Home

Museums

Manufacturers

Mission

Airshows

Performers


Republic P-43 'Lancer'

Description
  Manufacturer:Republic
  Base model:P-43
  Designation:P-43
  Nickname:Lancer
  Designation System:U.S. Air Force
  Designation Period:1925-1947
  Basic role:Pursuit

Specifications
  Length: 28' 6" 8.6 m
  Height:14' 0" 4.2 m
  Wingspan: 36' 0" 10.9 m
  Wingarea: 223.0 sq ft 20.7 sq m
  Empty Weight: 5,654 lb 2,564 kg
  Gross Weight: 7,935 lb 3,598 kg

Propulsion
  No. of Engines: 1
  Powerplant: Pratt & Whitney R-1830-47
  Horsepower (each): 1200

Performance
  Range: 800 miles 1,288 km
  Cruise Speed: 280 mph 450 km/h 243 kt
  Max Speed: 349 mph 561 km/h 303 kt
  Ceiling: 38,000 ft 11,582 m

Known serial numbers
41-6668 / 41-6721


 

Recent comments by our visitors
 wedding decoration
 , CO
slim pants
lounge pants
high waisted pants
camo pants
leather pants
red pants
blazers
womens blazers
woman blazers
women blazers

06/25/2012 @ 00:10 [ref: 62092]
 chat
 cairo, CO
Thank u so much
شات الحب
تحميل مهرجانات
دردشه الحب
ديكورات جديدة
دردشه مصريه
اغاني سنجل حديثة
دردشة الحب
رسائل حب
شات مصريه
تحميل مسلسلات رمضان 2012
شات مصرية
يوتيوب
دردشة مصر
مشاهدة اون لاين
دردشه مصرى
تحميل افلام عربي
دردشة مصرى
صور حب
دردشه الشله
صور رومانسية
شات الشله
صور الفنانين
شات مصرى
صور اسلامية
شات بنات
اخر نكته
دردشه مصر
مركز رفع الصور
دردشة مصرية
برامج الكمبيوتر
شات مصر
ماسنجر
دردشة
مقياس الحب
دردشة نهر الحب
ازياء 2012
دردشة بنات لبنان
راديو مزيكا
دردشه نهر الحب
فوتوشوب
دردشه بنات لبنان
العاب الكمبيوتر
شات نهر الحب
تعليم الطبخ
شات ادما
ديكور 2012
شات بنات لبنان
ثيمات مسن 2012
فساتين سهره
دردشة الحلم العربي
mazika
زخرفه شات
دردشة ادما
توبيكات مسن
Chat girls
مجلة مزيكا
رمزيات ماسنجر
دردشة بنت السعودية
منتدي
دردشه بنت السعوديه
العاب بنات
شات بنت السعوديه
زخرفة انجلش
دردشة شقاوة
شات الحلم العربي
تطوير المواقع
دردشه شقاوه
طبختك
دردشه الحلم العربي
صور مسن
شات شقاوه
sitemap
زخرفه انجلش
rss2
زخارف انجلش
مزيكا
فساتين سهرة جنان
Code of Arab
دردشه حبنا
صور الفنانين
دردشة حبنا
بدل رجالي 2012
اضف موقعك
دردشه العنابى
اغاني شعبي
دردشة السعودية
اخبار مصر
دردشة الشلة
زخارف شات
بنات السعودية
صور حزينة
دردشه ادما
Romantic Wallpapers
شات
الثقافة الجنسية
شات حبنا
دليل بنات مزيكا
دردشة بنات مزيكا
منتديات بنات مزيكا
دردشة العنابى
منتدي الصور واللقطات
صور رومانسية 2012
فضائح الفنانين
صور الفنانين والمشاهير 2012
صور بنات 2012
صور شباب 2012
عالم حواء
شات العنابى
ازياء 2012
مكياج 2012
حوامل - ازياء حوامل - فساتين حوامل - ملابس حوامل
ازياء محجبات - فساتين محجبات - ملابس محجبات - صور ازياء فساتين محجبات 2012
فساتين سهره 2012
فساتين زفاف 2012 - فساتين عرايس - فساتين خطوبة زواج
صور حب 2012
صور بنات جميلة 2012
صور بوس ساخنه 2012
06/23/2012 @ 11:41 [ref: 61330]
 nate
 rutland, VT
the lancer was a great plane, all versions had a turbo installed, the main reason the aircraft were not used in combat by the united states, was the fact that the fuel tanks were not self sealing and no armor plating was ever installed, and although the fuel leaked from the wet wing arrangement, this was not un common with other aircraft such as the corsair. The lancer was built prior to the war and did not have the advantage of the war lessons like other aircraft. however, the p 47 was developed straight from the p43 with the addition of knowledge from the war. The numbers speak for themselves, the P 43 out performed the p 40, p39 and out performed the zero for speed and altitude, and was by far one of the most high altitude performing fighters of the war and had it been employed better would have had many successes especially at the on set of WW2 where it could have held the zeros off. But with only 272 built it suffered the same fate as many pre war aircraft with emphasis being placed on the production of the p 47 the p43 is a forgotten great airplane.
01/08/2012 @ 19:03 [ref: 51849]
 Alan
 Sydney, New South Wales, OTH
In 1958, a Lancer that went missing on a flight in Australia in 1943 was discovered at its mountainous crash site. It's a great pity that the remains weren't stored for later years like the present when experienced restorers could resurrect it. We have on display near Sydney the only complete Vultee Vengenance dive bomber that escaped scrapping as another significant WW2 preservation.
05/09/2010 @ 16:09 [ref: 26145]
 Aaron F. Robinson
 Wilmington, NC
The Republic P-43 Lancer was a progressive development of the Seversky P-35. It can be regarded as an "intermediate" between the P-35 and the superlative P-47.

