P-40 Warhawk | Behind the Wings

[@seumasnatuaighe]

My dad had a P40 in North Africa and he was pretty happy with it. My mom was also happy with it since he came back in one piece.

[@rmacdonald7543]

makes perfect sense to me. You should be, too!

[@hghhhffhfhfhf3401]

Ok??so whats the point?

[@bluemarshall6180]

@@hghhhffhfhfhf3401 he was made inside the P-40.

[@bluemarshall6180]

So you where made inside the P-40.

[@robertelmo7736]

Well, halfway.

[@Burgeeerrrz]

By far one of the most underrated aircraft shows on KZbin. You guys deserve more subscribers and views. Good job and keep up the hard work

[@drivinmiatas5068]

i watch it everyday

[@Airracer83]

Let’s set the record straight; The P-40 was a low altitude Air Superiority Fighter and close air support aircraft. It was designed to protect the US coastlines from an invasion. It was, by far, the best and most capable fighter we had when WWII began. It served in every theatre of the war and was in production through November 1944. If it was not performing well, it would not have been in production that long. It was our third most produced fighter. Below 10,000’ and below 250mph IAS, the P-40 would not be outclassed by anything. In a direct comparison to the P-51, for example, below those two numbers, the P-40 will out-accelerate, out-climb, out-turn, out-dive and out-roll the P-51. Once you exceed either of those numbers, the P-51 will walk away. What the P-40 is not, is a long range, high altitude escort fighter. That’s where the P-51 blows it away, and essentially won the European air war for us. But that was a completely different mission. When WWII began, no one knew bombers would need escort. It is, without a doubt, the fastest rolling fighter we ever built. And as far as climbing goes, 15,000’ in 5.1 minutes is very capable. The kill ratios attained by the P-40 speaks for themselves. Both against the Japanese and the Germans. I find it unfortunate that these falsehoods about the P-40 are out there and repeated so often. But they are based in fiction, not fact. She was the backbone of the USAAC for a long time and continued supporting operations till VJ Day. The allies would have been in a really bad place without the P-40. She deserves proper credit.

[@rmacdonald7543]

Exactly, different planes, different roles.

[@Jacob-we3lt]

Couldn't have said it better

[@JohnDoe-it1vq]

Absolutely! The p-40 was probably the best fighter for low altitude support operations. The N model hit 378 mph at 10,000 feet, which is FAST!

[@bamther5718]

In 2000 took a ride in Planes of Fame (Chino,CA) P 40 that was with the New Zealand at during WW2. THEY rigged a seat behind the pilot I squeezed into. The P 40 was then in the movie Pearl harbor and the scenes shot of Ben Affleck flying was this plane. My ride rocked since my pilot flew F 15' during 1st gulf war. We flew inverted, barrel rolled ECT. Great plane!!

[@louiszierlein5814]

I have a cousin who was in the AVG in armament. My father was a mechanic in the U.S.A.F. The P-40 has been my favorite airplane since I knew what an airplane was. I had the chance to buy a complete P-40 without an engine years ago for $60,000. A few years later when I figured I could barrow enough to get it done, I went back, but it was gone. I come from a family of aviators that dates back to WWI. I hope some day I will be able to own a P-40, but it doesn't look very promising. My best years are behind me and the price for parts to even start on one is well beyond me. At one time there were a lot of parts in other countries, but they have learned of their value and are asking more than I could ever come up with.

[@jack-n-the-bots2926]

Glad to see it hasn't been painted in Flying tiger markings. Sidney Woods was a real hero as were all of those who fought the Japanese in the desperate early days of the Pacific war. I knew many of them and they are largely forgotten. Thank you to Pima for honoring them

[@scottyb68]

I know it was outclassed by the likes of the P51, but the P40 is my favorite fighter. It looks like a fighter should look like.

[@JohnDoe-it1vq]

The p-51 was actually not better in every way than the p-40...the p-40 could roll and turn much quicker, was more durable, and was a fast beast at low altitude. The p-51 was the ultimate long range, high altitude escort fighter.

