces of 28 nations, including those of most Allied powers during World War II, and remained in front line service until the end of the war. |
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By November 1944, when production of the P-40 ceased, 13,738 had been built. |
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The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36; this reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry into production and operational service. |
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Warhawk was the name the United States Army Air Corps adopted for all models, making it the official name in the United States for all P-40s. |
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The British Commonwealth and Soviet air forces used the name Tomahawk for models equivalent to the P-40B and P-40C, and the name Kittyhawk for models equivalent to the P-40D and all later variants. |
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P-40s first saw combat with the British Commonwealth squadrons of the Desert Air Force (DAF) in the Middle East and North African campaigns, during June 1941.
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The Royal Air Force's No. 112 Squadron was among the first to operate Tomahawks, in North Africa, and the unit was the first to feature the "shark mouth" logo, copying similar markings on some Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Bf 110 twin-engine fighters. |
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Specifications (P-40E) General characteristics Crew: 1 Length: 31.67 ft (9.66 m) Wingspan: 37.33 ft (11.38 m) Height: 12.33 ft (3.76 m) |
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Wing area: 235.94 ft² (21.92 m²) Empty weight: 6,350 lb (2,880 kg) Loaded weight: 8,280 lb (3,760 kg) Max takeoff weight: 8,810 lb (4,000 kg) Powerplant: 1× Allison V-1710-39 liquid-cooled V12 engine, 1,150 hp (858 kW) |
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Performance |
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Service ceiling: 29,000 ft (8,800 m) Rate of climb: 2,100 ft/min (11 m/s) Wing loading: 35.1 lb/ft² (171.5 kg/m²) Power/mass: 0.14 hp/lb (230 W/kg) |
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Armament |
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