During 1938, the Seversky Aircraft Corporation initiated work on two developments of the P-35. One was the AP-2, a conversion of an existing P-35 airframe with a Pratt and Whitney R-1830-19 radial containing an integral, medium altitude supercharger. The other was the AP-4, with a similar engine but with a turbosupercharger mounted in the rear fuselage aft of the cockpit. The airframes of the AP-2 and AP-4 were almost identical to each other, and both featured inward-retracting main undercarriage members.

The AP-2 was eventually delivered to the USAAC as the XP-41. It was unsuccessful in attracting any production orders. Initially, the AP-4 featured a close-fitting engine cowling and an inordinately large propeller spinner in an attempt to reduce drag. However, this arrangement caused cooling problems and a more orthodox radial cowling was fitted at an early stage. Initially, the AP-4 looked a lot like its P-35 predecessor--the cockpit was raised quite high and there was a large area of transparency behind the pilot.

On March 12, 1939, thirteen service test models of the AP-4 were ordered by the Army under the designation YP-43. Serial numbers were 39-704/716. The YP-43 differed from the original AP-4 in several respects. The cockpit was lowered in an attempt to reduce drag, the rear fuselage upper decking was raised, and the transparent area behind the cockpit greatly reduced. The tailwheel leg was made longer. The air intake for the turbosupercharger was moved from the port wing root and was mounted underneath the engine inside the deeper, oval-shaped cowling. The two 0.5-inch machine guns in the engine cowling were supplemented by a pair of wing-mounted 0.3-inch machine guns. The Pratt and Whitney R-1830-35 engine was adopted, offering 1200 hp for takeoff and 1100 hp at 20,000 feet.

The first YP-43s were delivered to the Army in September 1940. By this time, Major de Seversky had been ousted as president of Seversky, and his company had changed its name to Republic Aviation Corporation. The last YP-43 was delivered by April 1941, the type being given the name *Lancer*. Maximum speed was 349 mph at 25,000 feet. Initial climb rate was 2850 feet per minute. Service ceiling was 38,000 feet, and range was 800 miles. Wingspan was 36 feet, length was 27 feet 11 inches, height was 14 feet, and wing area was 223 square feet Weights were 5656 pounds empty and 7300 pounds gross. Although the weight of the YP-43 was excessive, the turbosupercharger gave the new aircraft a considerable advantage in both speed and operational ceiling over the earlier P-35.