[@jameshoopes6467]

Love the P40! Had multiple models built and hanging in my bedroom as a kid.

[@AlaskaTrucker]

I have stood next to this very P40E and even have it featured in two of my own videos. Beautiful job on the restoration, by the way. An interesting fact is that the P40 actually began its life with a radial engine as the P36 before acquiring the Allison V12 and then being designated as P40. What has always interested me was the fact that the Merlin Rolls-Royce engine was experimented with in the P40F, replacing the Alison 1710, however, this resulted in only nominal success. Apparently the extra horse power of the Merlin really didn't matter - the aerodynamics of the P40 limited its speed, regardless of the extra horse power. For this same reason, the Merlin powered P40F also retained the three bladed prop even though the later, Merlin powered, Mustangs and Spitfires transitioned to a four bladed prop. The Merlin P40F is easily recognizable with lack of the top air scoop. ...For myself, although I love the P51D and Spitfire Mk9, I don't think there has ever been a single engine aircraft more esthetically pleasing as the P40E, yet all of these vintage warbirds are awesome and beautiful in one way or another. Great video!

[@SemperFighting]

Ridgeview Warhawks High school, is my kids high school and their official mascot is WW2 P-40 Warhawk. It is fully restored and does fly overs of our football field on the 1st day of school and homecoming football games. It makes its home at a local WW2 flying museum, just down the road in Nampa, Idaho.

[@travisbrewer5391]

P-40s, we have those at the Warhawk Air museum in Nampa, Idaho. The ones used in making the movie Pearl Harbor.

[@davidhutchison3343]

An underrated aircraft, but NOT the third most produced aircraft built by the allies. It was the third most produced fighter built by the US. Still a neat record.

[@williameudy6615]

Pima is an exceptional museum. It is second on my list of favorite American aviation museums right after the Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

[@rrudydedogg3779]

The Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola is pretty good, too. Many rare aircraft and displays to see. Well worth going to.

[@williameudy6615]

Rrudy DeDog I went to Pensacola in 1965 with my CAP cadet squadron we stayed a few days and had a great time. I’m sure it’s much bigger now.

[@steveperry1344]

i'm crazy about those planes too, i'm drooling on the keyboard, thnx for the tour.

[@johnosbourn4312]

This P-40E in the hands of the RAF, RAAF, RZNAF, and the RCAF would've been known as a Kittyhawk MK-1.

[@terifarley4770]

109F is too cool!

[@troy9477]

Definitely a great plane. It was the first one to take the war to the Japanese, with the AVG. Glad to see they paid tribute to the LtCol with the nose art. Glad to see tge later model went to 6 50 cal guns. The early models had a mix of 30's and 50's, which makes logistics that much more complicated. Plus the 30 cal really isn't all that powerful against aircraft. But 50 cal API works great, as we found out. Pima is on my list of places to go. Got to hit the other CA ones first. I have also been to Museum of Flight in Seattle- another great one. And of course i have not been to the Smithsonian yet either.

[@mssmith3604]

Put Darwin, Australia on your list. A Yank squadron of P-40s tried to defend the city when the Japanese came to bomb it, but the former were wiped out. Great museums there featuring the event.

[@troy9477]

@@mssmith3604 - You know, i did hear that story. Thanls for the tip. Glad we were able to help our allies🙂

[@rodhigh7]

I live in Tombstone, AZ, one of Arizona best known tourist attractions. I also live 75 miles from the Pima Air Museum which is the greatest Arizona attraction, as far as I am concerned !

[@Turbodog1]

Matthew, you and me would have to fight each other to get in the P-40's cockpit. :D

[@Halinspark]

Warhawk, Tomahawk, Kittyhawk. Lotta names for this one.

[@mattdaugherty7865]

Yeah, I never really understood the difference!

