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Description
| Manufacturer: | Curtiss | |
| Base model: | P-40 | |
| Designation: | P-40 | |
| Version: | L | |
| Nickname: | Warhawk | |
| Designation System: | U.S. Air Force | |
| Designation Period: | 1925-1947 | |
| Basic role: | Pursuit | |
Specifications
| Length: | 33' 4" | 10.1 m | |
| Wingspan: | 37' 4" | 11.3 m | |
Propulsion
| No. of Engines: | 1 | ||
| Powerplant: | Packard V-1650-1 | ||
| Horsepower (each): | 1300 | ||
Performance
| Max Speed: | 364 mph | 586 km/h | 316 kt |
Known serial numbers
Recent comments by our visitors
| Sharon Bennett Richardson, TX | Here's another serial# I didn't see listed on the page.
Info is about my great-uncle: MACR# Date 25 Feb 43 Serial# 42-10534 A/C Type Curtiss P-40L-5-CU Warhawk Pilot Young, Howard W Service # Sqdn Group 310FS AF 58FG Status 1AF Comments No info on pilot at this time. Plane condemned salvage non combat Apr 7, 1945 Aircraft: Curtiss P40L-5CU Warhawk Date 25 Feb 1943 Squadron 310 FS Group 58 FG 1st Air Force 09/03/2010 @ 17:50 [ref: 29768] |
| Aaron F. Robinson Wilmington, NC | In order to improve the Merlin-powered Warhawk's performance in short-range combat, the P-40L version was created.
The P-40L (Model 87-B3) was basically a "stripped" version of the Merlin-powered P-40F-5-CU, in which 250 pounds of weight was saved by the partial removal of fuel, armament, and the like. The P-40L was otherwise virtually identical to the Merlin-powered P-40F-5-CU. Some of the P-40L production blocks featured planes with reduced armament and smaller capacity fuel tanks in order to obtain even more reduced weight and even better performance. The L-model was sometimes known as the "Gipsy Rose Lee", after the famous strip-tease dancer of the time. The P-40L-1-CU had the same fuel and armament as the P-40F. The P-40L-5-CU and subsequent P-40Ls had two of their wing guns removed to reduce the total armament to four 0.50-inch machine guns with 201 rounds per gun. Internal fuel was reduced by 31 Imp gal by the removal of front wing tanks. The P-40L-10-CU had electrical aileron trim tabs and engine control changes. The P-40L-15-CU had revised carburetor air filters and inter-aircraft signal lights. The P-40L-20-CU had radio and electrical changes and provisions for an incendiary (destruct) grenade. Despite the weight savings, the maximum speed of the P-40L was a mere 4 mph greater than that of the P-40F at rated altitude. One hundred P-40Ls were sent to Britain as Kittyhawk IIs with no mark distinctions from the P-40Fs. The RAF serials for the P-40Ls were FS400/FS499. 160 other P-40Ls reached the RAF as Kittyhawk IIIs. Their serials were FL714/FL730, FR116/FR140, FR385/FR392, and FR413/FR521. A certain number of P-40Ls were selected at random and were withdrawn from operational service and modified with the adoption of the 1360 hp Allison V-1710-81 engine in place of the original Merlin. These were used as advanced trainers. They were redesignated P-40R-2. At least 53 P-40L-->P-40R conversions took place which can be identified by serial number, but there were probably many more. 01/21/2010 @ 06:52 [ref: 25610] |
| Alba Brusa , OTH | Recently founded in TirrenoSea - Italy - one almost yet perfect Curtiss-P40L.Actually it is into
""Museo of Piana delle Orme" not so far to Roma. Please note: www.pianadelleorme.it" If I've well understood, it it should be the only one type L complete, actually. Best whishes. 04/04/2009 @ 15:27 [ref: 24074] |
| John B. Mier , IN | My uncle, Roman Mierzejewski, flew a P-40L with the 317th Fighter Squadron, 325th Fighter Group out of N. Africa. He was lost on a mission over Sardinia 28 JUN 43. Does a
P-40L exist in a museum anywhere? If anyone flew a P-40L, please tell me a little about it. Thank you 01/26/2001 @ 11:22 [ref: 1468] |
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