![]() When fully loaded, the new fighter would weigh over 12,000 lbs, far heavier than contemporary fighters. Owing to the ducting required to drive the turbo supercharger at altitude, the P-47’s size was tremendous. After revisions, Kartveli’s P-47B was powered by a 2,000-horsepower Pratt & Whitney Double Wasp radial engine equipped with a turbo supercharger, a three-bladed propeller, and eight. As a result, Kartveli had to immediately set about upgrading the new aircraft. Based on these specifications, the existing P-47A design was already outdated. ![]() 50 caliber machine guns, carry armor-plating for pilot protection, be equipped with self-sealing fuel tanks, and be capable of carrying 315 gallons of fuel. The USAAC request called for an aircraft which could fly at 400 mph at 25,000 ft, carry an armament of six. Kartveli’s first design was actually finished before the USAAC request was issued- the P-47A would be powered by a 1,150-horsepower Allison engine and armed with two. Kartveli’s creation featured many characteristics shared with the P-43- it would be powered by a large radial engine and feature a coke-bottle-shaped fuselage. The new aircraft would be again designed by Kartveli. The founder, Seversky himself, had been ousted while in Europe in 1939 by a company board vote. As a result, and in order to fulfill a 1939 USAAC request for a high-altitude interceptor, the Seversky design team began working on a new fighter which would incorporate the experiences gained from working on the P-35 and P-43.īy this time, Seversky Aero Corporation had been renamed Republic Aviation. Those that did see US service were considered obsolete almost from the time they were delivered. However, the P-43 had primarily been marketed as an export fighter- of the 272 built, 51 were delivered to China, while still others were delivered to European countries. The P-43 Lancer was a follow-on to the P-35 designed by Seversky’s head engineer, a Georgian émigré named Alexander Kartveli, the P-43 was powered by a 1200-horsepower Pratt & Whitney which could allow the fighter to reach a maximum speed of 356 mph at 20,000 feet. The P-35, a stubby radial-engined fighter, was a notable step forward for the USAAC, with its all-metal construction, retractable landing gear, and enclosed cockpit.
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