Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>P-40>HA5501

General Background

The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk first flew in 1938 as a modification of the Curtiss P-36 Hawk. Warhawk was the official U.S. designation while the name Tomahawk was used by the British Commonwealth and Soviet forces for the P-40B and C and Kittyhawk for P-40Ds and later variants. The P-40 was first used by British squadrons in North Africa and the Middle East in 1941. The P-40 lacked a two-speed supercharger making them inferior to German aircraft but was an adequate fighter in low altitude combat zones. Almost 12,000 P-40s were produced.

The Aircraft

Wang Kuang Fu learned to fly at the Claire Chennault CAF flying school and earned his wings in 1939. It was June 24, 1944 while flying with the C.A.C.W.'s 3rd Fighter Group's 7th Fighter Squadron when he scored his first victory and went to scored 5.5 more victories making Captain Wang an Ace. His P-40N aircraft White 663 was adorned with Chinese characters that roughly spelled “Great Grandfather Command” referring to a Chow Dynasty hero. This aircraft was damaged in 1944 and repaired but damaged beyond repair in January 1945.

Specifications :

Crew:	1.
Powerplant:	Allison V-1710 of 1,150 hp.
Maximum speed:	362 mph.
Crusing speed:	235 mph.
Ceiling:	30,000 ft.
Range:	850 miles
Wingspan:	37 ft 4 in (11.37 m)
Length:	31 ft. 9 in.
Height:	12 ft 4 in (3.76 m)
Weight:	9,100 lbs. loaded
Armament:	Six .50-cal. machine guns; 700 lbs. of bombs externally