Tag: P-40

Curtiss XP-46 Color Photographs

The XP-46 was an attempt by Curtiss’ chief engineer Donovan Berlin to improve the basic P-40 design based upon European design concepts. The XP-46 was to have a more powerful engine, heavier armament, and be slightly smaller than the Warhawk. The USAAC ordered two prototypes on 29SEP39 which were given the serial numbers 40-3053 and 40-3054.
Armament was to be two .50 caliber guns mounted in the lower nose and four .30 caliber guns in each wing, inspired by British designs. To speed the test program both prototypes were delivered without armament or radios, although the USSAC added requirements for self-sealing fuel tanks and 65 pounds of pilot armor. 40-3054 was the first to fly on 15FEB41.
Power was provided by an Allison V-1710-39 twelve-cylinder inline engine which developed 1150 hp. The airframe was smaller and lighter than the Warhawk, due to the higher wing loading Curtiss designed wing slats similar to those of the Messerschmitt Bf 109. The design missed its performance goals, and handling was more sluggish than the Warhawk. Note the starboard inner wheel well door has failed to retract.
Given the mediocre performance of the XP-46 prototypes the USAAC decided to direct Curtiss to emphasize improving performance of the Warhawk already in production. The P-40D was designed around the Allison V-1710-39 to take advantage of the higher horsepower.
Curtiss sold testing data from the P-40 and XP-46 designs to North American, who used the information to help design their NA-73X prototype which eventually evolved into the P-51 Mustang. North American had already begun design of the NA-73X at the time, so there is debate as to how much influence the Curtiss data actually had.
In the end there was not anything revolutionary in the design of the XP-46, and incremental improvements to the P-40 design did yield increased performance while not requiring tooling up for production of a new design. Opinions vary as to the aesthetics of the design, but it does not look out of place compared to its contemporaries.

Curtiss Wright P-40 Kittyhawk Walk Around Part VI – Engine Details

Photographs taken at the Tri-State Warbird Museum, Batavia, Ohio

Modelers should note that this is an airworthy warbird, and several details differ from the original configuration.  Still, these photographs provide useful information concerning the general arrangement and routing of the lines and engine components.

Part I here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2021/11/14/curtiss-p-40-warhawk-walk-around-part-i/

Curtiss Wright P-40 Kittyhawk Walk Around Part V – Engine Details

Photographs taken at the Tri-State Warbird Museum, Batavia, Ohio

Modelers should note that this is an airworthy warbird, and several details differ from the original configuration.  Still, these photographs provide useful information concerning the general arrangement and routing of the lines and engine components.

Part VI here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2023/01/15/curtiss-wright-p-40-kittyhawk-walk-around-part-vi-engine-details/

Curtiss-Wright P-40 Warhawk Production Color Photographs Part III

A series of color photographs detailing the production of early P-40 Warhawks at the Curtiss-Wright Plant at Buffalo, New York, Summer 1941.  With war in Europe and U.S. Army Air Corps orders exceeding the normal capacity of the plant, production spilled out into the open air around the factory.  LIFE Magazine photographer Dmitri Kessel took this series of pictures, part III.

A finished P-40 taxis at the Buffalo Airport.
Running up the engine during final assembly.
Delivery pilots in flight gear, with brand-new Warhawks.
A fitter at work inside a fuselage at the Curtiss plant.
Final engine adjustments.
A good view of the radiator assembly under the engine.
Details of the propeller markings.
A Warhawk on a test flight. “247” is marked on the cowling ant the vertical tail.
“247” again, showing the standard four-position placement of the national insignia.
A new Warhawk in formation with another Curtiss design, an SBC-4 Helldiver.

American Volunteer Group Flying Tigers color photographs here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2019/06/19/american-volunteer-group-flying-tigers-color-photographs-part-1/

Curtiss-Wright P-40 Warhawk Production Color Photographs Part II

A series of color photographs detailing the production of early P-40 Warhawks at the Curtiss-Wright Plant at Buffalo, New York, Summer 1941.  With war in Europe and U.S. Army Air Corps orders exceeding the normal capacity of the plant, production spilled out into the open air around the factory.  LIFE Magazine photographer Dmitri Kessel took this series of pictures, part II.

A busy photograph showing aircraft in various stages of completion outside the Buffalo plant. This photograph is often shown reversed, but the fuselage access door under the insignia was on the aircraft’s port side.
A good view of workstands for the diorama builder.
Workers posing for the photographer with an unpainted Warhawk.
Several details visible here, the engine has leaked a lot of fluid.
Watertower with the Curtiss logo. A wide variety of completion progress between the airframes visible here.
Two fuselages on stands outside the plant.
Even the area outside the plant was crowded, although not as badly as inside.
Another photograph normally seen reversed, given away by the pitot tube on the port wing of the aircraft in the background.
Details of the engine, with the assembly number marked on the cowling.
A view of the paint shop, with components being coated with zinc chromate primer.
The transportation arrangement for the trip to the Buffalo airport.
When transporting the aircraft by truck wasn’t fast enough, the aircraft were flown to the Buffalo airport from the Curtiss parking lot. A P-40 takes off in the background.

Part III here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2021/10/06/curtiss-wright-p-40-warhawk-production-color-photographs-part-iii/

Curtiss-Wright P-40 Warhawk Production Color Photographs Part I

A series of color photographs detailing the production of early P-40 Warhawks at the Curtiss-Wright Plant at Buffalo, New York, Summer 1941.  With war in Europe and U.S. Army Air Corps orders exceeding the normal capacity of the plant, production spilled out into the open air around the factory.  LIFE Magazine photographer Dmitri Kessel took this series of pictures.

The assembly line moves outside, which makes engine tests a bit easier.
Tail assemblies in primer.
Wing assemblies, showing useful details of the flaps and wheel wells.
Fitting the canvas cover into the wheel well in the wing. These were sometimes removed in the field.
Working on the underside of the wing panels. Flap details are visible again in the background.
Crowded conditions inside the plant. Note the style and color of the “ARMY” lettering under the port wing, “U.S.” was under the starboard.
Stacks of wing spars.
Fuselages early in the construction process.
Fuselages in various stages of completion, again note the crowded conditions.
Engine tests outside. Note the identification code taped to the fuselage in the foreground.
Tanks in the paint shop receiving primer.
A bonus photograph of a wingtip from another Curtiss design, a rather obscure type in production at the same time as the Warhawks. Any guesses as to the aircraft?

Part II here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2021/09/29/curtiss-wright-p-40-warhawk-production-color-photographs-part-ii/