I had the pleasure of helping to restore this aircraft as a member of the "Project Tomahawk" "Curtiss-Wright Historical" we built the cabin as well of some other parts for this C model.. Fighter Rebuilders did a great job putting everything together...
A surviving P-40C or B Tomahawk has to be a VERY rare plane. That engine sound was the last thing many Japanese bomber pilots heard while bombing what they thought was a helpless China...beautiful original AVG markings. Thanks for the great vid.
What a great engine note. Throaty. Very American sounding warplane complete with the backfire popping sound as it idles back. Sounds like a real warplane. Love it.
Just as an FYI, some of the AVG pilots had never flown fighters, but came from the flying boat, transport or dive bomber ranks. The late, great "Tex" Hill was the leader of a dive bomber squadron in the Navy when he was recruited by the AVG.
You are correct about the engine in this version. The P-40E and P-40L used a Merlin engine, and better performance at high altitude than their Allison engined siblings.
Actually, these were already being used as early as 1937, when Chaing Kai-Shek asked Roosevelt for help. The only thing done was to send some Tomahawks and pilots to train the Chinese pilots. Things were well under way by 1941-42, when the American Volunter Group became The Flying Tigers.
In 1937 Chennault himself first visited China on a contract to assess the actual capabilities of the Chinese Air Force. He told the truth and was subsequently hired by the Chinese government. Actual P-40 airplanes die not arrive in Burma until late in 1941. They (The Flying Tigers) had completed some training and entered combat very late in 1941 and did quite well from what I understand.
Flying Tigers. Outnumbered, limited resource, bad strategical position and outclassed against the Japanese "Zero", despite all of these. These American volunteers and mercenaries risked their life to a far away foreign land that they might not even care nor know much about during a time when "Yellow Peril" attitude was the norm in U.S. They still managed to cause trouble to the Japanese and raise hope and moral to the Chinese that the enemies can be "beaten". If angels are mercenaries they would probably be flying on P-40 Tomahawk fighter planes, they sure are Hells Angels.
Actually, they weren't 'outclassed' against most of the enemy aircraft, which were "Betty" bombers and the like. That's what they were paid to shoot down. They weren't supposed to be dogfighting against Japanese hotshots, at least not if they could avoid it. They were paid a $500 bonus for a confirmed kill. Smart pilots were looking for the relatively 'easy' money.
The ultimate Allison V1710 engine (model E27) developed 3,000 hp and was turbocoumpound-supercharged for very high altitude. This modification didn't come to very late in the war and Allison was turning there sights to turbine engines. However during Korea, an Allison V 1710 was to power the F-82 night fighter version, in its final production model @ 1,600 hp. Allison and Curtiss, two names that never got the well deserved recognition of Rolls Royce and North American.
The ultimate refinement came in the form of the Curtiss XP-60, modified from the XP-53. With the Allison V1710-119-32R she beat a P-51 in speed, roll rate and diving. A P-40 could roll much faster than a P-51 and a ME-109 could never out turn a P-40! Great airplane, never to reach her full potential.
Great aircraft! Thanks for the video! Brings back memories of my favorites, 'The Flying Tigers.' They put their lives on the line at a time when the odds were stacked against them and they knew it. Just think, No, repeat NO homecoming parade and all this modern media hype for them!
Wow... Ever since I built the Monogram kit of the P-40 B Tigershark, I loved it! The B and C models were the sharpest looking examples of the P-40. In the E to N models were very bulky in the nose. I love those examples as well but, my favorite is the B and C types. Who does this belong to? Where was it recovered? Is it owned by the Air Force Museum? I heard they had restored one but, not sure if it's flyable. Great video! Love it!
