Aeroplane Heaven Republic P-47D Razorback

The P-47D ( or the Jug as it was affectionately known ) was one of the heaviest fighters of World War 2 with a fully laden P-47 topping the scales at a portly 8 tonnes. This weight required a very powerful engine. The same engine that powered the F6F Hellcat and the Vought Corsair, the Pratt and Whitney R2800. Coupled with an impressive load-out capability and very capable 50-caliber machine guns the Thunderbolt resulted in a very capable medium-range escort fighter and excellent ground attack fighter. But there was an issue. Visibility.

The Razorback whilst strong ( some returned safely with very large amounts of the plane damaged. ) had an issue with rear visibility. The fix was found by a visit to the RAF. The RAF also had this issue on some of their aircraft and had lent their design for canopies to another famous USAAF aircraft the P51 ( also available ). In this case, the answer lay in the Hawker Typhoon with an all-encompassing all-around vision of "bubble top". The Razorback was retired from production in favor of the Bubbletop

P-47s were operated by several Allied Air Forces during World War II. The RAF for example received 240 razorback P-47Ds, which they designated Thunderbolt Mark I. Since there wasn't a need for a high-altitude fighter in the RAF ( the superb supermarine spitfire filling that role admirably ) the RAF used their Thunderbolts as ground attacks. Rather like the Fairchild Republic A-10 thunderbolt in use today. And yes the A-10 takes its name from its WW2 grandfather - The P47-D "Thunderbolt".

LIVERIES

• 2 factory livery
• "Button Nose" 62nd Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Grou
• 42-25829, from 2/5 Lafayette, Alto (Corsica), 194
• "Zombie" of the 83rd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Grou
• "Kansas Tornado II" 510th Fighter Squadron, 405th Fighter Group, 9th Air Force
• "The Turnip Termites" 47th Fighter Squadron , 15th Fighter Group, 7th Air Force
• "DARING DOTTIE III" 342nd Fighter Squadron, 348th Fighter grou
• "Tony" 5F-A, 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron
• Tuskegee Red Tail 302nd Fighter Squadron from the 332nd Fighter Group
• "Bonnie" 348th Fighter Grou
• "bugs" 405th fighter group 9th Air Force
• "lady ruth" 19th Fighter Squadron 318th Fighter grou
• USSR Lendlease program livery