Host Jeff Ethell takes the viewer on a tour of the P-40 Warhawk at the National Warplane Museum in Geneseo New York.

Their P-40 is painted with Chinese insignia and the famous shark tooth nose and tiger marking of Clarie Chenneaut's American Volunteer Group (AVG) known as the "Flying Tigers" . The P-40 also had the highest kill to loss ratio in aviation history.

In flight, the plane is described as - real hot rod to fly. That pilots had great affection and loyalty towards. The cockpit fairly roomy compared to P-51. In flight, the view gets to observe the plane from the gunsight view, looking back at the pilot, and from an external chase plane through a variety of maneuvers and aerobatics.

The plane is armed with six .50 caliber machine guns charged with hydraulic switches, and triggered on the control switch. A handle arms external bomb, and a switch drops it. The tape is full of interesting facts about the P-40, like how the reflector glass gunsight aim guns or bombs, and an old fashion ring & bead sight - like those in WWI aircraft serves as a backup system if the gunsight fails.

Starting the engine is a unique process in the P-40. A button is used to push fuel into engine, while the flywheel and clutch are used to engage the engine. If the pilot manually pumps in too much fuel, engine flames out

The fight sequences are spectacular, the viewer can almost smell the burnt exhaust, and the audio quality is marvelous capturing the unique sound of the Allison engine in flight. Although the P-40 Warhawk was a nimble plane, it became technically obsolete by mid war. Despite this fact, many pilots still regarded it with great affection, and enemy pilots regarded a well handled P-40 a formidable adversary. In the China theater, many even preferred over mustangs when they became available!

As the video summaries, the Warhawk was wonderfully terrifying - skiddish, immediate to the place, rewarding, intolerant to errors. Vivid fleeting era that left the bi plane to fight a world war. For those lucky enough to fly one, its an exhilarating experience today as it was in WWII.

Last Updated
November 25, 2022