Time Period: World War II
Country of Origin: United States
Type: Fighter Aircraft
Manufacturer: Republic Aviation
Republic P-43 Lancer Aircraft Overview
The Republic P-43 Lancer was a fighter aircraft developed by the United States during the late 1930s. It was intended to be an improved version of the earlier P-35, which had been the first aircraft designed by Republic specifically as a fighter.
The P-43 was a low-wing monoplane with retractable landing gear, and was powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1830 radial engine. It was armed with two .50 caliber machine guns in the nose, and could carry up to 500 pounds of bombs or other stores on underwing hardpoints.
The P-43 entered service with the US Army Air Corps in 1941, but it was never produced in large numbers. It was mostly used for training and limited operational use, with a few examples being sent to China, where they saw combat against Japanese forces.
Overall, the P-43 was considered a disappointment due to its underpowered engine and lackluster performance, and it was quickly replaced by more advanced designs such as the P-47 Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang.
Republic P-43 Lancer Specifications
- Crew: 1
- Length: 28 ft 6 in (8.69 m)
- Wingspan: 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m)
- Height: 14 ft 0 in (4.27 m)
- Wing area: 223 sq ft (20.7 m2)
- Empty weight: 5,996 lb (2,720 kg)
- Gross weight: 7,435 lb (3,372 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 8,480 lb (3,846 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1830-49 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 1,200 hp (890 kW)
Republic P-43 Lancer Performance
- Maximum speed: 356 mph (573 km/h, 309 kn) at 20,000 ft (6,100 m)
- Cruise speed: 280 mph (450 km/h, 240 kn)
- Range: 650 mi (1,050 km, 560 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 36,000 ft (11,000 m)
- Time to altitude: 6 minutes to 15,000 ft (4,600 m)
Republic P-43 Lancer Armament
- Guns: 4 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns.
