The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk is an American, single-engine, metal-framed, low-wing fighter-attack aircraft with a classic tail. The prototype first flew in 1938, and serial production took place in 1938-1944. The last of the Hawk family, the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, was, apart from the Republic P-47 and North American P-51 Mustang, the most widely built American fighter. By the time production ended in December 1944, the number of aircraft had exceeded 15,000. The development of the design began in 1937, when the prototype airframe of version 75 was adapted to accommodate the Allison V-1710-11 inline engine with a power of 1,167 HP. The aircraft became the first American design capable of flying at a speed of over 483 km/h. The version for the RAF was called the Tomahawk Mk IIA. The aircraft had self-sealing fuel tanks and two 7.7mm machine guns mounted in the wing. The Tomahawk MkIIB had American radio equipment and were armed with six 7.7mm machine guns. Some American P-40s were modernized in 1941 for reconnaissance duties. They received the designation RP-40. At the same time, work was underway at Curtiss on the conversion of the Hawk 81-A. The changes included the installation of an Allison V-1710-39 engine with 1,167 hp, providing constant power to an altitude of 3,563 meters, adaptation to the installation of four 12.7mm machine guns in the wing and the installation of an under-fuselage unit that could be used to carry one 227 kg bomb or a jettisonable additional fuel tank. The US Army placed an order for these aircraft in September 1940, assigning them the designation P-40D. Over the next three years, Curtiss made every effort to expand the P-40's capabilities, creating numerous new versions of the aircraft. Despite these efforts, the Warhawk's performance was lower than that of contemporary Allied and Axis fighters. Technical data (P-40E version): length: 9.66 m, wingspan: 11.38 m, height: 3.76 m, maximum speed: 580 km/h, rate of climb: 11 m/s, maximum range: 1100 km, practical ceiling: 8800 m, armament: fixed - 6 M2 machine guns, caliber 12.7 mm, underslung - up to 900 kg of payload.
Limited reissue of the Academy 1/48 scale Tomahawk IIb kit with markings for four RAF aircraft used in North Africa: one flown by Pilot Officer Jack Bartle of 112 Sqdn., one flown by Flight Lieutenant Clive Caldwell and two flown by Pilot Officer Neville Duke.
This is an injection-plastic aircraft model kit.
