March/April Dakota Territory Air Museum P-47 Update

The P-47 has unusually complex wiring for a WWII era fighter because of the need to control the turbo supercharger as well as the more common instrument and control systems. This P-47 also had several components moved from their standard position as part of the field modification to install the Christmas tree tank.

The P-47D-23 was the last of the Razorback Thunderbolts.

The Evansville P-47D-23 and its Farmingdale built equivalent, the P-47D-22, incorporated several changes. The most visible difference was that both new versions had 13 foot paddle blade props. The D-22 used a Hamilton Standard Hydromatic 24E50-65 and the D-23’s prop was a Curtiss Electric C542S. Both symmetrical and asymmetrical blade shapes were used on the Curtiss Electric props.

The new 13 foot paddle blade props were designed to take full advantage of the increased power available with water injection. However, they had the disadvantage of leaving only 6 inches of ground clearance on landings and take-offs. 

The P-47’s rate of climb wasn’t an initial strong point in its performance envelope, so the 400 feet per minute gained with the paddle blade props was a definite improvement.

Another important improvement to the D-23 was the addition of a bullet proof windshield and jettisonable cockpit enclosure. Pulling a ring on the right forward edge of the canopy pushed the cockpit enclosure back far enough to be caught by the slipstream and blow off the Thunderbolt. Fuel capacity was also increased.