About This File
NOTE: There are 2 downloads required - the main aircraft and its liveries - place the liveries in the downloaded aircraft folder as usual.
TheRepublic P-47 Thunderboltis a World War II-erafighter aircraftproduced by Republic Aviation from 1941 through 1945. Its primary armament was eight.50-caliber machine guns, and in thefighter-bomberground-attackrole it could carry 5-inch rockets or a bomb load of 2,500lb. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to 8 tons, making it one of the heaviest fighters of the war.
The Thunderbolt was effective as a short-to medium-rangeescort fighterinhigh-altitudeair-to-air combatandground attackin both theEuropeanandPacifictheaters. The P-47 was designed around the powerfulPratt & Whitney R-2800 18-cylinderradial engine. An advancedturbosuperchargersystem ensured the aircraft's eventual dominance at high altitude, while also influencing its size and design.
The armouredco*ckpitwas relatively roomy and thebubble canopyintroduced on the P-47D offered good visibility. Nicknamed the "Jug" owing to its appearance if stood on its nose, the P-47 was noted for its firepower, as well as its ability to resist battle damage and remain airworthy.
The default aircraft depicted here is the P-47D-25 – the first version with the bubble canopy. However, the previous version known as the Razorback is also included simply by choosing a livery starting with “Razor”.
The external 3D model and liveries for this aircraft were provided byMatt @MDIvey. I added the animations, plugin coding, PBR, 3d co*ckpit and 3d instruments, additional textures and FMOD. The flight model was developed starting from a V9 Thunderbolt developed by @vribeiroxdesign with his permission - a great kick start for me (Thanks Vasco).
XPlane:
The aircraft has a new 3d exterior model, has a new full 3d co*ckpit with 3dinstruments and fullFMOD sounds. The model has many extra animations including the canopy, engine cowlings, inlet vents, turbo vents and exhaust vents.The co*ckpit is a sim friendly, but mostly in the right place very recognisable version of the P-47 layout – with a few controls moved to be well placed for the sim pilot.
Main Panel: Usual selection of controls and instruments – the gun arm is lower left red cover switch (was originally on the left panel). At top right there are 2 switches – one to fly up the switch panel forward left by the pilots feet so that it can be used more easily – the other a 2d options panel that provides:
- Hamilton or Curtiss Eclectic props
- Square or round main drop tank
- IAS or TAS instrument (many WW2 test flights used TAS)
- Selection of bombs or 75G, 108G or 150G wing drop tanks
- A more modern radio
- An autopilot
Note the wing drop tanks are just eye candy – still bombs – so they don’t provide extra fuel and best not to drop them on the ground.
The Switch Box pop up has mainly the lighting controls. Note here if volts are in the red sector, you will have trouble starting. Also here is the emergency boost – this injects a water mixture into the carbs giving about 15% extra power for as long as the mixture lasts = about 15mins.
On the left side panels - the prop control left is just for show. The canopy can be operated by the red knobs or the side switch. The main quadrant includes the supercharger Boost lever – however this is linked just behind the action of the throttle (the way often used by pilots). Gear, flaps, trim and fuel controls are all operational to the left.
Note XP will always takes fuel from the droptank first – the fuel control will only move if the tank is dropped and will switch to main tank – Aux and Off can then be selected.
Start up is easy – flip the battery on, check fuel is either on the droptank or main tank.Cowl Flaps open (right forward panel).Press and hold the starter switch mid right until started.If this is a cold start then the red light above the starter switch may be red. If it is then the switch will need to be held for up to 10secs to set started.
Take Off:One notch of flaps, cowl flaps closed, brakes off and ease the throttle up. The Jug is certainly an aircraft in which you need to fly by the dials… Ease up the throttle to between 40 and 45 inches Manifold Pressure MP (right mid near centre) – that’s in the red but just for take off. On take off the torque will tendto dip the aircraft to the left, but that is just corrected with the stick.Once airborne – gear up, ease MP back into the green and get some altitude.
Cruising:When at cruising altitude bring down the prop RPM down (P on the quadrant) into the green(right mid centre instrument) and lean off the mixture (M on the quadrant) a little. Back to the original positions for attacking. Probably best to switch on the oxygen system now – its difficult to find if you are unconscious – the system is fitted with a yellow blinker to demonstrate flow.
Tests during real aircraft development in the 1940’s rate the aircraft as being capable of flying to 40,000ft – very very high for that time. This sim model will get there but you will need all the tricks in the book and the water boost. 30,000ft was more of a normal high altitude. You will need that oxygen on.
Landing:Flaps down say 2 notches, on settling to the runway brake gently.Don’t gun the throttle while taxiing or the rear wheel will lift and you may go head first.
The weapons pack a punch. 8 * M2 .50 calibre 13mm guns and 2 * 500lb bombs. The bombs are armed by the switch on the lower centre panel just under “BOMB OR TANK”.The P-47 was a formidable fighter-bomber due to its good armament, heavy bomb load, and ability to survive enemy fire.
There are 16 liveries - all USAF.
The aircraft runs well in AI - so withFMOD you can fill your local airfield with noisy Jugs.
PM me for a Paint Kit.
Enjoy
(And - thank you the XPFR Team for the pilot.)
