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Aviation History
1942
1942 - 1020.PDF
474 FLIGHT MAY 14TH, 1942 WARHAWK-THE LATEST FIGHTER Curtiss Demonstrate Newest P40 Series with Merlin XX Engine THE Warhawk, first of the new range of Curtiss fighters of the P40 series, has been demon strated in U.S.A. with convincing effect. This latest type, designated P40.F, has a Merlin XX 27-litre engine with two-speed supercharger now being produced in large numbers by the Packard Company. Each of the P40 series has shown immense improvement, and the latest example is no exception, forming an extremely valuable contribution to Allied fighter strength. It will be noted that it is a low-wing type with moderate dihedral, wings moderately tapered to rounded tips and generous fillets at the roots. The spinner is sharply pointed, and the radiators are embodied in the ducting under the nose. All wheels retract, the landing wheels by a rearward action and twisting to a flat position at the same time. There are fairings for the undercarriage beneath the centre sec tion. A 3-blade Curtiss airscrew is utilised. Packard Merlin Save for the fact that the Merlin engine being built by Packard has a two-piece cylinder, the engine is identical with the productions in this country. The Rolls-Royce Company proved the success of the Merlin with •detachable heads before the drawings were issued to America, and would themselves have put this design into production two years or more ago had it not been for the fact that to intro duce such an important modification of this character would have delayed the attainment of maximum produc tion. Collaborating with the Packard factory are Rolls-Royce engineers from this country. It was mentioned -in Flight of January 29th that the specimens of Packard Merlins to reach this country have been highly appraised. The Warhawk is the successor to the Tomahawk and Kittyhawk. It is faster than its forerunners (the engine has a power rating of 1,280 b.h.p.), has a higher service ceiling thanks to the improved supercharger and cen tral entry of air provided by a modi fied supercharger casing. It is excep tionally powerfully armed, based upon British experience in the war. In re ferring to the Warhawk in Flight of February 5th last we quoted Ainewf can reports of 400 m.p.h. speed and an estimated ceiling of 25,000ft. A Curtiss chart comparing its charac teristics with the P36 Mohawk gave the improvement as 657 per cent, in crease in striking power, 123 per cent, in speed, and 170 per cent, in high- altitude performance. G. S. •A picture of the Warhaivk appears on page 468. B-25s ON MANY FRONTS Another Tricycle Bomber Which is Being Produced in Quantity for the Democratic Powers ALL the United Nations air forces are now receiving the North American B-25 twin-engined bomber, which is being produced both at the firm's home plant at Ingtewood, California, and at the huge bomber assembly plant at Kansas, which is owned by the U.S. Government and operated for them by North American. Latest reports from Inglewood state that these fast, long- range bombers are being delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force, the R.A.F., the Netherlands East Indies Air Force, the Russian and the Chinese Air Forces. This machine (maker's designation, NA-40A) carries a crew of five and is a medium-sized aircraft with a span of 67ft. 6in., a length ol 51ft. 5m., and a wing area of 601 sq. ft. It is powered by two 1,600 h.p. Wright Cyclone engines and is fitted with hydraulically operated tricycle landing gear. According to the March issue of the maker's own house journal, the speed and range of the B-25 are military secrets, but both Janes (1940) and Aero- sphere (1941) give it a maximum speed of 308 m.p.h. and a cruising range 01 2,650 miles. A gross weight of 24,000 lb. gives a wing-loading of 39.33 lb./sq. ft., and it has a disposable load of 8,000 lb. The actual bomb load is not stated, but by allowing for 916 gals, of fuel and 84 gals, of oil, an approximate idea may be gained. It was a B 25 on Atlantic patrol which was credited with sinking the U.S. Azsvf" Air Force's first German submarine urf the present war. A line of fourteen North American B-25 bombers ready for delivery at Inglewood, California. The almost rectangular fin and rudder assemblies should make for easy recognition in the air. In the U.S. Army Air Corps the B-25 is known as the Mitchell.
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