[@JohnDoe-it1vq]

@@mattdaugherty7865 Warhawk= American, Tomahawk= British P-40 A-D, Kittyhawk= P-40 E and later

[@Duffy568]

i love this series

[@stephendecatur4510]

Look at the collection director's face at 1:30. That's a look of a man that knows that the most produced Allied aircraft in the war were not Mustangs, Thunderbolts and Warhawks. The Soviets produced more than twice their number in Yaks and IL-2s. And there were more B-24s and Spitfires than than there were Mustangs.

[@mikejohnston3638]

I thought he was gonna say a Japanese Zero under the tarp. They are way more rare to see then an ME 109

[@brettcoster4781]

I was hoping for a Ki-43 Hayabusa, which was the actual fighter that RAAF Kittyhawks and 49th FG USAAF P-40s fought against. Or perhaps a Ki-61 Hien.

[@eddiet204]

Bro, you have one of the coolest jobs around.

[@pukalo]

My favourite plane of all time.

[@dunbar555]

Love your videos! Salute from Switzerland

[@babyskinboots5291]

I live in Tucson I’ve been up close to that P-40 only about a 10 minute drive away from me

[@PawkoZielarz]

I love P40 ...it just badass looking!

[@causwayspeedway]

Love this kind of stuff,so informative but wish it was longer.. BRAVO!!!

[@goshnodo]

Thumbs up! I want to own a P40.

[@theboyscout0156]

1:05 look at the green shirts face

[@zalaathrun20]

hopefully down the line there's an episode on the P-51 Mustang and F-86 Sabre.

[@jmmartin7766]

The P-40 might have been "the third most produced aircraft by the allies," but it was (and still is) THE most beautiful aircraft to ever grace the heavens-- No, really! No bias here, AT-ALL... just pure ol' fact! 🖐😆🖑

[@renardgrise]

The Brits claim that the Spitfire holds that title, haha. I like both... and the 109... they all have that Iconic WWII look to them.

[@brettcoster4781]

Third most-produced US-built FIGHTER. Both the Il-2 and Spitfire had more aircraft produced than the P-51, P-47, and P-40.

[@Idahoguy10157]

P-40; a WW2 overachieving underdog

[@the-mailmann]

Dang never knew big chungus became a human

[@f900ex5]

Matthew let me know when you're at the museum, I live close by. I know a person who has a serviceable P-40 and they need to find a new museum for it.

[@indyjons321]

I wish I was there to be able to Nerd out about airplanes too.

[@tplyons5459]

Theo Weissenberger's plane, what a find!

[@ericstir8720]

Nice series, if you ever need to expand for more content, the air mobility command museum at Dover Air Force base in Dover, Delaware has dozens of planes, including a B-17, C-47, C-5, C-141 and looks like they are now restoring a B-29! Come on over it’s only 80 degrees here lol

[@MrNx74205d]

You keep pulling out all these wonderful details. There are a lot of amazing aircraft at PASM. I hope you return. Please consider adding a few more minutes to your videos....

[@terifarley4770]

P40F is the coolest one, kicked ace in North Africa!

[@haroldellis9721]

Yes, but it is a dry heat.

[@bdh985]

Awesome videos. Can we please get one on the F-14A at Wings over the Rockies?

[@Wings_Museum]

It's on the agenda, don't worry!

[@USMC--me3ig]

Awesome

[@hunterlayne6449]

Matthew, could you explain in a later video how the “holographic” sights on old fighter aircraft like this work? I’ve not found any videos on that topic.

