Though the bubble-canopy greatly increased the pilot’s ability to see rearward, the drastically altered aft fuselage produced a yaw stability problem.
Horizon hobby p47 series#
Other improvements added in this new aircraft series included engine upgrades, increased internal and external fuel capacity, and the fitting of dive recovery flaps. These new mordern-looking P-47s were quickly nicknamed “Superbolts” by the combat pilots that flew them. New batches of bubble-top Thunderbolts were deliveries to combat groups in May 1944. The first Thunderbolt to be so outfitted was a modified P-47D-5 completed in the summer of 1943. Taking cues from the British Hawker Typhoon and the North American P-51 Mustang, the Thunderbolt was eventually fitted with a bubble canopy. Originally the P-47 was designed with a “razorback” canopy configuration resulting in relatively poor pilot visibility to the rear.
When fully loaded the P-47 could weigh up to 16,000 pounds. For heavily-armored targets, the P-47 was frequently outfitted with two 500 lb bombs. It was used successfully in air combat but proved especially well-suited for ground attack missions dropping its bombs on primary targets and then hedge-hopping to find targets of opportunity to pummel with its eight. The P-47 had the reputation of being extremely hard to take out of commission and these warhorses often brought their pilot’s home with enough damage to have downed other fighters. Affectionately known as the “Jug,” the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, was the largest and heaviest WW2 fighter to be powered by a single reciprocating engine.
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