Flying the P-40N Kittyhawk

[Dave Hadfield]

I had the luck to fly this twice a couple of weeks ago. And these days I helmet-cam every flight in a fighter.

https://youtu.be/xTQkaTgJLt4

[youtube]https://youtu.be/xTQkaTgJLt4[/youtube]

[DH82EH]

Nice one Dave!
Good for you.

Andy

[k5083]

Brilliant video, Dave. Made my day. Thank you.

August

[hardlanding]

Another fabulous video - something about your narration and your camera gives your videos an especially vicarious sense of being in these airplanes. Many thanks!

[Randy Haskin]

Great video, Dave! Thanks for sharing that with us.

[OD/NG]

Great video, Dave, thank you the for time and effort it took to film, edit, and narrate that so we can all see a little of what it's like to fly the P-40. Your channel and Kermit's "Kermie Cam" videos are my absolute favorites on youtube for warbird POV instructional type videos.

A few questions for you:

1) In the beginning you put that parachute spacer on your seat to adjust your sitting height for the proper eyesight angle out the cockpit. Does the P-40 seat not adjust vertically? If it does, why do you use the spacer?

2) Upon watching the video it appears that your right foot is pretty substantially planted to counteract the left swing prevalent on takeoff. In your estimation, how much right rudder pedal deflection does it take in percent of full rudder authority? In other words, do you use about half or what fraction/percentage of full authority? Just curious how much is typical on this. How does this amount compare to the percentage of right rudder pedal deflection on the Spitfire and Mustang on takeoff?

3) You commented on the roll rate of the P-40. Though I've flown neither the P-40 nor P-51, I've spoken to many pilots who fly both, and almost all of them say they prefer the P-40 in the low altitude environment due to the increased performance over the Mustang. Do you find this to be your perference as well? Which of the two do you prefer for airshow/flyby work?

Thanks again, and I hope you can produce more of these type videos in the future. We'll never get bored of these....hint, hint, lol.

[6trn4brn]

WOW! Thank you so much for sharing your joy with us Dave!!!

[Cubs2jets]

Great video, Dave, thank you the for time and effort it took to film, edit, and narrate that so we can all see a little of what it's like to fly the P-40.

2) Upon watching the video it appears that your right foot is pretty substantially planted to counteract the left swing prevalent on takeoff. In your estimation, how much right rudder pedal deflection does it take in percent of full rudder authority? In other words, do you use about half or what fraction/percentage of full authority? Just curious how much is typical on this. How does this amount compare to the percentage of right rudder pedal deflection on the Spitfire and Mustang on takeoff?

Well, I'm not Dave - but I do have a brother named David...

The amount of right rudder travel / input is completely dependent on speed i.e the faster you go, the less rudder deflection you need to overcome the torque. Also, on many high horsepower "warbirds" there is a requirement to set the rudder trim prior to takeoff to help counteract the torque.

C2j

[DH82EH]

Well, my middle name is David, so I think I should weigh in here too C2J.....

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Andy

[Pogo]

Thanks much for the very excellent production, Mr. Hadfield (didn't want to get you mixed up with all the other Daves popping up around here).

Cheers, sir!

[Michel Lemieux]

Great video Dave!!!

Thank you so much for sharing!!!!

[Dave Hadfield]

Thanks for the nice comments.

Re the P-40, ours is modified to be a 2-seater although the rear cockpit panels were in place for this flight. So that means the front seat hinges forward, and no longer adjusts up and down.

Before takeoff you dial in 2 units of right rudder trim. This supplies most of the right rudder pressure needed once you're at speed. But during the initial power application it doesn't help much, thus you apply the power gradually, and have your right foot ready.

I'd rather fly an air display in the P-40 than the Mustang because of the faster roll rate, and I'm more comfortable pulling G at lower speeds in it. That keeps the display in tighter.

For going-places I prefer the Mustang.

Dave

[C VEICH]

For pure display flying do you prefer the Spitfire or the P-40?

[Dave Hadfield]

Spitfire. It doesn’t roll as quick but it’s superb low-speed handling and stall characteristics keep you out of trouble. Plus, when you unload the stick with the power up, it accelerates very quickly — that slim wing...

[OD/NG]

Thanks Dave for all of your posting and answering questions here. I hope we can have more of that in the future!