[@glennledrew8347]

Hunter, Those optical sights were not 'holographic'. They operated on a very simple optical principle. The lens provided a collimated image of the illuminated reticle. Hence they were termed collimating sights. The lens is located exactly one focal length from the reticle. For instance, when you focus the tightest image of the Sun on an ant (I hope you no longer do this! ;) ), the lens is one focal length from the solar image. If you were then to look into the lens at the magnified ant, its virtual image would lie at optical infinity. Meaning that your own eye's lens would be focused exactly as for a very distant object, and not for the true distance of the ant. Back to the sight. Because the collimated image of the reticle appears to lie at optical infinity, it exhibits no parallax. That's the key! Because as the pilot's eye wanders about when maneuvering, or in turbulence, the reticle remains always where the guns are pointing. An iron sight, in the other hand, has two nearby components (the ring and the post/bead). Just a small displacement of the eye from the correct sight line ruins the aim. The collimated optical sight completely overcomes this. The bigger the collimating lens, the farther the eye can move about. For instance, the N-2 sight shown in this video has a 2" diameter collimator. And so the pilot's eye can only move about within the same 2" diameter cylinder and still see the reticle's central pipper. The later N-9 sight (1944) has a bigger 3" lens, thus affording a commensurately larger range of eye displacement. The angled window of the sight merely redirects the collimated image toward the eye, superimposing the reticle upon the scene beyond. The lens does not project the reticle upon the window; said window acts like a beam splitter, combining two images. Depending on the size of the reticle, the diameter of the collimating lens and the distance of the reflector glass above the lens, there will be a maximum distance at which the eye can lie from the sight and still permit see the full reticle. That's because of another benefit of a collimated image; no matter how near or far one is from the sight, the reticle's angular size does not change. If it's 100 mils in diameter, it will be so whether one is reclining back in the seat or leaning right up against the sight. But the apparent size of the sight's reflector plate and collimating lens *do* vary with viewing distance. And so sighting is easier when the pilot leans at least somewhat toward the sight. That's the Coles Notes version. Hope this helps!

[@troy9477]

@@glennledrew8347 - Thanks for posting that. I too have wondered how the old sights worked. Great research!

[@Tommy-iw4yv]

You need a lot more views

[@thundercrosssplitattack2064]

Can you do the ME262? :D

[@gabrielcooper1248]

Not anyone has access to a rare ww2 jet

[@seadog1988]

there is one at the pensacola navalavation museum

[@gabrielcooper1248]

@@seadog1988 Yes but it the person making the videos near that museum

[@matthewbalberchak9510]

Jacob Qualls The one at Pensacola was actually on loan to a museum near me but I missed the opportunity to see it :(

[@RemoteViewr1]

Just as jazzed as you are.

[@clone905]

BF-109

[@TheElnots]

[@willgibson9718]

Bam ! That is a me 109 f 0n 4:32 can you please make a video about behind the wings p40 pbs ?

[@joeyhammet1]

Behind the wings is the tail of the aircraft

[@GVBiggs524]

IF I HAD THE MONEY............. Can you imagine how the P-40 would have performed if it had been equipped with a Merlin?

[@kennysherrill6542]

There were models with the Merlin.

[@tachanashi7005]

Aye I've been there twice and I took a pic of that aircraft

[@frederickherring4550]

So it wasn't a Mustang, or a Spitfire. But it sure looks soo good. it looks like a real fighter. Killer Clive Caldwell liked it.

[@vrosi1963]

lets see a update on the me-109 restoration

[@MrNx74205d]

The next time you are in Tucson, look me up. There are other surprises out here. For example, if you visit the student union of the University of Arizona, one of the study rooms is full of artifacts from the USS Arizona. Go up one floor and there is the one of her bells. I ran my hand across it wishing it could talk.

[@garypugh1153]

Nice video. Like WW2 airplane porno 😎

[@ojicus1444]

yeee ive Been to the pima air

[@williamtauriello1581]

My Dad was a designer for Curtis Wright before the war. I found out only recently that he may have been one of the designers of the P-40. When I contacted Curtis, I was told everything before 1990 was with the Smithsonian. When I contacted them, they tried to sell me subscriptions. So I wrote to President Trump. I’ve received a letter back from the White House that my inquiry is being routed to the proper people for response. I ju

[@williamtauriello1581]

Cont’d: I’m no different than any other kid wanting to know about his Dad and a legendary fighter plane. Just pending the next response. And I live in AZ, Pima is on the agenda

[@thephilster6860]

Call the US Air Force Museum in Dayton. Ask for an historian. Same with NASM. Call them back again, and ask to speak with a historian.

