[Guest]

This is just an idea of a plane that would be fun to fly and I'm not asking for anything right this instant. Say hellp to the best P-40, the XP-40Q Warhawk. It couldn't compete with the T-Bolts and 'Stangs of the time as far as top speed goes but was still a good, beautiful, and smooth flying fighter. My guess would be that it had similar characteristics to the earlier P-40's except it would probably be smoother and carry it's manueverability higher than previoius models. It had 4x.50cals in the experimental, but the production model was supposed to have either 6x.50cals or, my favorite, 4x20mm cannons. Oh yeah, if you don't think this is the best warbird to take into combat, the USAAF would have backed you, you can use it as a historic racer as shown below with the yellow wings. Here's some photos, sketches, and info:

















http://home.att.net/~jbaugher1/p40_16.html

[P/O W. 'Moggy' Cattermole]

looks more like what you get when a spit and a p51 love each other very much, and.. well.. 9 months later and all! Serious, the tail unit and rear fuselage says spitfire, but the front and wings and conopy say p51 imo.

[Guest]

That's why I love her...

Just some interesting things to prove this would be a legitimate project...

The XP-40Q had good high altitude performance unlike the others due to the new engine, prop, etc...

It was still more manueverable than the Mustang and was probably one of the most manueverable planes in the sky as the earlier and weaker models could keep, contrary to popular belief, keep with Zero's...

The P-40 had the greatest kill/loss rate in history...

Jeff Ethell (Pilot, aviation author and historian), "After years of reading that the P-40 could not maneuver, particularly with a Zero, and that it had to make diving slash attacks to be effective, I had come to accept the general opinion that it was outclassed by almost everything else flying. Sitting in the cockpit, with the controls in my hands, having written a book about the aircraft and said all those things, the accepted history in my brain was wrestling with the seat of my pants. No question it did not have the top speed and high altitude performance to disengage targets at will, but it was certainly more maneuverable than other American fighters, particularly the P-51."

Erik Shilling (AVG Pilot), "The P-40 was a hell of a lot better fighter than those who have never flow it think. If it had had the top speed of a 51 I would take it over any fighter the US had."

[P/O W. 'Moggy' Cattermole]

is he refering to this model or previous ones?

[Guest]

Both quotes refer to the earlier models. However, the Q retained the manueverability of the early Warhawks, extended altitude performance to actually good operation heights, etc.

[No.5 Studly]

I would love to see one of these for Il-2

[Guest]

Any modder want to help us out? Please...

[KG64_Cnopicilin]

+1

[KG64_Cnopicilin]

+1

[RichardH]

That's why I love her...

Just some interesting things to prove this would be a legitimate project...

The XP-40Q had good high altitude performance unlike the others due to the new engine, prop, etc...

It was still more manueverable than the Mustang and was probably one of the most manueverable planes in the sky as the earlier and weaker models could keep, contrary to popular belief, keep with Zero's...

The P-40 had the greatest kill/loss rate in history...

Jeff Ethell (Pilot, aviation author and historian), "After years of reading that the P-40 could not maneuver, particularly with a Zero, and that it had to make diving slash attacks to be effective, I had come to accept the general opinion that it was outclassed by almost everything else flying. Sitting in the cockpit, with the controls in my hands, having written a book about the aircraft and said all those things, the accepted history in my brain was wrestling with the seat of my pants. No question it did not have the top speed and high altitude performance to disengage targets at will, but it was certainly more maneuverable than other American fighters, particularly the P-51."

Erik Shilling (AVG Pilot), "The P-40 was a hell of a lot better fighter than those who have never flow it think. If it had had the top speed of a 51 I would take it over any fighter the US had."

You'll have to back up that statement about the kill/loss ratio.
I find it highly unlikely that the Warhawk had a greater kill/loss ratio compared to the Hellcat in combat. (the hellcat had a 19:1 ratio, the corsair had 11:1, heck, even the wildcat had 9:1, or perhaps it was 7:1 , im not entirely sure.)

[Guest]

Kill ratios for the P-40 varry depending on unit, air force, etc. However, the best statistic available is 23.8/1 for the AVG. The statistics on the AVG varry for exact losses but using the USAAF records available here: http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factshe...sp?id=1354, they had 286 kills for 12 losses for either MIA or KIA. To better that account, there were four confirmed deaths of AVG pilots in combat. Using that statistic, the ratio jumps to 71.5/1. If you want even better, the AVG got 297 kills including ground plane kills. I won't use these numbers because it seems kind of cheap to do so. Now, back to topic...

I did more reasearch on the XP-40Q, it turns out that it's maneuverability is as good the Spitfire IX (skeptics, please see quotes above). The Spit IX had only 409mph and the P-51D had 437mph for top speeds. The XP-40Q had 422mph top speed (15mph less than the P-51 and 13mph more than the Spit). The XP-40Q had a range of around 1,400 miles while the P-51 had a range of around only 1,000 miles. I think this is basically a P-51 and Spitfire child. Mixed speed, very good range, good altitude (finally), uber good maneuverability, and excellent looks. The only reason that I can find anywhere for not producing it was that it was slightly slower than the P-51 and P-47. It makes sense, the USAAF already had two good planes going for them that handeled their needs, why would they need another. Same reason the P-38K died. Can we please get the XP-40Q from somebody... 8)

Edit:

I'm sorry, I don't mean to beg so much. It's just that I love planes in general and I love this one for the reasons listed above. I just get excited. :oops:

[Guest]

I found it...

NX300B Thompson Trophy 1947

[Loht773]

Its Awsome!

It looks like a mustang with a long nose!

+10000000000000!

[Metatron]

Very pretty plane, didn't see any action, but what the heck, if someone wants to make it...

[Guest]

Quite unfortunately, alot of planes that should have seen combat didn't...