The P-43 Lancer design developed further into the P-47 Thunderbolt for USAAF. Designed by Alexander Kartveli, to provide ground clearance for the 12′ four-blade prop, the unique telescoping landing gear was 9″ shorter when retracted. First flew in its XP-47B prototype form on 6 May 1941.
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt Article
The first P-47B production delivery was on 18 March 1942.
The P-47C had a mach .73 (556 mph) terminal dive and a .69 (525 mph) red-line.
A dorsal fin was added to compensate for the loss of aft keel surface and introduced on P 47D 27 RE and subsequent batches. P-47D had a mach .72 (550 mph) red-line dive speed and rolled 91 d/s @ 300 mph
In 1943, two P-47D-15-RE airframes (serials 42-23297/23298) were selected for testing with the new experimental 2300 hp Chrysler XIV-2220-1 sixteen-cylinder inverted Vee liquid-cooled engine. These aircraft were redesignated XP-47H. The liquid-cooled Chrysler engine with its large under-fuselage radiator radically changed the appearance of the Thunderbolt, and increased overall length to 39 feet 2 inches. With the increased power and improved streamlining, a maximum speed of 490 mph was anticipated.
North American P-51 Mustang & Republic P-47 Thunderbolt Article
Although the project was begun in August 1943, the two P-47D-15-RE airframes were not actually converted until 1945. Test flights began on July 26, 1945. One of the XP-47Hs actually attained a speed of 490 mph in level flight. The Chrysler engine failed to deliver the promised power output, and the maximum speed attained during tests was only 414 mph at 30,000 feet, poorer performance than the “stock” P-47D. In any case, the Chrysler XIV-2220 engine never achieved production and the advent of jet propulsion killed any further USAAF interest in the development of even faster piston-engined fighters. Consequently, no further work was undertaken on the XP-47H project.
The XP-47J differed from other Thunderbolts in its engine, being powered by a ‘C’ series Double Wasp or Pratt & Whitney R-2800-57 driving a four-blade 13-ft Curtiss Electric propeller —employed after a plan to try out a contra-rotating propeller was dropped. But the XP-47J also had a distinctive cowling shape with an engine-cooling fan below and set back from the propeller hub. And there were other differences from standard Thunderbolts, some trivial: the six .50-calibre guns with 267 rounds per gun protruded from the wing leading edge in a different manner from those of other P-47s. The XP-47J was first flown on August 2, 1944 at the manufacturer’s Long Island, New York, facility and subsequently evaluated at Wright Field, Ohio. Apart from its remarkable high speed, the XP-47J could climb at 4,705 ft/min, reached a speed of 811kph, and the service ceiling was 45,000ft. Maximum range was 1,070 miles at 10,000ft. The XP-47J did not enter production.
P-47M had a P&W R2800-56.
Modified with longer, stronger wings, the P 47N could carry addi¬tional fuel for long distances flown in the Pacific War. Some 1,816 of this last production version were built. The P-47N dove to mach .83 (632 mph)
Production began at Republic’s plant in Farmingdale, though others were also built at a Republic factory in Evansville, Indiana, and by Curtiss Wright in Buffalo, New York. A total of 15,863 built, of which 15,329 were built during Second World War. They were priced at $83,000+ Production was at Farmingdale (suffix -RE) and Evansville IN (suffix -RA), as well as subcontract to Curtiss for P-47G.
During WW2, Thunderbolt’s ratio of aerial combat victories to losses was 4.6:1 in downing 2,752 enemy aircraft, besides destroying 3,315 more on the ground. Official records also credit P-47 with some 9,000 locomotives and 86,000 railroad cars, 6,000 armored vehicles and tanks, and 68,000 trucks.
