Curtiss P40

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The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk is an American single-engined, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground-attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry into production and operational service. The Warhawk was used by most Allied powers during World War II, and remained in frontline service until the end of the war. It was the third most-produced American fighter of World War II, after the P-51 and P-47; by November 1944, when production of the P-40 ceased, 13,738 had been built, all at Curtiss-Wright Corporation's main production facilities at Buffalo, New York.

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 31 ft 8.5 in (9.665 m)
  • Wingspan: 37 ft 3.5 in (11.367 m)
  • Height: 10 ft 8 in (3.25 m)
  • Wing area: 236 sq ft (21.9 m2)
  • Empty weight: 5,922 lb (2,686 kg)
  • Gross weight: 8,515 lb (3,862 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Allison V-1710-39 V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine, 1,240 hp (920 kW)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed Curtiss-Wright electric constant-speed propeller

Performance
  • Maximum speed: 334 mph (538 km/h, 290 kn) at 15,000 ft (4,600 m)
  • Cruise speed: 308 mph (496 km/h, 268 kn)
  • Range: 716 mi (1,152 km, 622 nmi) at 70% power
  • Service ceiling: 29,100 ft (8,900 m)
  • Time to altitude: 15,000 ft (4,600 m) in 6 minutes 15 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)