P-47 Thunderbolt

[JRT]

The YouTube channel Greg's Airplanes and Automobiles posted the last of a series of very good videos about the P-47 Thunderbolt, and it seems like a good topic to post here.

Be sure to watch part 6 of the video series discussing drop tanks that were an early existing technical option that were unutilized/underutilized for far too long, leading to unecessary losses of unescorted bomber crews.

A good place to start in consideration of WWII fighters/fighter-bombers used at a wide variety of altitudes from low altitude ground strafing up to high altitude bomber escort, is consideration of manfold pressure, and means of increasing manifold pressure for increased power output at the various altitudes. So before watching the P-47 videos, I suggest watching the following two, the first being a light overview about manifold pressure using mostly the P-51 in examples, and the second being about superchargers versus turbochargers, with the latter being very uncommon among WWII single engine fighters/fighter-bombers, except for the P-47.

Manifold Pressure (P-51 Mustang)

Turbo vs Supercharging in WW2 Airplanes

Here is the series on the P-47 Thunderbolt.

Part 1 - Design and Speed

Part 1A - Throttle and Boost Lever Use

Part 2 - Dive Speeds & Mach Numbers

Part 3 - Armor & Protection

Part 4 - Climb Rate

Part 5 - Maneuverability

Part 6 - Range, Deceit and Treachery

Part 7 - Firepower, a Lot of Firepower

Part 8 - Conclusions

[Gun Grape]

On time and On Target.

I picked this up from the Post office today

[JRT]

...picked this up from the Post office today...

Nice project. Hoping to see some pics of progress and results.

[JRT]

Here are several circa 1943 training films for the P-47 Thunderbolt by the US Army Air Forces made in cooperation with Republic Aviation, manufacturer of the P-47.

How To Fly The P-47 -
Pilot Familiarization

How to Fly the P-47 -
Ground Handling, Take-Off, Normal Flight, Landing

How To Fly The P-47 -
High Altitude Flight and Aerobatics

[JRT]

Another video, an early documentary produced for or by the US Army Air Forces edited shortly after WW2 with most of it filmed during WW2, so has period film footage including some aerial photography and some gun camera film footage.

[Albany Rifles]

For Naval aircraft, I know one of the reasons for the introduction of the F8F Bearcat, a smaller and faster cousin of the F6F Hellcat, was built to climb quickly to altitude and was built with improved high altitude performance from the start.

[tbm3fan]

Ah, manifold pressure. Now don't forget Charles Lindberg who showed the 475th fighter group how to extend their time in the air by raising manifold pressure and lowering rpm.

https://www.ozatwar.com/ozatwar/lindbergh.htm