P-47B
Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-21 Double Wasp, 2000 hp
Wingspan: 40 ft 9.25 in / 12.4 m
Length: 34 ft 10 in
Height: 12 ft 8 in
Empty weight: 9010 lb / 4087 kg
MAUW: 12,700 lb / 5760 kg
Max speed: 412 mph
ROC: 2800 fpm / 855 m/min
Service ceiling: 38,000 ft
Range int/fuel: 575 mi
Armament: 8 x 0.5in Colt-Browning 267, 350 or 425 rds each
P-47C
Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59 Double Wasp, 2300 hp
Wingspan: 40 ft 9.25 in / 12.4 m
Length: 36 ft 1.25 in / 11.03 m
Height: 14 ft 2 in / 4.03 m
MAUW: 14,925 lb
Max speed: 433 mph
ROC: 2800 fpm / 855 m/min
Service ceiling: 42-43,000 ft / 13,000 m
Armament: 8 x 0.5in Colt-Browning 267, 350 or 425 rds each
P-47D
Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59 Double Wasp, 2300 hp (most)
Wingspan: 40 ft 9.25 in / 12.4 m
Length: 36 ft 1.25 in / 11.03 m
Height: 14 ft 2 in / 4.03 m
Empty weight: 10,700 lb / 4853 kg
MAUW: 19,400 lb / 8800 kg
Max speed: 428 mph / 690 kph
ROC: 2800 fpm / 855 m/min
Service ceiling: 42-43,000 ft / 13,000 m
Range int/fuel: 1000 mi / 1600 km
Max range ext/fuel: 1900 mi / 3060 km
Armament: 8 x 0.5in Colt-Browning 267, 350 or 425 rds each
Hardpoints: 3-5
Bombload: 2500 lb / 1134 kg
P-47D
Engine: 1 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59W Double Wasp, 1890kW / 2800 hp
Propeller: Hamilton Standard 24E50, 6507 A. O.
Wingspan: 12.43 m / 41 ft 9 in
Wing area: 27.87 sq.m / 299.99 sq ft
Length: 11.02 m / 36 ft 2 in
Height: 14 ft 2 in
Empty weight: 4513 kg / 9950 lb
Max take-off weight: 7938 kg / 17500 lb
Fuel capacity: 308 Imp.Gal
Max. speed: 697 km/h / 433 mph at 25,000 ft
Max ROC: 7280 fpm
Ceiling: 12495 m / 41000 ft
Range: 950 mile
Range w/max.fuel: 3058 km / 1900 miles
Crew: 1
Armament: 6 x 12.7mm machine-guns, 1134kg of weapons
External load: 2500 lb
Republic P-47D-28-RA
Engine; 1 x 2,430 h.p. Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59 radial
Prop; 13ft-diameter Curtiss Electric C5425-AI14
Wingspan; 40ft 9.5in
Length; 36ft 1.75in
Height; 14ft 0in
Wing area; 300 sq.ft
Empty weight; 10,0001b
Gross weight; 14,5001b
Maximum weight; 17,5001b
Maximum speed; 423 m.p.h. at 30,000ft
Landing speed; 105 m.p.h.
Climb to 15,000ft; 6.2min
Climb to 20,000ft; 8.5min
Climb to 25,000ft; 11 min
Climb to 30,000ft ; 14min
Service ceiling; 42,000ft
Maximum range; 1,030 miles at 10,000ft (5.3hr)
Normal range; 590 miles at 25,000ft
Armament; 6 or 8 x 0.50in machine guns 267-425 rounds per gun
Maximum bomb load; 2,5001b
Number built 1,028 P-47D-28-RA at Evansville, Indiana, USA
P-47G
Engine: R2800, 2300 hp
Max speed: 433 mph @ 30,000ft
Service ceiling: 40,000 ft.
P-47M
Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-55 or -77 Double Wasp, 2800 hp
Wingspan: 40 ft 9.25 in / 12.4 m
Length: 36 ft 1.25 in / 11.03 m
Height: 14 ft 8 in
MAUW: 14,700 lb
Max speed: 470 mph
ROC: 2800 fpm / 855 m/min
Service ceiling: 42-43,000 ft / 13,000 m
Armament: 6 x 0.5in Colt-Browning mg
P-47N
Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-55 or -77 Double Wasp, 2800 hp
Wingspan: 40 ft 9.25 in / 12.4 m
Wing area: 321.951 sq.ft / 29.91 sq.m
Length: 36 ft 1.25 in / 11.03 m
Height: 14 ft 8 in
Weight empty: 11003.0 lb / 4990.0 kg
MAUW: 21,200 lb / 9616 kg
Internal fuel: 594 Imp.Gal
Wing load: 67.45 lb/sq.ft / 329.0 kg/sq.m
Max speed: 467 mph / 751 kph / 406 kt
Cruising speed: 261 kt / 483 km/h
ROC: 2800 fpm / 855 m/min
Service ceiling: 42-43,000 ft / 13,000 m
Max range ext/fuel: 2350 mi / 3800 km
Armament: 8 x 0.5in Colt-Browning 267, 350 or 425 rds each
Hardpoints: 3-5
Bombload: 2500 lb / 1134 kg
Crew: 1
XP-47H
Engine: Chrysler.
XP-47J
Max speed: 504 mph
ROC: 4705 fpm
Service ceiling: 45,000 ft
Max range: 1070 miles
All Aero 