Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk, Manual

      P-40 Tomahawk manual

      
      This manual probably accompanied the AVG Tomahawks to Rangoon. It was 

      published by the British Air Ministry, and the title page says "Tomahawk 

      I". However, internal evidence (the engine designation and references to 

      the Royal Air Force blocks from which the China-bound Tomahawks were 

      taken) tie it to the Tomahawk IIBs sent to Burma for the AVG. On the other 

      hand, there is also some internal evidence (i.e., references to French 

      instrumentation) that the text was not brought entirely up to date, and 

      that some paragraphs may apply to the Tomahawk I or IIA models. 

      I copied the manual in 1989 at the National Air & Space Museum, which in 

      turn had copied it and other material from Larry Pistole's large 

      collection of AVG memorabilia. Pistole's collection was later acquired by 

      the Flying Tigers Association, and NASM's copies somehow went missing, so 

      this is the only version known to be accessible. 

      I follow the original as exactly as possible, including spelling and 

      typography. Words in brackets [like this] have been added. Comments 

      beginning DF: are by the webmaster; those beginning ES: are by Erik 

      Shilling, a pilot with the AVG, who read the manual with an eye to 

      comparing it with his memory of the AVG Tomahawks. Erik's comments (with 

      other information) seem to suggest that the planes sent to China may have 

      had components of older aircraft installed, possibly so Curtiss could use 

      up its inventory of parts, and that the planes were actually closer to IIA 

      models than the IIBs shown in Curtiss records. -- 
      

      FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 

      AIR PUBLICATION 2013A 

      Pilot's Notes 

      PILOT'S NOTES 

      TOMAHAWK I 

      ALLISON V-1710-C15 ENGINE 

      INTRODUCTION 

      1. The Tomahawk I is a single-seater, low wing, monoplane with retractable 

         landing gear and enclosed cockpit, powered with an Allison V-1710-C15 

         engine, which drives a Curtiss multi-position, constant speed, 

         electrically operated, tractor propeller. The following are the main 

         dimensions: 

         Span 37 ft., 3 1/2 in., Overall length 31 ft. 8-9/16 in. 

         Overall height with tail down 9 ft., 7 in. 
      
      2. The cockpit is totally enclosed. The windscreen is in three sections of 

         laminated glass and behind the windscreen there is a section of 1-1/2 inch 

         glass for protection from gunfire. The transparent cabin cover slides fore 

         and after for entry and exit purposes. An emergency release is provided by 

         which the entire sliding section has an emergency exit on the port side, 

         for us in event of turnover. The structure behind the pilot is of 

         sufficient strength to withstand a turnover landing. Three pieces of armor 

         plate are provided; one piece 7 mm. thick ahead of the pilot from the 

         windscreen line down to the top of the engine, a piece 7 mm. thick behind 

         the pilot's back, and 9 mm. thick behind his head. 
      
      3. The main plane is a cantilever multi-spar, skin stressed type built in 

         two pieces and joined at the centerline of the airplane. The wing tips are 

         detachable. The joint where the two wing sections are connected will serve 

         as a skid in case of an emergency landing with the wheels retracted. 

         The ailerons are both dynamically and aerodynamically balanced. They are 

         operated by the conventional stick control. A fix type trimming tab, 

         adjustable in the ground is provided on    4x 4    Šeach aileron. The