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P-47D Thunderbolt with the razorback canopy
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Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
The aircraft that was to become the heavyweight Republic P-47 Thunderbolt strangely started out as a design for a lightweight fighter in the late 30s.
Alexander Kartveli's XP-47 lightweight fighter design was radically re-worked to a machine twice as heavy and redesignated XP-47B.
The powerplant for this new heavy fighter was to be the massive double row radial engine developed by Pratt & Whitney, this engine being the Double Wasp.
Despite the somewhat bulky appearance of the aircraft, the Thunderbolt was a fast machine. The P-47D variant could attain 433mph in level flight.
This high level of performance is due not only to the superb supercharged Double Wasp engine which developed around 2,300hp in the P-47D but also to the efficient semi-eliptical wing used on the plane.
A specially prepared Thunderbolt held the world airspeed record for a period of time.
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Operationally P-47s entered service in 1942 with the US forces. The aircraft was heavily used in Europe as both a fighter and fighter-bomber, the later of these two roles is where the plane really proved it's capabilities. On ground attack missions the P-47s speed and firepower (2,500 lbs of ordnance plus 8 heavy machine guns) proved a devastating weapon in the hands of skilled pilots.
This aircraft and the RAF Typhoon caused havoc to ground forces across western Europe.
The P-47 was also a tough machine which could absorb a tremendous amount of
damage and survive to get itself and the pilot back to base. Over two thirds of the planes survived WW2. Considering how risky ground attack missions were this is a remarkable survivability rate.
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P-47N bubble canopy Thunderbolt
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P-47 Thunderbolt
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The aircraft quickly gained the nickname of Juggernaut (the mighty jug) from it's pilots. This being due to it's huge size for a fighter (the aircraft weighed over 5 tonnes even before it was loaded).
Later versions had a bubble canopy for increased pilot visability, the previous non-bubble types being known as razorbacks.
For bomber escort the P-47 suffered a lack of range when compared to a drop tank equipped P51 Mustang. The P51 was able to go all the way to the target with the bombers, even on the longest range sorties. P-47s would have to turn back early due to lack of fuel.
The heavy and powerful P-47 also needed it's own technique when up against fighters. The machine was best suited to shoot and zoom methods due to it's high speed performance but less than brilliant turning circle.
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| Republic P-47D Thunderbolt |
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| Engine | Double Wasp radial
2300hp |
Top Speed | approx 433mph |
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| Weight | 13,500lb take off |
Wingspan | about 40.75ft |
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| Length | just over 36 ft |
Weapons | 8 half inch calliber browning machine guns in the wing
2,500lb external ordnance |
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| Country | USA |
Crew | one |
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There are many model kits available for static display P-47 Thunderbolts of most variants.
Revell have a beautiful 1/72nd scale kit of the aircraft in their range and Tamiya also make excellent 1/72nd and 1/48th scale models.
There's an article on this site which looks inside the box of the /Revell P-47D-30 Thunderbolt kit
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