The story
The P-40 was not the best fighter of the war, but it was the one America had when the war began, and it was built in numbers: nearly 14,000 across Tomahawk, Kittyhawk and Warhawk variants. The Flying Tigers in China painted shark mouths on theirs and made the type famous; it fought in North Africa, the Pacific and Russia. Many of the survivors that still fly wear the shark mouth.
The Flying Tigers copied their shark-mouth nose art from a photograph of an RAF P-40 squadron in North Africa, which had copied it from a German Bf 110 unit.
Quick answers
How do you identify a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk?
A deep chin radiator under the nose that gives the shark mouth its jaw, a long greenhouse canopy with a razorback behind it, and a tailwheel. The shark mouth does most of the identifying.
What does a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk sound like?
An Allison V-12 with a harder, flatter note than a Merlin.
How fast is the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk?
Top speed is 313 kts.
How many people does the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk carry?
Typical configuration: Single pilot.
How far can the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fly?
Range is about 622 nmi.
How big is the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk?
It is 31 ft 9 in long and 37 ft 4 in across the wings.
When did the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk first fly?
Its first flight was in 1938.
How many Curtiss P-40 Warhawks have been built?
13,738 built.
How rare is a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk in Bogey?
RARE. A good day. Most spotters go weeks between sightings of something this rare. Your first Curtiss P-40 Warhawk catch is worth 250 points.