[@wanhapatu]

Wait what, you found an BF-109 from Finland? Where and how?

[@left_ventricle]

Third most produced aircraft...P-51 first and P-47 second... All of ‘em were produced less than a Spitfire. How do you think about that?

[@Idahoguy10157]

The third most American Army built pursuit aircraft of WW2

[@martijn9568]

Il-2, Yakovlev fighters, Messerschmitt bf-109??

[@dougcastleman9518]

Wombat Well, he did say Allied, so the BF is out...but he should have just said American, of course.

[@coyote_bandit7026]

Britan was involved in WWII since 1939, but America had been involed since late 1941. The British fought longer, so it makes sense that they built more planes than the Americans.

[@lonzo61]

Actually, the B and C models had four .30 cal guns in the wings, and two .50 cal guns on top of the cowl. With the E model, indeed, it went to three .50 cal guns in each wing. Sorry to have to buzz you dude. Hey, ya'll work in a warbird museum!

[@Bunjamin27]

The host is really overdoing it..

[@patrickwentz8413]

Boys and their toys.

[@elix5788]

Do the yf-23 please

[@CornMatterToo]

You’re channel is amazing but I thought the 9th level of hell was frozen ;)

[@maxcchiru]

Come out Here to Sinsheim, germany. They got a Concorde and a TU-144... The Cockpits aren't Open but maybe they Open em Up for you guys...

[@warhead5043]

REEEEEEEEEEEE ME-109 REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

[@julianneale6128]

The P40 might have been the most produced aircraft built by the USA after the P51 and then P47, but the Allies built far more Spitfires than any P51, P47 or P40...

[@holton345]

Republic P-47 Thundrebolt - 15,636 North American P-51 Mustang - 15,588 (+ 200 built in Australia, so actually 15,788) Curtis P-40 Warhawk/Kittyhawk - 13,738 Supermarine Spitfire (all marks) - 20,351 Considering how many years the Spitfire was in production I would have expected "far more" of them. Hmm... It seems that the US, however, outproduced the UK in aircraft as a whole (as well as pretty much every other thing imaginable), and they did it over fewer years. England never once produced as many as 27,000 aircraft in any year of the war (over 26,000 for two years only, FAR less in other years), while the US more than doubled UK output once they had entered the war. (Perhaps the UK had to produce so many Spitfires due to losses over the lack of simple fuel injection? They did get shot down an awful lot. Whatever. Apples and oranges.) The UK still quite welcome for all that food, medicine, clothing, fuel, ammo, ships, planes and many, many other things we pretty much gave them for free *before* we came over to save them from starvation and possibly invasion. (Google the war debt to see how much the UK actually paid back for all the US gave them.) Cheerio. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_aircraft_production

[@arrowbflight5082]

@@holton345 The U.S.A and Great Britain signed an agreement known as " lend lease ." The Brits can certainly testify to the fact they got their pouch screwed right clean off. No one, and i mean no one got anything for " free " from the American's as you have noted. As for the Spitfire. She has a very impressive record of E/As shot down. Ta'ra.

[@scootergeorge9576]

Third most produced aircraft by the allies. Are you including our Soviet allies?

[@syedali9179]

Scooter George I’m guessing not because IL-2 would have been #1

[@Tirah5]

James has hiding most of the planes parts in his own trunk.

[@seanc.5310]

Lol! I was thinking something similar

[@paulsuprono7225]

Rotary . . . when ?

[@urabampot]

i bet James Stemm has never actually SAT in the cockpit of any of these aircraft

[@Guzzi_Cali2]

I guess he did. The cockpit of the P-40 semms to be a bit widened. He would have difficulties to get into the 109. The cockpit of the 109 is rather tight - even for slim guys.

[@fredferd965]

Please LOOSE that background music that you use between scenes. It's annoying.

