P-47 Thunderbolt
Republic · United States · first flew 1941 · fighter
The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt is a heavyweight single-seat American fighter, one of the largest and most rugged single-engine aircraft of the war, excelling as a high-altitude escort and ground-attack platform.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, elliptical |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Large barrel-shaped fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Large barrel-shaped fuselage
- Broad elliptical wing
- Big radial engine with deep belly
Recognise it by its sheer size and the deep, barrel-shaped fuselage housing the turbo-supercharger. The broad elliptical wing and large four-bladed propeller complete the heavyweight silhouette.
Specifications
- The P-47 Thunderbolt has a length of 11.02 m (36 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.42 m (41 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 686 km/h (426 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed around the powerful Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial and its bulky turbo-supercharger ducting, the P-47 first flew in 1941. Its great size and weight earned it the nickname 'Jug', and over 15,000 were built. It could absorb punishing battle damage and keep flying.
Variants
The razorback early models gave way to the bubble-canopy P-47D with all-round vision. The long-range P-47N was developed for the Pacific. Many served as fighter-bombers carrying bombs and rockets.
Where you'll see it
The P-47 flew with US Eighth Air Force units based across eastern England, including bases in East Anglia. Preserved examples are displayed at the American Air Museum at IWM Duxford. Airworthy Thunderbolts occasionally appear at major UK warbird shows.
Related aircraft
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