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Subject: Republic P-43 Lancer
Date: 19 Feb 2017 09:45:58 -0800
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_P-43_Lancer
The Republic P-43 Lancer was a single-engine, all-metal, low-wing monoplane
fighter aircraft built by Republic, first delivered to the United States Army
Air Corps in 1940. A proposed development was the P-44 Rocket. While no
world-beater as a fighter, the P-43A had a very good high-altitude performance
coupled with an effective oxygen system. Fast and well-armed with excellent
long-range capabilities, until the arrival of the P-38, the Lancer was the only
Allied fighter capable of catching a Japanese Mitsubishi Ki-46 "Dinah"
reconnaissance plane at the speeds and heights at which they flew. In addition,
the P-43 flew many long-range, high-altitude photo recon missions until replaced
by F-4/F-5 Lightnings (P-38 variants) in both the USAAF and RAAF.
The Seversky Aircraft Company, which in 1939 changed its name to Republic,
constructed a range of private venture, one-off variants of its P-35 design,
featuring different powerplants and enhancements, designated AP-2, AP-7, AP-4
(which flew after the AP-7), AP-9, XP-41. The series included a carrier-based
version designated the NF-1 (Naval Fighter 1) that was also built. The most
significant of these was the AP-4, which served as the basis for future
Seversky/Republic aircraft. It featured fully retractable landing gear, flush
riveting, and, most significantly, a Pratt & Whitney R-1830-SC2G engine with a
belly-mounted turbo-supercharger, producing 1,200 hp (890 kW) and good
high-altitude performance. The turbo-supercharger had been refined by Boeing as
part of the development program for the B-17 Flying Fortress, and the improved
performance it offered was of great interest to other aircraft manufacturers.
Role
Fighter aircraft
Manufacturer
Republic Aviation Company
First flight
March 1940
Introduction
1941
Retired
1944 (China)
Primary users
United States Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Forces
Chinese Nationalist Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
Produced
Number built
272
Developed from
Seversky SEV-3
Seversky P-35
Variants
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
The Lend-Lease aircraft were delivered to China through Claire Chennault's
American Volunteer Group, the "Flying Tigers". Pilots involved in the ferrying
flights commended the P-43 for its good high-altitude performance compared to
the Curtiss P-40, good roll rate and a radial engine without a vulnerable liquid
cooling system. Apparently, several AVG pilots asked Chennault to keep some
P-43s, but the request was denied due to the aircraft's lack of armor or
self-sealing fuel tanks. In addition, the turbo-supercharger proved unreliable
and the "wet wing" fuel tanks leaked constantly. In June 1942, Robert L. Scott,
44,000 ft (13,000 m), attesting to the strengths of this aircraft. The P-43
performed poorly in combat in the hands of the Chinese Air Force against Japan
due to its great vulnerability; it was replaced by other aircraft in early 1944.
Rudimentary protection added on the P-43A-1 was insufficient. In addition, the
P-43's R-1830 engines were in high demand for the Douglas C-47 transport,
effectively grounding the surviving aircraft.
The USAAC considered the P-43 and its variants obsolete from the start and used
them only for training purposes. In fall 1942, all surviving USAAF (transitioned
from USAAC in June 1941) P-43s were redesignated RP-43 indicating they were
unfit for combat. Most of the aircraft that were not sent to China were modified
for photo-reconnaissance duties and used for training. Eight P-43s (four
P-43a-1s and four P-43Ds) were loaned to the Royal Australian Air Force in 1942
and served with No. 1 Photo Reconnaissance Unit, based at Coomalie Field, 60
miles south of Darwin in the Northern Territory. The RAAF flew many long range,
high-altitude photo reconnaissance missions before the six survivors were
returned to the USAAF in 1943.
Specifications (P-43A)
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 28 ft 6 in (8.7 m)
Wingspan: 36 ft 1 in (11.0 m)
Height: 14 ft 1 in (4.3 m)
Empty weight: 5,982 lb (2,713 kg)
Loaded weight: 7,418 lb (3,365 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 8,460 lb (3,837 kg)
engine, 1,200 hp (895 kW)
Performance
Maximum speed: 356 mph (573 km/h)
Range: 650 mi (1,046 km)
Service ceiling: 35,990 ft (10,970 m)
Rate of climb: 2,500 ft/min (13 m/s)
Power/mass: 0.16 hp/lb (0.27 kW/kg)
Armament
*
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