However, by 1941, the Lancer was already outdated by the rapid advances in air combat technology that had taken place in Europe. It suffered from poor maneuverability and climbing performance, and lacked such modern innovations as armor protection for the pilot and self-sealing fuel tanks. Consequently, the Army did not anticipate ordering any more P-43s beyond the initial service-test contract. In fact, on September 13, 1939, the Army had already ordered eighty examples of the more advanced AP-4J from Republic under the designation P-44. However, combat reports coming out of Europe in the spring of 1940 indicated that even the P-44 would not be up to the task, and Alexander Kartveli began to consider the successor which was eventually to emerge as the P-47 Thunderbolt. On September 13, 1940, all work on the P-44 was cancelled in favor of the P-47.

It would seem, therefore, that the P-43 would have a rather bleak future. However, since the R-2800 Double Wasps that were to power the P-47 would not be available for some time, the Army felt that Republic's Farmingdale production lines needed to be kept busy in the interim. Consequently, the P-43 was ordered into production as a stop-gap measure.

Fifty-four P-43 Lancers were ordered by the Army in late 1940. Serial numbers were 41-6668/6721. They were virtually identical to the YP-43. The engine was the turbosupercharged Pratt & Whitney R-1830-47, delivering 1200 hp. The first P-43 was delivered on May 16, 1941, the last example being delivered on August 28, 1941. Maximum speed was 349 mph at 25,000 feet. Initial climb rate was 2850 feet per minute. Service ceiling was 38,000 feet, and range was 800 miles. Wingspan was 36 feet, length was 28 feet 6 inches, height was 14 feet, and wing area was 223 square feet Weights were 5654 pounds empty and 7810 pounds gross. Maximum takeoff weight was 7935 pounds. Armament consisted of two 0.50-inch and two 0.30-inch machine guns.

The P-43 was immediately followed by the P-43A, 80 examples of which were ordered. Serials were 40-2891/2970. Deliveries began in September of 1941. The P-43A was essentially the same as the earlier P-43, but differed in having the turbosupercharged R-1830-49 which afforded its full 1200 hp at 25,000 feet. Armament was increased to a full four 0.50-in machine guns, two in the fuselage and two in the wings. Deliveries began in September 1941. Maximum speed was 356 mph at 25,000 feet. An altitude of 15,000 feet could be reached in 6 minutes. Service ceiling was 36,000 feet, and range was 650 miles. Wingspan was 36 feet, length was 28 feet 6 inches, height was 14 feet, and wing area was 223 square feet Weights were 5996 pounds empty and 7435 pounds gross. Maximum takeoff weight was 8480 pounds.

In the USAAF, the P-43 went to the 1st Pursuit Group at Selfridge Field, Michigan, to the 55th Pursuit Group at Portland Field, and then to the 14th Pursuit Group at March Field, California. Their service life with these groups was quite brief, and they were quickly replaced by P-38 Lightnings as soon as they became available.

On June 30, 1941, 125 further examples were ordered with Lend-Lease funds for supply to the Chinese Air Force, although their primary purpose was still to keep the Farmingdale production lines occupied until the Thunderbolt could be ready. The Chinese Lend-Lease P-43s were designated P-43A-1. Serial numbers were 41-31448/31572. The P-43A-1 differed from the P-43A by having a Pratt and Whitney R-1830-57 engine with the same power. The four 0.50-inch machine guns were all concentrated in the wings. Some attempt was made to make the design more combat-worthy by adding such modern features as armor and self-sealing fuel tanks. Provision was made for the carrying of a 41.6 Imp. gall. drop tank, one 200-pound bomb, or six 20-pound bombs. maximum speed was 356 mph at 10,000 feet, service ceiling was 36,000 feet, and maximum ferry range was 1450 miles. Weights were 5996 pounds empty, 7435 pounds loaded, and 8480 pounds maximum. Wingspan was 36 feet 0 inches, length was 28 feet 6 inches, height was 14 feet 0 inches, and wing area was 223 square feet.

