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Historical P-40C Tomahawk

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P-40C Tomahawk
Role Homebuilt aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Historical Aircraft Corporation
Status Production completed
Developed from Curtiss P-40C Tomahawk

The Historical P-40C Tomahawk is an American homebuilt aircraft that was designed and produced by the Historical Aircraft Corporation of Nucla, Colorado. The aircraft is a 62.5% scale replica of the original Curtiss P-40C Tomahawk and when it was available was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.[1]

Design and development

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The aircraft features a cantilever low-wing, a single-seat enclosed cockpit under a framed aircraft canopy, retractable conventional landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.[1]

The aircraft is made from welded steel tubing covered in a shell of polyurethane foam and fiberglass. Its 24.50 ft (7.5 m) span wing, mounts flaps and has a wing area of 100.00 sq ft (9.290 m2). The cockpit width is 21 in (53 cm). The standard engine used is the 230 hp (172 kW) Ford Motor Company V-6 automotive conversion powerplant.[1]

The aircraft has a typical empty weight of 1,347 lb (611 kg) and a gross weight of 1,938 lb (879 kg), giving a useful load of 591 lb (268 kg). With full fuel of 42 U.S. gallons (160 L; 35 imp gal) the payload for pilot and baggage is 339 lb (154 kg).[1]

The aircraft has fairly lengthy runway requirements with a standard day sea level take-off distance of 1,200 ft (366 m) and a landing distance of 1,500 ft (457 m).[1]

The kit included prefabricated assemblies, the engine and scale fixed pitch propeller, instruments, avionics and even paint. The manufacturer estimated the construction time from the supplied kit as 2000 hours.[1]

Specifications (P-40C)

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Data from AeroCrafter[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Length: 21.27 ft (6.48 m)
  • Wingspan: 24.50 ft (7.47 m)
  • Wing area: 100.00 sq ft (9.290 m2)
  • Empty weight: 1,347 lb (611 kg)
  • Gross weight: 1,938 lb (879 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 42 U.S. gallons (160 L; 35 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Ford Motor Company V-6 four stroke automotive conversion powerplant, 230 hp (170 kW)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed fixed pitch composite

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 250 mph (400 km/h, 220 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 224 mph (360 km/h, 195 kn)
  • Stall speed: 61 mph (98 km/h, 53 kn) flaps and gear down
  • Range: 650 mi (1,050 km, 560 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 27,250 ft (8,310 m)
  • Rate of climb: 2,365 ft/min (12.01 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 19.38 lb/sq ft (94.6 kg/m2)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 177. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1