The very last P-40 the P-40Q ( non-production), used an Allison V1710 1,475 hp and hit 422 mph. Had a bubble canopy, clipped wings and many aerodynamic drag refinements. If fully developed , especially with an Allison V1710-119-32R engine, this would have been one of aviations elite aircraft.
ripdaddykc The P40 F & L models with the Packard V1650-1 did not perform any better than the Allison BECAUSE like the Allison the MERLIN used a single stage supercharger. There were many models of Merlins built and not ALL Merlins were equal. It was the LATER model Merlins, 61's and V1650-3 & 7 & 9's by Packard that had the "IMPROVED" 2 stage 2 speed "hi altitude" Merlins. These later Merlins were not available when the Merlins were put in the P40's. In war time you use what you have available. In aircraft engines it the "SUPERCHARGER" that makes the difference.
The Daily Mail site has a great bunch of high resolution pictures of the wreck. The pilot's remains were not found, so he must have dared the desert, as he didn't get the radio working (it was found outside the plane).
I was just looking it up on Wikipedia (Curtis P40 "Variants") The "B" Model carried 2x12,7 mm and 4x 0.30-inch Browning. The "E" carried the U.S. Navy standard 6x .50 cal with a 1,500lb bomb load. The "F" had 4 or 6 Browning M2's with a 500kg useful bomb load, and the "N" had 4x .50 Cal OR M2 with 1,500lb useful bomb load. Sort of surprised me to see the N version with only 4mg's (two on the wings with two in the nose? Not sure. Doesn't explicitly say). Anyway, hope that helps some.
I didn't know any B models were still flying. Is this the only one? I built most every WWII airplane model when I was a kid. The P40B with the AVG markings was the first. Probably early 70s. Thanks for the memory.
The P-40B/C were called Tomahawks by the British while the Americans called all P-40s Warhawks. The British and Australia and New Zealand called the later E- models Kittyhawks. It can be a bit confusing. I prefer the British names.
ripdaddy KC The Merlin powered P40" F & L did not perform any better than the Allison version BECAUSE the Merlin used was also a SINGLE STAGE supercharged engine tuned for low to med altitude. The difference in the Merlins were the later ones had a 2 stage 2 speed supercharger that allowed them to perform better at high altitudes There were MANY version of the Merlin used and not all were created equal. The P51 B and later models and the later Spitfires used versions of 2 stage Merlins
The carbuerator air intake on the top of the nose cowling indicates it's an Allison V1710 powerplant. P-40's using Merlin powerplants like the P-40 F, the carbuerator air intake is absent because air for that engines carbuerator was fed through the air intake under the nose cowling. The final P-40 models, Q and R, used the Allison V1710 1,475 h.p. engine, but these models never reached production. Despite attaining speeds in excess of 420 mph, they came too late in the war.
I am not sure if this is a B or C version but there were virtually identical from the outside. The AVG used the C version which had self sealing tanks and other improvements. Interestingly, the AVG P-40s had much higher top speed since their engines were assembled by hand and built to higher tolerances that the standard factory engines. To some extent, they matched the pistons so the engines were more balanced than factory engines.
@eclipser2004 The P-40 in this clip was a B model, I do believe. It's gotta be the only one flying! All the other ones I've seen have either been E or N models.
Flying Tigers were in China well before the US Military entered the war. They were in China, operating out of Burma around 1937 and on. Chenault (sp?) was good friends with Chinese Government at the time.
B--17s were sent to the Philippines as part of a general build up of air power. They were not sent to strike Japan. A second American Volunteer Group using Hudson Bombers was prepared to go to China but cancelled after Pearl Harbor. These planes were intended for use inside China and could not reach Japan.
It's a pretty bird, but for some reason the shark face paintwork on this one looks more surprised than angry. They just found a crashed Kittyhawk P-40 in the Sahara, 200 miles from the nearest town. It has been lying there for 70 years untouched and preserved by the dry desert air. The British are anxious to get to it before looters. It would be sad to see it stripped down before experts get to the site to see what can be glimpsed of what happened to the pilot, Flight Sergeant Dennis Copping.
P40 pilots: I've always been fascinated by the fact that the gear raise up independently... but NEVER simultaneously. I'm sure this has to do with different motors or hydraulics involved... but why does one wheel ALWAYS lag significantly behind the other? Insight?
