Thunderbolt

P-47D Thunderbolt

Country of Origin: United States
Manufacturer: Republic Aviation
Crew: 1 Pilot
Length: 36 ft 1 in (11.00 m)
Wingspan: 40 ft 9 in (12.42 m)
Height: 14 ft 8 in (4.47 m)
Weight: 10,000 lb (4,536 kg) empty, 17,500 lb (7,938 kg) combat loaded
Powerplant: 1x Turbosupercharged Pratt and Whitney R-2800-59 18 cylinder air cooled radial piston engine with 2,535 horsepower.
Maximum Speed: 445 mph (716 km/hr)
Service Ceiling: 43,000 ft (13,100 m)
Range: 1,800 mi (2,900 km)
Armament: 8x 12.7mm Browning M2 machineguns, 2x 1,000 pound bombs, 6x 5in High Velocity Aircraft Rockets
Kit Maker and Scale: Revell, 1:48

The largest and heaviest single seat, single engine prop plane ever built, the P-47 was developed during 1940 around the philosophy of combining the largest engine then available around the smallest possible airframe. However, due to the choice of powerplant and the need for a turbosupercharger for maximum performance at all altitudes, the aircraft grew progressively larger and larger. Despite this however, the aircraft maintained a high top speed, good agility and excellent flying characteristics due to its powerful engine and making use of the most recent advancements in areodynamics.

While other U.S. Army aircraft at the time were armed with only four to six machineguns, some of them World War I era 7.62mm weapons, the Thunderbolt carried a battery of eight 12.7mm machineguns, giving it a much heavier punch than not just its contemporaries but most of its adversaries. Each gun carried 475 rounds, thus further increasing its firepower through volume.

Originally built as an interceptor, the Thunderbolt lacked the needed acceleration and rate of climb needed for the role. Its acceleration was adequate enough, but not as high as other aircraft in its class. Its rate of climb was its biggest let down in the interceptor role and thus the aircraft became an air superiority machine. It was here that the Thunderbolt found one of its two successes, the other being ground attack.

In the latter role, the Thunderbolt's large frame, powerful engine and rugged construction lent itself very well. Its durability was the stuff of legends, and many were the Thunderbolts that were shot to hell and back and still managed to bring itself and its pilot back home. For a Thunderbolt to have over 600 bullet holes in it was fairly common, while other instances involved engine pushrods coming through the cowling, fuel tanks blown open and as many as 8 of its 18 cylinders having seized due to combat abuse.

One phenomenal account recalls how a German Fw-190 chased a P-47 and fired literally every last round of ammunition from its four 20mm cannons and two 13mm machineguns into a P-47. The Thunderbolt caught fire and trailed black smoke, but it just would not go down. The Fw-190 hammered the Thunderbolt with everything it had, but the Thunderbolt held on. Eventually the flames went out and the turbosupercharger died, but the battered P-47 kept going. The German pilot, thoroughly impressed by the display, on having fired the last of his ammunition, pulled alongside the Thunderbolt and saluted the pilot before pulling away and going home. The P-47's engine "coughed and wheezed, but held on", and though it was covered in grease, oil, fuel and shrapnel it carried its pilot all the way back to Britain to a safe landing.

From this phenomenal durability, the press dubbed the P-47 "Juggernaut", and claimed that pilot slang for this nickname was "Jug". While the nickname Juggernaut definitely fit the P-47, the real origin of the nickname Jug came from the P-47's shape, which to many pilots looked like a milk jug laying on its side.


More Pics:

Cockpit:
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Top Down:
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Head On:
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Guns, bombs and rockets:
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7 o'clock:
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Nose Art:
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Underside:
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