REPUBLIC P-47 THUNDERBOLT VARIANTS

XP-47-RE: Republic project that did not pass beyond initial design stage. It had a 1150-hp Allison V-1710-39, and was armed with .50cal nose guns and four 30-cal guns in the wing. Assigned serial 40-3051, the aircraft eventually turned into the XP-47B-RE.

XP-47A-RE: Same concept as above but with a lighter airframe and only nose guns retained. Serial 400 -0 3052 was allotted but the project did not pass beyond initial design.

XP-47B-RE: First of the Thunderbolts with P&W XR-2800-2 of 2000-hp. The turbosupercharger was mounted in rear fuselage. It first flew on 2 May 1941, but crashed and was destroyed on 8 August 1942. Bare metal finish. There were many design changes during the aircraft's life.

P-47B: Similar to the prototype but with many design detail changes including sliding canopy and metal covered control surfaces. GE A-13 turbosupercharger. Six or eight .50-cal guns could he carried. The first example completed during December 1941. The first five aircraft became pre-production test and evaluation machines. Production aircraft were assigned to the 56th and 78th Fighter Groups. Delivered in Olive Drab and Neutral Gray standard camouflage.

P-47C: The C-I-RE had an R-2800-21 engine, and six or eight .50-cal guns with 300-to 425-rpg, revised oxygen system and A7 -17 turbosupercharger regulator. First C-I-RE was completed on 14 September 1942. The C-2-RE had metal covered rudder and elevators, 128 were built. The C-5-RE just had radio and mast change: 362 were built.

P-47D: The D-I-RA, of which 114 were built, was the first Thunderbolt model built at the new Evansville (RA), Indiana, plant starting December 1942. It was similar to the C-5-RE. The D-I-RE had additional cowl faps, more pilot armor and a new radio and mast; 105 were built. The D-2-RA built at Evansville 0 (0 200 aircraft), was similar to the D-I-RE. The D-2-RE (445 built) was similar to the D-I-RE with minor improvements to the fuel system. 100 D-3-RAs were built, and were similar to D-2-RE. The D-5-RE 0 (0 300 built) was similar to the D-I-RE, but with modifications to fuel and hydraulic systems. The D-4-RA 0 (0 200 built) was similar to the D-5-RE. The D-6-RE 0 (0 350 built) was similar to the D-I-RE but had two-point shackles for a bomb or drop tank under the fuselage. The D-IO-RE 0 (0 250 built) was as the D-I-RE, with minor changes in the hydraulic system and the addition of a GE C-23 turbosupercharger. The D-Il-RE 0 (0 400 built) was equipped with a 2300-hp P&W R-2800-63 with water injection, while the D-11-RA was similar to the D-Il-RE, 250 were built. The D-15-RE (496 built) had wing stations for a bomb or drop tank under each wing panel and the increased payload, giving the ability to carry up to two 1000-lb bombs or three 500-lb bombs. The D-15-RA 7 (157 built) was similar to the D-15-RE. The D-16-RE (254 built) was similar to the D-11-RE but could use 1000 /0 150 octane fuel. Only 29 D-I-RA aircraft were built and they were similar to the D-16-RE. The D-20-RE (250 built) had a 2300-hp P&W R-2890-99 along with a raised tail wheel strut, GE ignition harness and other slight modifications. 187 D-20-RAs were built and they were similar to the D-20-RE. The D-21-RE had manual water injection control but was similar to the D-Il -RE, but aircraft were delivered in natural metal finish, 216 were built. The D-21-RA (224 built) was basically the same as the D-21-RE. 850 D-22-REs were built with a 13-ft Hamilton Standard paddle-blade propeller and A-23 turbosupercharger regulator. The D-23-RA (889 built) had a Curtiss Electric 13-ft paddle-blade propeller, The bubble canopy was introduced with the D-Z 5-RE (385 built) which had increased oxygen supplies and repositioned integral equipment with increased fuel capacity (270 US gallons). The D-26-RA (250 built) was similar to the D-25-RE. 615 D7 -277 -RE Thunderbolts were built and were similar to the D-25-RE except for minor fuel system changes. The D-28-RA (1028 built) was similar to the D-26-RA. 750 D-28-RE aircraft were built, and were similar to the D-25-RE, but with a Curtiss paddle-blade propeller. 800 D-30-RE aircraft were built, similar to the D-25-RE, but with rocket stubs for five HVARs under each wing panel. The D-0-RA (1800 built) was similar to the D-30-RE. The D-40-RA (665 built) introduced a dorsal fin for increased stability.

XP-47E: 41-6065 converted to have a pressurized cabin. Modified a number of times during testing life, it carried an R-2800-21 and -59 with Curtiss Electric and Hamilton Standard propellers. Its performance was similar to that of the P7 -47B except for higher speeds with new engine and propeller so production was not warranted.

XP-47F: 41-5938 was conversed from a P-47B to test a new laminar flow wing. It was a test aircraft only, with no armament. It was lost in a fatal crash on 14 October 1943.

P-47G: Twenty G-CU Thunderbolts were built by Curtiss at Buffalo, with R-2800-21 engines and Curtiss Electric 12-ft 2-in propellers, but they were basically similar to the C-I-RE. The first aircraft was finished in December 1942. Forty G-I-CU, similar to the C-5-RE, sixty G-5-CU aircraft, similar to D-I-RE, and eighty G-IO-CU aircraft, identical to the D-6-RE, and 154 G-15-CU, similar to the D-11-RE, were built. They were mainly assigned to the training role.