The story
The Thunderbolt was one of the heaviest single-engine fighters of the war, built around a turbosupercharged R-2800 and eight .50-calibre guns. It could absorb punishment that would have destroyed lighter fighters and bring its pilot home, and in the last year of the war it became the Allies' great ground-attack fighter, wrecking trains, tanks and airfields across Europe. A handful remain airworthy.
The turbosupercharger sat in the belly behind the pilot, and its ductwork filled about half the fuselage — which is why the Jug is so fat.
Quick answers
How do you identify a P-47 Thunderbolt?
The fattest single-engine fighter you will see: a deep belly, a huge four-blade prop, and either a razorback or a bubble canopy. Eight gun ports along the wings.
What does a P-47 Thunderbolt sound like?
The R-2800 at full song, with the turbo adding a whistle under the thunder.
How fast is the P-47 Thunderbolt?
Top speed is 386 kts.
How many people does the P-47 Thunderbolt carry?
Typical configuration: Single pilot.
How far can the P-47 Thunderbolt fly?
Range is about 895 nmi.
How big is the P-47 Thunderbolt?
It is 36 ft 2 in long and 40 ft 9 in across the wings.
When did the P-47 Thunderbolt first fly?
Its first flight was in 1941.
How many P-47 Thunderbolts have been built?
15,636 built.
What do crews call the P-47 Thunderbolt?
The Jug.
How rare is a P-47 Thunderbolt in Bogey?
RARE. A good day. Most spotters go weeks between sightings of something this rare. Your first P-47 Thunderbolt catch is worth 250 points.