The BEST looking P-40, without a doubt...the later versions looked like they had a fat lip. I don't think I would like to see a few of these in my bomber's gunsights. If Allison only got the duel stage supercharger on the early B/C models...been a different story, than the lack-luster rep that the P-40 got. It wasn't that bad of a fighter, regardless.
P-40's were doomed to mediocrity due to a US Army decision not to allow turbosuperchargers in their Allison engines. Despite this the P-40 was a highly manueverable and tough airplane operating all over the world during World War 2. A good pilot could turn the P-40 into a very lethal airplane, exploiting the weaknesses of any opponent.
9:19 PM 7/20/2014 Yes I picked this plane over the P-51. Why? The P-51 stalls out big time on simple turns. You can use that to your advantage if you like to worry about turning which I don't. You will not hear any stories from the Flying Tigers shooting down Japanese Zero (Toyota engine) fighters because there are none. These pilots hauled ass away from the Zeros or tried to. The Zeros shot down the P-40s like it was nothing I bet. That's why the Flying Tigers had USAs best pilots flying here in this part of the world. Its going to take expert pilots to dodge Japanese Zero planes. This is the time period that created Top Gun too later on. Im sure the USAs military (navy) learned their lesson from the Pacific dogfighting against Japan. SBD bomber/fighter planes kept getting shot down by Japanese Zeros. SBDs are like F-14 Tomcat jet which is a fighter/bomber too used in the Navy. SBD pilots had to work together in the sky to shoot down Zeros.
Perhaps it would be a good time for you to actually read up on the AVG and who did the running away. The AVG merely used the attributes of the P-40 over the Nates, etc., such as superior speed when diving to defeat the Japanese. As I recall, the Flying Tigers (AVG) shot down 297 Japanese aircraft to the loss of only 4 or 5 AVG aircraft. As long as the AVG pilots used Chennaults tactics against the Japanese, they were okay. In addition, the SBDs were NOT fighter/bombers but dive bombers, not meant to dogfight with the Zeros.
The Mitsubishi Zero used a Nakajima Sakae engine, not Toyota. Nakajima later became Fuji Heavy Metal Ind. which owns Subaru, there is no connection between the A6M fighter and Toyota. The P-51 does not stall out in simple turns unless you're already flying it at stall speed. The AVG never encountered the A6M in combat, but if it had, it would have come out on top, just like it did with every other type of Japanese aircraft. You're not very credible, at this point. Just saying
andrew minty...Where did you get your info ??? The Flying Tigers were US Volunteer pilots flying for CHINA ! ! NO way in hell the B17 could fly from the Phillipines to Japan !!! The B29 could barely reach the tip of Japan from China. Better go back and reread your history book...
THAT is the most authentic looking Flying Tiger P-40 I have ever seen. Thank you!
Flying Tigers, thanks for saving my country!
My favourite P-40. Just the look of it.
Thanks so so much, Flying Tigers! Hero of China in WW II, pride of the USA
Oh my.....wonderful. The pop & crackle of that Allison V12 on landing was incredibly evocative!
I had the pleasure of helping to restore this aircraft as a member of the "Project Tomahawk" "Curtiss-Wright Historical" we built the cabin as well of some other parts for this C model.. Fighter Rebuilders did a great job putting everything together...
some of the Kittyhawk II's used in North Africa were powered by a Packard built Merlin under license from RR.
Indeed, very impressive P-40! Love the engine sound during flying .... Thanks for showing.
Kudos to the pilot and the videographer! That has to be one of the best landings I've ever seen!
That's the one! :) And with correct AVG Flying Tigers markings.
A surviving P-40C or B Tomahawk has to be a VERY rare plane. That engine sound was the last thing many Japanese bomber pilots heard while bombing what they thought was a helpless China...beautiful original AVG markings. Thanks for the great vid.
What a great engine note. Throaty. Very American sounding warplane complete with the backfire popping sound as it idles back. Sounds like a real warplane. Love it.
Gorgeous aircraft. Always been my dream to fly one, if I ever get a pilot's liscense. Sounds great too. All around awesome warplane. I just love it.
