| The P-40 was identical to the XP-40 except for the Allison
V-1710-33 engine instead of the V-1710-19 and an extra .30 caliber gun in each
wing which was also flush riveted. After the contract was awarded to Curtiss for the new 524
fighters, the Buffalo plant was readied for large scale production. Most of the
tooling to be used was transferred from the P-36 production. The first
production P-40 (s/n 39-156) was test flown by Lloyd Child on the 4th April 1940. The first
200 aircraft were P-40 model 81A's and were delivered between the 1st June the
15th October 1940.These were armed with only two .50 calibre machine guns with
200 rounds per gun on the nose and two .30 calibre guns in the wings, they also had no armor protection, no armor glass, nor
sealing fuel tanks. On the 22nd October 1942 the P-40's still in service with
the Army were restricted from combat and re-designated RP-40's. Serial Numbers: 39-156 through 39-280 & 40-292 through 40-357 There was one P-40 that was modified to accommodate a camera and mount in the rear of the fuselage with a photo/reconnaissance window. This was designated the P-40A, s/n 40-326. 140 H-81A's were ordered by the French but never reached France due to the June 1940 Armistice. The Royal Air Force took over the order and these aircraft were referred to by the R.A.F. as Tomahawk I's. 16 P-40's were also sent to the Russians after the German invasion. |
P-40 Specifications:
| Span | 37 ft 4 in |
| Length | 31 ft 9 in |
| Height | 12 ft 4 in |
| Wing Area | 236 sq ft |
| Empty Weight | 5,376 lb |
| Loaded Weight | 7,215 lb |
| Max. Speed | 357 mph at 15,000 ft |
| Cruise Speed | 277 mph |
| Ceiling | 32,750 ft |
| Rate of Climb | 3,000 fpm |
| Range | 650 to 1,400 miles |
| Powerplant | Allison V-1710-33 of 1,040 hp |