Grumman F4F (Goodyear FM) Wildcat

[famvburg]

     It was also used on the DHC Caribou.

What about an F4F fitted with a P&W R-2000, 1450hp radial? The extra 250hp would certainly improve proformance.

I've often wondered why this engine wasn't used on other aircraft, beside the C-54.

Imagine a B-24 with an extra 1000hp, or a PB4Y-2.

[famvburg]

     Not that it's an extra 1000 HP, but the fire fighting PB4Y-2s were fitted with R-2600s, props & cowling from B-25s, so they were about 500 HP more.

What about an F4F fitted with a P&W R-2000, 1450hp radial? The extra 250hp would certainly improve proformance.

I've often wondered why this engine wasn't used on other aircraft, beside the C-54.

Imagine a B-24 with an extra 1000hp, or a PB4Y-2.

[jorel62]

I don't really know where to post my question. But, I guess this is a good place as any... Did the US Army Air Corp. ever give the Grumman Wildcat of F4U Corsair a designation number? IE P-51

         Joe

[Maverick]

Joe,

I'm unaware of either getting even a preliminary designator for AF service whilst the Skyrocket (not taken up by anyone) got the P-50 moniker and I believe there was also a potential deisgnator for the AF version of the F7F.

Regards,

Mav

[Radish]

The designation for the F7F was P-65.

I'd suggest something like "P-41" for the Wildcat and "P-42" for the F4U Corsair?

From a British point of view, I wonder what the P-45 would be?....I'll get me coat.......

[jorel62]

Thanks everyone.......

[NARSES2]

The designation for the F7F was P-65.

I'd suggest something like "P-41" for the Wildcat and "P-42" for the F4U Corsair?

From a British point of view, I wonder what the P-45 would be?....I'll get me coat.......

And clear your desk 

[jcf]

Nope.

XP-41 = Seversky (modified P-35)
XP-42 = Curtiss (experimental version of P-36 used for cowling tests and later for all-moving horizontal tail research)
P-45 = Airacobra (designation changed to P-39C)

P-73 and P-74 were the only two designators that were not assigned.

Index of P (Pursuit) types from the Air Force Museum:
http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=1174

Jon

[sequoiaranger]

At first I thought that those un-assigned numbers in the seventies would be artificially high for a pre-war type of aircraft, but P-64 was just an AT-6 mod, and the Vultee P-66 was another, so it wouldn't be too far off, especially if the "Wildcat" type was the later FM-2.

So go for it!

USAAC Wildcat!

[Geoff]

The designation for the F7F was P-65.

I'd suggest something like "P-41" for the Wildcat and "P-42" for the F4U Corsair?

From a British point of view, I wonder what the P-45 would be?....I'll get me coat.......

And clear your desk 

You will then be escorted from the building.

[Martin H]

The designation for the F7F was P-65.

I'd suggest something like "P-41" for the Wildcat and "P-42" for the F4U Corsair?

From a British point of view, I wonder what the P-45 would be?....I'll get me coat.......

And clear your desk 

You will then be escorted from the building.

And dont bother asking for a refrence either

[PR19_Kit]

The designation for the F7F was P-65.

I'd suggest something like "P-41" for the Wildcat and "P-42" for the F4U Corsair?

From a British point of view, I wonder what the P-45 would be?....I'll get me coat.......

And clear your desk 

You will then be escorted from the building.

And dont bother asking for a refrence either

...and collect your P-45 on the way out.

[GTX]

What if when the RN ordered the Martlet Mk.II, they stuck with their preference for fighters to carry an observer:



Regards,

Greg

[GTX]

Not one that I would do but what if the French had actually received some of the Wildcats that they had ordered?  I'm curious to see what one would look like in Vichy French markings. 

Seconded - maybe also in Vichy colours?

Regards,

Greg

[sequoiaranger]

I kinda took a different route to a "Super Wildcat". Pushed to make a Wildcat-sized high-performance fighter, Grumman made the F8F "Bearcat". Here is the "early Bearcat" version with the turtleback and three-bladed prop. I painted it like Alex Vraciu's plane at the Marianas Turkey Shoot. It really looks like a Hellcat (or a "Super-Wildcat") until you examine the details-wing-root oil coolers, 4-20mm guns, fold IN rather than fold BACK landing gear, etc.

Modelwise: I took a Wildcat turtleback and carefully grafted it on a Monogram 1/72 Bearcat, plus a Hellcat's large, 3-bladed prop.