![]() ![]() During the war, the US Government and the Allies required more aircraft to fight the Axis.Īs such, Republic Aviation and North American Aviation were contracted to build as many Thunderbolts and Mustangs as physically possible. Prior to the war, the P-47 and P-51 were initially quite successful, as they replaced earlier biplane designs. In accordance with the naming protocols of the time, the NA-73X was designated as the P-51 Mustang in British, and later American, service. However, the name NA-73X had to be changed. After a few minor changes, the British were happy with the NA-73X. Although the frames were built in the US, the engines and much of the cockpit were British-made. ![]() The British were initially impressed with the NA-73X. The first NA-73 prototypes would enter production only 102 days after the RAF approached North American. The British loved this design and ordered almost on the spot. The RAF were interested, and asked for North Ameircan to send over some drawings.Ī few months later, North American sent over drawings for what it called the NA-73X. However, North American informed the RAF that not only could they produce a better fighter than the P-40, and at a cheaper price. ![]() To do this, they contacted North American Aviation, initially, they wanted Curtiss P-40s manufactured under license. With this, Britain’s RAF decided that it wanted to expand its roster of monoplane fighters. This allowed US companies to sell weapons and machinery to Britain without congressional approval beforehand. In 1938, the British government established the Purchasing Commission with the US Government. P-51 Mustang Photo courtesy of Michael Whyte via Flickr. The USAAC were happy and designated it as the P-47 Thunderbolt, before it entered service in November 1942. The XP-47 made its first flight on May 6 1941, with Republic making minor adjustments along the way. ![]() The USAAC liked the reengined AP-10, and begun tests on it, designating it as the XP-47. However, the USAAC believed that the aircraft was underpowered, and would too become irrelevant within a couple of years.Īs such, Republic and Kartveli began to work on a reengined variant of the AP-4, which it called the AP-10. When the USAAC contacted Republic, they offered the AP-4 design. At the same time, Georgian immigrant Alexander Kartveli, was working for Republic Aviation, where he was working on a design he called the AP-4. Compared to newer fighters, the P-35 was slow, too light and wasn’t maneuverable enough to win in a dogfight.Īs such, the USAAC began looking for a replacement for the P-35. This was one of the first full metal fighters in use with the United States Army Air Corps.īy the Spring of 1940, the P-35 had become irrelevant. Not merely who built them, but why, and what purpose they were initially intended to serve. P-47 vs P-51: The Basicsīefore we can compare both the P-47 Thunderbolt and the P-51 Mustang, we first need to know some background on both aircraft. The Thunderbolt in particular, would act as a fighter-bomber for US forces. Other aircraft (or variants of a particular aircraft) would act as interceptors, bombers and fighter bombers to name but a few. For the most part, WWII-era fighters were escorts for the larger bombers, which would level the city’s factories and occasionally, the residential areas. The P-51 was a fighter aircraft during WWII, with it being solely used by the British and Americans for this purpose.Ī fighter would fly from an Allied airbase and attack the enemy country. Perhaps the worst culprit of this is the cult-classic, Top Gun.ĭuring the time of the P-47 and the P-51, the world was a very different place. Today, the general public believes that any small, comparatively fast aircraft is a fighter aircraft, when that is simply not the case.įor the most part, this is due to a few wildly successful aviation-themed movies. Today, the term “fighter aircraft” has become a very term. Since the end of the war, and the retirement of the aircraft, people have wondered which was better, the P-47 or the P-51?Ī while ago, we covered the Hurricane and Spitfire, by all accounts, the British equivalent to the dynamic duo of the iconic Thunderbolt and Mustang. During WWII, the Republic P-47 and North American P-51 served alongside one another in almost every battle. ![]()
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