Time Period: World War II
Country of Origin: United States
Type: Fighter Aircraft
Manufacturer: Seversky Aircraft Company (Republic Aviation)
Seversky P-35 Aircraft Overview
The Seversky P-35 was a fighter aircraft developed in the United States during the 1930s. It was designed by Alexander Kartveli, a Georgian-American aeronautical engineer who later went on to co-found Republic Aviation and develop the P-47 Thunderbolt.
The P-35 was a single-engine, single-seat aircraft with a low-wing design. It was powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1830 radial engine and was armed with a combination of .50 caliber machine guns and 20mm cannon. The aircraft also featured a retractable landing gear.
One of the unique features of the P-35 was its all-metal construction, which was relatively uncommon for fighter aircraft at the time. The aircraft also had a clean, streamlined design and good performance, with a top speed of around 300 mph (480 km/h).
The P-35 saw service with the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) during the late 1930s and early 1940s. It was used for a variety of roles, including air superiority, ground attack, and reconnaissance. The P-35 also saw limited service with the Philippine Army Air Corps, which used the aircraft during the defense of the Philippines in 1941-1942.
Despite its good performance, the P-35 was soon outclassed by newer designs such as the Curtiss P-40 and the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. As a result, the type was quickly phased out of service, with many aircraft being sold to foreign countries or converted for use as trainers.
Today, only one original P-35 is known to survive. This aircraft is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.
Seversky P-35 Specifications
- Crew: One
- Length: 26 ft 10 in (8.18 m)
- Wingspan: 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m)
- Height: 9 ft 9 in (2.97 m)
- Wing area: 220 sq ft (20 m2)
- Empty weight: 4,575 lb (2,075 kg)
- Gross weight: 6,118 lb (2,775 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 6,723 lb (3,050 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1830-45 Twin Wasp radial engine, 1,050 hp (780 kW)
Seversky P-35 Performance
- Maximum speed: 290 mph (470 km/h, 252 kn) at 12,000 ft (3,700 m)
- Cruise speed: 260 mph (420 km/h, 230 kn)
- Range: 950 mi (1,530 km, 830 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 31,400 ft (9,600 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,920 ft/min (9.8 m/s)
- Wing loading: 27.8 lb/sq ft (135.8 kg/m2)
- Power/mass: 0.172 hp/lb (0.282 kW/kg)
Seversky P-35 Armament
- Guns: 2 x 0.30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine guns; 2 x 0.50 in (12.7 mm) Browning M2/AN machine guns
- Bombs: up to 350 lb (160 kg) of bombs.