Production of the P-43A-1 was completed in March of 1942, and 108 of these aircraft were ultimately transferred to China. They saw a certain amount of action there, but they proved uniformly unequal to the task at hand. They were handicapped by poor maneuverability and inefficient self-sealing fuel tanks and achieved little success against the Japanese.

The USAAF always viewed the P-43 as only an interim type and considered it unfit for any combat role. None of the USAAF P-43s ever saw any action, being used strictly for advanced training in Stateside units. In 1942, most of the surviving USAAF P-43 and P-43A Lancers were converted as specialized photographic reconnaissance aircraft and redesignated P-43B. These were fitted with cameras in the rear fuselage. Most of these were used to train squadrons until Lockheed F-4s became available.

Conversions to P-43B standards also included those P-43A-1s which did not get sent to China. A total of 150 Lancers were eventually converted to P-43B standards.

Two other P-43As (serials 40-2894 and 40-2897) were modified as P-43C photographic reconnaissance aircraft, which were similar to the P-43B but with different photographic fixtures. Yet another set of modifications of existing P-43s (serials 41-6685, 41-6687, 41-6692, 41-6695, 41-6707, 41-6718) took place to produce the P-43D photographic version, which differed only in minor details from the P-43C.

The designation P-43E was applied to a projected but unbuilt photo- reconnaissance version of the P-43A with different types of fixtures.

In August of 1942, six Lancers were withdrawn from USAAF stocks and transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). They served with No. 1 Photo Reconnaissance Unit, based at Coomlie, Northern Territory. The aircraft were two P-43Ds (A56-1 and -2) and four P-43A-1s (A56-3 to 6). Two more P-43Ds (A56-7 and A56-8) were delivered in November of 1942. A56-6 was damaged beyond repair in a landing accident, and A57-7 went missing on April 28, 1943 on a flight from Wagga Wagga in central New South Wales (the wreckage was not found until 1958). The remaining six were returned to the USAAF 5th Air Force at Charters Towers in 1943. I don't think that the RAAF Lancers ever saw any combat.

In October 1942, surviving P-43s were redesignated RP-43, the R standing for "restricted from combat use".

Sources:



War Planes of the Second World War, Fighters, Volume 4, William Green, Doubleday, 1964.


The American Fighter, Enzo Angelucci and Peter Bowers, Orion Books, 1987.


United States Military Aircraft Since 1909, Gordon Swanborough and Peter M. Bowers, Smithsonian, 1989.


American Combat Planes, Ray Wagner, Doubleday, 1982


E-Mail from Gary Barns, Melbourne, Australia


Website of RAAF Museum, http://www.raafmuseum.com.au/research/index.htm



07/16/2008 @ 09:00 [ref: 22149]
 Aaron F. Robinson
 Wilmington, NC
On July 4, 1941 a P-43 from the 1st Pursuit Group crashed into a mountain in bad weather during a routine training flight. The pilot, Joseph Gable, was killed.
07/19/2006 @ 09:32 [ref: 13755]
 Tom Vanderberg
 , NY
Col. Robert Scott described the turbo-charged version of the P-43 in his book "God Is My Co-Pilot" (1943). The fuel tanks leaked, and because the turbo was underneath the rear of the fuselage, the planes were considered a fire hazard. That's why the Chinese hated them. Col. Scott fixed the leaks and flew a P-43A over Mt Everest to an altitude of 37,0000 ft.
06/27/2006 @ 04:10 [ref: 13605]
 Tom Currie
 , TN
I have a picture that I'll upload if I can find it/remember the site... shows a picture of Chinese Nationalist Lancers on the ground. The caption said that the Chinese mechanics were "disgusted" with the Lancer's unreliability. Considering the kind of junk the Chinese had to fly, that's a pretty serious condemnation. 350 mph doesn't sound bad, though.
10/03/2000 @ 21:19 [ref: 841]

 

Recent photos uploaded by our visitors