Lou, I just discovered your videos this weekend.. you do such a good job of taping and editing.. thanks for the time and effort. Terry
Beautiful plane! Awesome job by that pilot too, great take off and landing!!!
Just as an FYI, some of the AVG pilots had never flown fighters, but came from the flying boat, transport or dive bomber ranks. The late, great "Tex" Hill was the leader of a dive bomber squadron in the Navy when he was recruited by the AVG.
You are correct about the engine in this version. The P-40E and P-40L used a Merlin engine, and better performance at high altitude than their Allison engined siblings.
Actually, these were already being used as early as 1937, when Chaing Kai-Shek asked Roosevelt for help. The only thing done was to send some Tomahawks and pilots to train the Chinese pilots. Things were well under way by 1941-42, when the American Volunter Group became The Flying Tigers.
Beautiful Plane! Flying tiger motif was designed by Walt Disney!
some of the most beautiful machines born in a time of war.
thank you so much!!!!! we never forget you!
+PirateJiang Thank you, happy the video is liked.
+Lou Costello nice work, dude:) Cheers!
In 1937 Chennault himself first visited China on a contract to assess the actual capabilities of the Chinese Air Force. He told the truth and was subsequently hired by the Chinese government. Actual P-40 airplanes die not arrive in Burma until late in 1941. They (The Flying Tigers) had completed some training and entered combat very late in 1941 and did quite well from what I understand.
Flying Tigers. Outnumbered, limited resource, bad strategical position and outclassed against the Japanese "Zero", despite all of these. These American volunteers and mercenaries risked their life to a far away foreign land that they might not even care nor know much about during a time when "Yellow Peril" attitude was the norm in U.S. They still managed to cause trouble to the Japanese and raise hope and moral to the Chinese that the enemies can be "beaten". If angels are mercenaries they would probably be flying on P-40 Tomahawk fighter planes, they sure are Hells Angels.
Actually, they weren't 'outclassed' against most of the enemy aircraft, which were "Betty" bombers and the like. That's what they were paid to shoot down. They weren't supposed to be dogfighting against Japanese hotshots, at least not if they could avoid it. They were paid a $500 bonus for a confirmed kill. Smart pilots were looking for the relatively 'easy' money.
They were badly outclassed by the Oscar. The Betty was a good medium bomber. They were trained to avoid dogfights but had many nonetheless.
Legand aircraft in pacific, china even south asian battle field during WWII. Thank for your sharing.
The ultimate Allison V1710 engine (model E27) developed 3,000 hp and was turbocoumpound-supercharged for very high altitude. This modification didn't come to very late in the war and Allison was turning there sights to turbine engines. However during Korea, an Allison V 1710 was to power the F-82 night fighter version, in its final production model @ 1,600 hp. Allison and Curtiss, two names that never got the well deserved recognition of Rolls Royce and North American.
Interesting sound of the allison engine when it is taxiing, it has a thrumming sound to it, very relaxing to hear.
The ultimate refinement came in the form of the Curtiss XP-60, modified from the XP-53. With the Allison V1710-119-32R she beat a P-51 in speed, roll rate and diving. A P-40 could roll much faster than a P-51 and a ME-109 could never out turn a P-40! Great airplane, never to reach her full potential.
Great aircraft! Thanks for the video! Brings back memories of my favorites, 'The Flying Tigers.' They put their lives on the line at a time when the odds were stacked against them and they knew it. Just think, No, repeat NO homecoming parade and all this modern media hype for them!
I find this very enduring.
Beautiful aircraft..
the p-40 was my favorite plane of wwII
Wow... Ever since I built the Monogram kit of the P-40 B Tigershark, I loved it! The B and C models were the sharpest looking examples of the P-40. In the E to N models were very bulky in the nose. I love those examples as well but, my favorite is the B and C types.
Who does this belong to? Where was it recovered? Is it owned by the Air Force Museum? I heard they had restored one but, not sure if it's flyable.
Great video! Love it!
