Republic P-47 Thunderbolt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids P-47 Thunderbolt |
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| XP-47N flying over the Pacific during World War II | |
| Role | Fighter-bomber |
| Manufacturer | Republic Aviation |
| Designer | Alexander Kartveli |
| First flight | 6 May 1941 |
| Introduction | November 1942 |
| Retired | 1966, Peruvian Air Force |
| Primary users | United States Army Air Forces Royal Air Force French Air Force |
| Produced | 1941–1945 |
| Number built | 15,636 |
| Unit cost | US$83,000 in 1945 |
| Variants | Republic XP-72 |
The P-47 Thunderbolt was a powerful fighter aircraft used during World War II. People sometimes called it The Jug. It was built by a company called Republic Aviation. The first P-47 flew in 1941, and it started being used in 1942.
This airplane had a huge Pratt and Whitney engine. This engine was very strong, with over 2,000 horsepower. Because of its powerful engine, the P-47 could fly faster than 430 miles per hour. It was known for having one of the biggest engines of its time. The P-47 also had 8 machine guns, which was more than most other fighter planes.
Role in World War II
At first, the P-47 Thunderbolt was a main fighter plane. It was used to fight other enemy aircraft in the sky. Its strong build and speed made it a tough opponent.
Changing Roles
By 1944, a new plane, the North American P-51 Mustang, became popular. The P-51 was lighter and could turn more quickly. Because of this, the P-51 started taking over the P-47's role as a fighter.
The P-47 then became very important for bombing missions. It was used to attack targets on the ground. It could carry bombs and rockets, helping ground troops. This new role made it a very effective "fighter-bomber."
After the War
The P-47 Thunderbolt was used by the American Air National Guard until 1955. Some countries, like the Peruvian Air Force, used it even longer, until 1966.
Today, there is a modern jet called the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II. This jet is named after the P-47. This shows how important the original Thunderbolt was in aviation history.
Related pages
Images for kids
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American prewar fighter Republic P-43 Lancer
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XP-47 model during wind tunnel testing
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P-47 firing its M2 machine guns during night gunnery
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A P-47 engine with the cowling removed: Uncompressed air enters through an intake under the engine and is carried to the turbosupercharger behind the pilot via the silver duct at the bottom. The olive-green pipe returns the compressed air to the engine.
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P-47 pilot Lt Col Francis S. "Gabby" Gabreski, 56th Fighter Group, leading ace of the 8th Air Force
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One of several gun-harmonization schemes used on the P-47: This one converged the eight guns into a point at about 1,100 ft (340 m) out front.
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Royal Air Force Republic Thunderbolt Mark I
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Lt. Jorge Paranhos Taborda, Brazilian P-47 pilot during World War II
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P-47D "Kathie" with a 75 US gal (62 imp gal; 284 L) drop tank buzzed the airfield at Bodney, England.
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USAAF P-47D "Razorback" configuration.
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RAF Thunderbolt Mk.II readying for a sortie over Burma. January 1945
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Republic P-47D-40-RE 44–90386 in flight firing rockets
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A Mexican P-47D Thunderbolt over the Philippines.
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A French Armée de l'air Republic P-47D Thunderbolt of Escadron de Chasse 3/3 "Ardennes".
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Two P-47 Thunderbolts of the Imperial Iranian Air Force over Tehran.
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P-47N technical drawing
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P-47 Thunderbolt 42–25068 at Duxford Air Show, 2012
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See also
In Spanish: Republic P-47 Thunderbolt para niños
