Republic P-47 Thunderbolt

1941

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Republic P-47 Thunderbolt

The first prototype flew on May 6, 1941. A total of 15677 aircraft built. On August 2, 1944 the XP-47J reached a speed of 811kph.

Republic P-47 Thunderbolt

Specification 
 MODELP-47D
 CREW1
 ENGINE1 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59W Double Wasp, 1890kW
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight7938 kg17500 lb
  Empty weight4513 kg9950 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan12.43 m41 ft 9 in
  Length11.02 m36 ft 2 in
  Wing area27.87 m2299.99 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE
  Max. speed697 km/h433 mph
  Ceiling12495 m41000 ft
  Range w/max.fuel3058 km1900 miles
 ARMAMENT8 x 12.7mm machine-guns, 1134kg of weapons

3-View 
Republic P-47 ThunderboltA three-view drawing (592 x 930)

Comments1-20 21-40 41-60
dav, e-mail, 10.07.2009 12:20

actuellement a hermanville sur mer je recherche un avion de republic aviation co a partir de son numero de serie, retrouver sur des débris appartenant a un P-47 detruit certainnement le 6 juin 1944.Comment faire?

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Leo Rudnicki, e-mail, 19.06.2009 23:46

Because????? It didn't win any wars or even help to win any wars or get flown by any notable aces to numerous individual victory tallies. Explain in the FW entry. Don't besmirch the Jug.

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Otto Bufonto, e-mail, 19.06.2009 22:09

Sorry guys, Best prop fighter in WW II was Ta 152

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Ronald, e-mail, 19.06.2009 09:36

The 3 view is a late war P-47M or N. I read that the last kill in the U.S. war against Japan was an Oscar shot down by a P-47N. How symbolic! The heaviest single engine fighter vs the lightest. 8 guns vs 2. High-power firing passes vs ninja reflexes. A most fitting contrast to end the war with.

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leo rudnicki, e-mail, 06.05.2009 17:19

According to Winkle Brown, the choice of high altitude escort fighter was achieved by critical Mach number in a dive. I've only read "Thuderbolt" 3 times.

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Joseph Koss, e-mail, 30.04.2009 08:44

The P-47 is my favorite aircraft, and I've read Robert Johnson's "Thunderbolt" over a dozen times. From all I've read, the P-47 and the P-51 were roughly comparable in overall ability--each had some advantages over the other. The Mustang could out-turn the Jug, but the Jug could out-roll the Mustang. The 51 was slightly faster, and had slightly better range, but didn't have quite the firepower or anywhere near the ability of the Jug to absorb battle damage and still get home. What ultimately tipped the scales for the Mustang was cost--the Mustang cost half the price of the Jug to build. Other than that, I still think that the Jug was the better bird for both air to air and air to ground combat.

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leo rudnicki, e-mail, 07.04.2009 23:40

Sorry, can't wait 1000 years. Air to air, only the P51 went all the way. Better gas mileage. The P47N carried it's own fuel truck on a shackle but was too late for Europe, and it's Pratt&Whitney was a tougher tune-up. Air to Mud, the Jug had competition from the Corsair which did not even have to be recalled for Korea, but even had anew AU1 model just for Air to Mud. In the Jug's favor, Bob Johnson's encounter with German lead is a classic story of Tough, especially the 20mm hole just behind his head, that jammed the canopy. And the P47J, 504mph. Just popped in my head, can anyone tell me the real reason no American operational a /c used a prop spinner? The XP42 gained enough airspeed from a good spinner /nacelle design for a 10% rise in max airspeed, 340mph from a P36. Maintenance hassle? 10% aispeed is worth a hassle,isn't it?..Oh, and I do like the Turbo sound but the P38 had a neat sound too. Too many contenders.

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Tom, e-mail, 01.03.2009 08:04

As for the P-47 or P-51 being the best: Come back in a thousand yers and I suspect the debate will still be lively.
The P-47 was phased out of active service with the regular USAAF by the end of '46 when the decision was made keep the P-51 until jets could fill all fighter needs.
There were P-47s in Air National Guard squadrons until '55. I believe Puerto Rico Air National Guard kept them longest. The P-47 did not fight in Korea or Vietnam. Many of the old fighter drivers flying P-51s in Korea felt the Mustang was too tender for close support work. There are stories of letters to Washington stating the P-47 would have been much better and cited the F4U Corsair as proof of the matter.

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Greatest pilot that ever lived, e-mail, 03.01.2009 21:31

I'm looking to see if the P-47 did some service in the Vietnam war. It seems I remember seeing that somewhere along witht the T33 and the Skyraider. The serivablity rate alone makes it the greatest of WWII in my book.

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gene cody, 17.07.08, e-mail, 17.07.2008 18:37

Best prop fighter aircraft ever made--the Cadillac flying machine with range and fire-power. With drop tanks you became a VLR [very long range] pilot.

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KWerner, 23.06.2008 23:46

Robert S. Johnson 27 kills and Gabby Gabreski 28 kills - both T'Bolt Aces in the European theater.
My favorite story is the one where a 47' came back from a strafing mission with a chunk of telephone pole in the leading edge of it's wing...

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David Schill, e-mail, 13.06.2008 21:04

You can visit the Millville Army Air Field Museum, Millville, NJ, home of the P-47 as well as home of the P-47 Advocates. Our next airshow is Sept. 20 & 21, 2008 and will be an all-warbird show including at least one P-47. CAN DO! Dave Schill, Vietnam 1970-71 (Seabees)

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CASTLE22R, e-mail, 13.06.2008 16:44

A tough and rugged piece of mechinery.Pardon my spelling.

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Ted B., 26.05.2008 22:02

You gotta love the Jug! Best fighter of the War and powered by the best engine.....the Pratt and Whitney R-2800!

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lloyd c. keaton, e-mail, 09.05.2008 19:34

lloyd keaton, 05.09,2008 It is no coincidence that at least the top aces of the European theater flew the P-47. They flew against the best the germans had and against the best aircraft

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gene, 12.04.2008 21:18

best prop. fighter made, should have been used in koran war, mustangs were lost in very high numbers to aa fire

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Bob, 08.04.2008 20:44

Agreed Warren! With water injection, super charger, and the big bomber prop, the Jug would out perform anything including the Mustang. It could withstand a lot of damage and still return home too!

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warren foote, 03.04.2008 03:48

The greatest fighter of ww-II

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