Wonderful, thanks for posting
The very last P-40 the P-40Q ( non-production), used an Allison V1710 1,475 hp and hit 422 mph. Had a bubble canopy, clipped wings and many aerodynamic drag refinements. If fully developed , especially with an Allison V1710-119-32R engine, this would have been one of aviations elite aircraft.
ripdaddykc The P40 F & L models with the Packard V1650-1 did not perform any better than the Allison BECAUSE like the Allison the MERLIN used a single stage supercharger. There were many models of Merlins built and not ALL Merlins were equal. It was the LATER model Merlins, 61's and V1650-3 & 7 & 9's by Packard that had the "IMPROVED" 2 stage 2 speed "hi altitude" Merlins. These later Merlins were not available when the Merlins were put in the P40's. In war time you use what you have available. In aircraft engines it the "SUPERCHARGER" that makes the difference.
The verylast of the P-40 designs used the Merlin. The one in this video has an Allison engine.
Cool. Nice to know... I've never heard that before. Thanks.
The Daily Mail site has a great bunch of high resolution pictures of the wreck. The pilot's remains were not found, so he must have dared the desert, as he didn't get the radio working (it was found outside the plane).
I was just looking it up on Wikipedia (Curtis P40 "Variants")
The "B" Model carried 2x12,7 mm and 4x 0.30-inch Browning. The "E" carried the U.S. Navy standard 6x .50 cal with a 1,500lb bomb load. The "F" had 4 or 6 Browning M2's with a 500kg useful bomb load, and the "N" had 4x .50 Cal OR M2 with 1,500lb useful bomb load. Sort of surprised me to see the N version with only 4mg's (two on the wings with two in the nose? Not sure. Doesn't explicitly say). Anyway, hope that helps some.
I didn't know any B models were still flying. Is this the only one? I built most every WWII airplane model when I was a kid. The P40B with the AVG markings was the first. Probably early 70s. Thanks for the memory.
great aircraft
The P-40B/C were called Tomahawks by the British while the Americans called all P-40s Warhawks. The British and Australia and New Zealand called the later E- models Kittyhawks. It can be a bit confusing. I prefer the British names.
Lou Costello WRONG the F & L models used the Merlins, in the middle of production. Later P40's used the later version of Allisons.
ripdaddy KC The Merlin powered P40" F & L did not perform any better than the Allison version BECAUSE the Merlin used was also a SINGLE STAGE supercharged engine tuned for low to med altitude. The difference in the Merlins were the later ones had a 2 stage 2 speed supercharger that allowed them to perform better at high altitudes There were MANY version of the Merlin used and not all were created equal. The P51 B and later models and the later Spitfires used versions of 2 stage Merlins
The carbuerator air intake on the top of the nose cowling indicates it's an Allison V1710 powerplant. P-40's using Merlin powerplants like the P-40 F, the carbuerator air intake is absent because air for that engines carbuerator was fed through the air intake under the nose cowling. The final P-40 models, Q and R, used the Allison V1710 1,475 h.p. engine, but these models never reached production. Despite attaining speeds in excess of 420 mph, they came too late in the war.
I am not sure if this is a B or C version but there were virtually identical from the outside. The AVG used the C version which had self sealing tanks and other improvements. Interestingly, the AVG P-40s had much higher top speed since their engines were assembled by hand and built to higher tolerances that the standard factory engines. To some extent, they matched the pistons so the engines were more balanced than factory engines.
@eclipser2004 The P-40 in this clip was a B model, I do believe. It's gotta be the only one flying! All the other ones I've seen have either been E or N models.
Beautiful P-40B...
I thought 2:30 was thunder for a seconds. AMAZING SOUNDS!
i think these were the ones a squadron called hells angels
I have 2 rc versions of this very plane, My favorite warbird!
Flying Tigers were in China well before the US Military entered the war. They were in China, operating out of Burma around 1937 and on. Chenault (sp?) was good friends with Chinese Government at the time.
P40 is a wonderful machine
B--17s were sent to the Philippines as part of a general build up of air power. They were not sent to strike Japan. A second American Volunteer Group using Hudson Bombers was prepared to go to China but cancelled after Pearl Harbor. These planes were intended for use inside China and could not reach Japan.
