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BRAZILIAN AIR FORCE FAB * - BRAZILIAN AIR FORCE

8)CURTISS WARHAWK P-40

Total received: 89.

General characteristics:

Crew: 1

Length: 31.67 ft (9.66 m) Wingspan: 37.33 ft (11.38 m) Height: 12.33 ft (3.76 m)

Wing area: 235.94 ft² (21.92 m²)

Empty weight: 6,350 lb (2,880 kg) Loaded weight: 8,280 lb (3,760 kg)

Max takeoff weight: 8,810 lb (4,000 kg)

Powerplant: 1× Allison V-1710-39 liquid-cooled V12 engine, 1,150 hp (858 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: (310 knots, 580 km/h) Cruise speed: (235 knots, 435 km/h)

Range: 650 mi (560 nm, 1,100 km)

Service ceiling 29,000 ft (8,800 m)

Rate of climb: 2,100 ft/min (11 m/s) Wing loading: 35.1 lb/ft² (171.5 kg/m²)

Power/mass: 0.14 hp/lb (230 W/kg)

Armament

Guns: 6× .50 caliber (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns, 150~200 rounds per gun

Bombs: 250 lb (113 kg) to 1,000 Ib (453 kg), a total of 1,500 lb (680 kg) on three hardpoints (one under the fuselage and two underwing)

The first flight of one P-40 in Brazil occurred on 7th Aug 1942 and took place at Natal Airbase. In that same year they began their patrol duties over the adjacent sea. 6 were the P-40-E received. In 28 Oct 1943 seven more aircraft P 40-K added to 3 P 40 M model arrived at the base. The following P 40 were used in several Brazilian fighter groups:

6 P40-E delivered by the USAAF in 1942 based in Natal Parnamirim Field.

30 P 40 K delivered by the USAAF between November 1942 and March 1943, except 5 that were involved in accidents during the ferrying.

14 aircraft were dispatched to Recife, Ibura Field, and 11 transferred to Natal. From those 5 reported damaged 2 were later restored.

10 P 40 –M delivered by the USAAF in Feb 1943. Only 9 entered service being 4 at Natal, 3 at Salvador, Bahia, 1 at Recife while the 10th does not appear in records.

41 P 40-N received between Oct 1944 and March 1945 and distributed in several airbases as follows: 15 to Porto Alegre with the 3rd Fighter Group.

20 to Santa Cruz with the 2nd Fighter Group.

6 to Natal as part of a mixed group.

In all the Brazilian Air Force operated 89 Curtiss P 40 and only in 1954 they left active service when FAB entered in the Jet age when the already seasoned crews welcomed the British Gloster Meteor.

A nice view of 2 P 40 in a close formation. 89 aircraft were in use by several squadrons in Brazilian Air Force.

Above several P-40 seen parked at Parnamirim Field. Photo http://castropr.blogspot.com/

P 40 seen at Parnamirim Field. These fighters were one of the first batch of modern aircaft received by newly created Brazilian Air Force FAB.

One P 40 crashed at Parnamirim AFB upon a belly landing. Photo http://castropr.blogspot.com/

Above a nice view of Brazilian Air Force P 40 aligned at Parnamirim airfield. Soon they will take off for another patrol mission over a convoy in south Atlantic. Photo https://www.aereo.jor.br/