[@elliottmeister9373]

It’s hot you say? Then take off your second shirt. 😂

[@romanace3432]

My great aunt made p40s.

[@stephen1137]

I hope she had help.

[@regdawgformerusmc]

IO just died and went to heaven!!!!

[@dmw1262]

Did he take his meds before shooting? :)

[@CptPandy-tj9ty]

*BF 109

[@acedogboy8421]

Excuse me bs. The early models only had 2 50s and 4 30s. Ive worked on these things and restored them.

[@lithostheory]

That's one pear-shaped dude.

[@A_Man_In_His_Van]

Quite a bit of estrogen in that, umm, man..

[@kirioes]

I fucking knew I would see a comment like this.

[@reallifescottsterling1471]

If I were you I would have gone to that f-16 behind you

[@davy1458]

Find a jug and do a video on that....p40 kinda sucked but it looked cool....p47 thunderbolt is my favorite

[@renardgrise]

I mean... the P-40 was great for it's time... it was just out-classed and out-dated by the start of the war... The Germans were scared of the P40 in North Africa... they were basically forced into boom and zoom tactics because those six 50 cals were lethal if you could get them on target.

[@davy1458]

@@renardgrise valid point...i often wonder if it could have become another Cinderella story like the p51 after the switch from the Allison to the Merlin....id like to have seen a p40 with a Merlin....if they ever built one in that configuration I've never heard of it...but we all know that the p51 had fair low altitude performance with it American made Allison but it was the Merlin swap that made it the Legend that it became. I'm more of a p47 fan...i love that it was so rugged and after the p51 took over as bomber escorts....the p47's seek and destroy missions against trains and infrastructure seems like it would have been an extremely fun and exciting type of mission to take a jug into.

[@renardgrise]

@@davy1458 They tried that actually with the P40-F... While it helped the high altitude performance some, it wasn't the match made in heaven that the P-51 and Merlin was... the P40 airframe was just too heavy really... Funny thing, the Allison actually performed great at low altitude ;-).

[@bfmcarparts]

Interesting subject material but too much goofy host.

[@rodhigh7]

ME 109 ? or BF 109 ?

[@Saskas-qy3qq]

rodhigh7 can say both but BF is better ,even messerschmitt bought the design.But it was original designed by the Bayrische flugzeugwerk (BF)

[@a.j.leonard964]

Been their love thoes planes

[@lyxivia]

woop woop

[@beeter3588]

Meanwhile I’d stare at the Black Widow statue

[@Boeing734]

I live in buffalo ny

[@FootLettuce]

GTA SA ogs be like: this is the RUSTLER

[@rickerson5787]

it is bf 109 not me

[@Wings_Museum]

Actually both are correct. Even Messerschmitt referred to the aircraft in internal documents as the Me109. MB

[@reesemcclain3261]

For someone who is big into the museum business you would think he knows Germans pronounce their W’s as V’s

[@MBCGRS]

Actually the P 40 is the 5th most produced aircraft by the Allies. Spitfire, P47, P51, Hurricane, P40... Assuming you are including other countries in your "Allies" list. Better hit the history books my friend. Also by the way Dante's 9th circle of hell is a FROZEN lake.

[@stephendecatur4510]

You're wrong about that. The Soviets were part of the Allies and they produced twice as many Yak-3s than the US made Mustangs. Also, you cite aircraft and not "fighter/pursuit" aircraft. If you factor in bombers like the B-24 and IL-2, the P-40 barely makes the top ten.

[@callanmanley7593]

James looks like he doesn't like Matthew.

[@yurycz8933]

+

[@MrKen-wy5dk]

2:25: "...went into the Air Force just before World War II"? The Air Force was not created until AFTER World War II.

[@obadiahhakeswill1741]

Should of stayed focus on the P40

[@stormtrooper1756]

ME 262 or me109

[@lt.bagelbites6969]

*It’s not Me 109 it’s Messerschmitt Bf 109 get it right*

[@tjdati7071]

Shush. It's the same thing