It's a pretty bird, but for some reason the shark face paintwork on this one looks more surprised than angry.
They just found a crashed Kittyhawk P-40 in the Sahara, 200 miles from the nearest town. It has been lying there for 70 years untouched and preserved by the dry desert air. The British are anxious to get to it before looters. It would be sad to see it stripped down before experts get to the site to see what can be glimpsed of what happened to the pilot, Flight Sergeant Dennis Copping.
P40 pilots: I've always been fascinated by the fact that the gear raise up independently... but NEVER simultaneously.
I'm sure this has to do with different motors or hydraulics involved... but why does one wheel ALWAYS lag significantly behind the other?
Insight?
I believe the armament for the early P-40 was two .50cal in the nose and four .30cal in the wings, or vice versa.
very nice video
Flying Tigers yeah!!!
you hear that? that's the sound of 1,050 horsepower.
P-40 FTW
good view
I love shark mouth!!!
The BEST looking P-40, without a doubt...the later versions looked like they had a fat lip. I don't think I would like to see a few of these in my bomber's gunsights. If Allison only got the duel stage supercharger on the early B/C models...been a different story, than the lack-luster rep that the P-40 got. It wasn't that bad of a fighter, regardless.
P-40's were doomed to mediocrity due to a US Army decision not to allow turbosuperchargers in their Allison engines. Despite this the P-40 was a highly manueverable and tough airplane operating all over the world during World War 2. A good pilot could turn the P-40 into a very lethal airplane, exploiting the weaknesses of any opponent.
did the p-40 ever run a Merlin engine? or was that later - anyone ,anyone?
wow its an actual B? with the long nose-case allison?
@F14ace me too
rare p-40
Chinese Air Force Fighter Plane
9:19 PM 7/20/2014
Yes I picked this plane over the P-51. Why? The P-51 stalls out big time on simple turns. You can use that to your advantage if you like to worry about turning which I don't. You will not hear any stories from the Flying Tigers shooting down Japanese Zero (Toyota engine) fighters because there are none. These pilots hauled ass away from the Zeros or tried to. The Zeros shot down the P-40s like it was nothing I bet. That's why the Flying Tigers had USAs best pilots flying here in this part of the world. Its going to take expert pilots to dodge Japanese Zero planes.
This is the time period that created Top Gun too later on. Im sure the USAs military (navy) learned their lesson from the Pacific dogfighting against Japan. SBD bomber/fighter planes kept getting shot down by Japanese Zeros. SBDs are like F-14 Tomcat jet which is a fighter/bomber too used in the Navy. SBD pilots had to work together in the sky to shoot down Zeros.
Perhaps it would be a good time for you to actually read up on the AVG and who did the running away. The AVG merely used the attributes of the P-40 over the Nates, etc., such as superior speed when diving to defeat the Japanese. As I recall, the Flying Tigers (AVG) shot down 297 Japanese aircraft to the loss of only 4 or 5 AVG aircraft. As long as the AVG pilots used Chennaults tactics against the Japanese, they were okay.
In addition, the SBDs were NOT fighter/bombers but dive bombers, not meant to dogfight with the Zeros.
The Mitsubishi Zero used a Nakajima Sakae engine, not Toyota. Nakajima later became Fuji Heavy Metal Ind. which owns Subaru, there is no connection between the A6M fighter and Toyota. The P-51 does not stall out in simple turns unless you're already flying it at stall speed. The AVG never encountered the A6M in combat, but if it had, it would have come out on top, just like it did with every other type of Japanese aircraft.
You're not very credible, at this point. Just saying
I have a Black Horse Models P-40C Tomahawk RC plane. Oh well. Not really as good I 'spose!
p 40's were much better than spits
#airplane
andrew minty...Where did you get your info ??? The Flying Tigers were US Volunteer pilots flying for CHINA ! ! NO way in hell the B17 could fly from the Phillipines to Japan !!! The B29 could barely reach the tip of Japan from China. Better go back and reread your history book...