Project Description

MPH

350

WEAPONS

6

SEATS

1

P-40K Warhawk

Role:  Single Seat Fighter Bomber

National Origin: United States

Manufacturer: Curtiss-Wright Corporation

First Flight: 1938

Primary User: US Army Air Forces, Royal Air Forces, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force

Number Built: 13,738

A total of 335 P-40K-10-CU Warhawks were manufactured. The USSR received 313 K models beginning in 1942. The Mid America Flight Museum’s P-40K Warhawk was provided to the Soviet Union under a Lend Lease program. It crashed after being shot down by Messerschmitt’s and was recovered for rebuild. The restoration was completed by Warhawks Inc. and it was painted in the scheme of the 343rd Fighter Group known as the Aleutian Tigers.”

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 33 ft 4 in (10.16 m)
  • Wingspan: 37 ft 3.5 in (11.36 m)
  • Height: 12 ft 4 in (3.76 m)
  • Wing area: 236 sq ft (21.92 m²)
  • Airfoil: root: NACA2215 ; tip: NACA2209
  • Empty weight: 6,000 lb (2,722 kg)
  • Max. takeoff weight: 7,740 lb (3,511 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Allison V-1710-81 V-12 piston engine rated at 1,200 hp (895 kW)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed Curtiss electric constant-speed propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: ~350 mph (563 km/h) at 15,000 ft (4570 m)
  • Cruise speed: 308 mph (496 km/h; 268 kn)
  • Range: 1,080 miles (1738 km) with auxiliary fuel and 360 miles (579 km) with standard fuel
  • Service ceiling: 31,000 ft (9,450 m)
  • Rate of climb: 14,000 ft (4265 m) in 6 minutes 42 seconds
  • Wing loading: 35.1 lb/sq ft (171 kg/m2)
  • Power/mass: 0.14 hp/lb (0.23 kW/kg)

Armament

  • Guns: 6 × 0.50 in (12.70 mm) M2 Browning machine guns with 235 rounds per gun in the wings
  • Bombs: 250 to 1,000 lb (110 to 450 kg) bombs to a total of 2,000 lb (910 kg) on three hardpoints (one under the fuselage and two underwing)