Curtiss P-40F Warhawk

In 1941, P-40D Ser No 40-360 was fitted with a 1300 hp British-built Rolls-Royce Merlin 28 engine with a single-stage two-speed supercharger. It flew for the first time on June 30, 1941. This experimental P-40D could be distinguished from the stock P-40E by the absence of the top-mounted carburetor air scoop. The Merlin engine did much to overcome the limitations imposed by the Allison, and a total of 1311 examples powered by the American-made version of the Merlin built by the Packard Motor Car Company were ordered under the designation P-40F.

The P-40F and later versions were known by the name *Warhawk* in US service.

The first 699 planes of the P-40F series had no dash numbers, since the production block designation system was not yet in effect. The dash numbers were first used with the P-40F-5-CU model, which introduced a fuselage elongated from 31 feet 2 inches to 33 feet 4 inches in order to improve directional stability. This longer fuselage was retained in all later P-40 versions. The P-40F-10-CUs had manual instead of electrically-operated cowl flap controls. The P-40F-15-CUs had winterizing equipment, and the P-40F-20-CUs had a revised oxygen flow system for the pilot. A radio mast was fitted to late production P-40Fs.

The P-40F was powered by a Packard-built Merlin V-1650-1 twelve-cylinder Vee liquid-cooled engine rated at 1300 hp for takeoff and 1120 hp at 18,500 feet. Maximum speed was 320 mph at 5000 feet, 340 mph at 10,000 feet, 352 mph at 15,000 feet, and 364 mph at 10,000 feet. An altitude of 10,000 feet could be attained in 4.5 minutes, and an altitude of 20,000 feet could be reached in 11.6 minutes. Maximum range was 700 miles at 20,000 feet (clean), 875 miles (one 43 Imp gal drop tank), and 1500 miles (141.5 Imp gal drop tank). Service ceiling was 34,400 feet. Weights were 6590 pounds empty, 8500 pounds normal loaded, and 9350 pounds maximum. Dimensions were 37 feet 4 inches wingspan, 33 feet 4 inches length (P-40F-5-CU and later), 10 feet 7 inches high, 236 square feet wing area. Armament consisted of six 0.50-inch machine guns in the wings.

One hundred and fifty P-40Fs were supplied to the RAF under Lend-Lease. The RAF assigned them the name Kittyhawk II. The Kittyhawk IIs were offset from USAAF allocations 41-13697/14599. RAF serials were FL219/448. Unfortunately, P-40Ls were also mixed in with this lot with no mark distinctions, so it is impossible to tell which planes were Fs and which were Ls by merely looking at the RAF serial number. In the event, very few of these aircraft actually served with the RAF. FL273 and FL369-448 were returned to the USAAF for use in North Africa in 1942/43. FL230/232, 235, 236, 239/240 were lost at sea before reaching the RAF. FL263, 270, 276, 280, 383, 305, and 307 were handed over to the Free French, who operated them in North Africa. 100 were transferred to the USSR.

Copyright © 2011 Malcolm Auld

This video and audio material may not be reproduced in any form (except as an embedded video on any other website), without written permission.

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[AlanMartinNala]

SUPER!! Awesome images and sound! If I´m not wrong, the F model was the heaviest of all P-40s, but at least this one impressed me for its marvellous maneuvrability (since weight is supposed to be not such a great ally to handling...)

[auldm]

@AlanMartinNala This aircraft may not be the same weight as the war time version. There is no need for armour ammunition wartime radios and other wartime equipment.

[DJV1650]

Worked on the engine installation but didn't get to see it fly before it left AUS for the UK. Looks fantastic! Great vid and thanks for posting it.

[auldm]

@DJV1650 Thanks to you, and all those involved in it's return to the air. A great job well done.

[warhawk40]

@AlanMartinNala It was the Allison V-1710-73 powered P-40K that was the heaviest with a top speed of 370mph.

[chpman2013]

@AlanMartinNala actually, the K model was the heaviest and required a more powerful engine

[AlanMartinNala]

@auldm Yes, but something hasn´t changed at all over the years: the design, aerodynamics. I prefer the P-40 better to the omnipresent Spitfire, and not to say the also dull P-51, but its large air intake is supposed to be an important aerodynamic brake that makes the P-40F slower than either of those. I wished that some experienced pilot who flew R. Royce Merlin-powered fighters like this P-40F, the Spit, the P-51 and the Buchon told the weak and strong points of each in terms of performances.

[chpman2013]

@pasley21 that's what havin' a Rolls Royce Merlin will do

[pasley21]

@warhawk40

Oh I dont doubt it helped performance but the Merlin seems boring in a P-40 like I said I would rahter hear the allison in a P-40

[warhawk40]

@pasley21 The P-40F was the best performing version because of the Merlin engine giving it the height above 20,000ft to meet the German 109 and Japanese Zero on equal terms.

[pasley21]

Geez one thing I love about seeing the P-40 at least here in America is hearing the Allison V-12, this one sounds like a P-51 or Spitfire :(