Performance of the H75, Mohawk and P-36

[SimonE]

I've been a long-time lurker on this sight, but this is my first post, as well as a bit of a plea for help.


I'm currently engaged in writing a series of 'what ifs' revolving around pre- and early-WW2 aviation, most specifically to do with the RAF and their various bomber and fighter programmes.

One scenario posits abandonment of the Hawker Hurricane and its replacement with the Curtis Model 75 as the RAF's second major single engine, single seat fighter type (alongside the Spitfire).

Unfortunately, hard data on the aircraft seems to be much less readily available than for the RAF types.

I'm looking for several things to ensure a fair assessment of the aircraft and its relative qualities as compared to the Hurricane:

1) Any general speed, climb and handling trials conducted for the various models of the H75, Mohawk and P-36*. Preferably with accompanying data, a la http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/ . I am particularly interested in any hard data related to the models powered by the early Twin Wasp models with 1,050 hp.

2) The RAF tactical trials of the aircraft, if such a thing exists. There are numerous allusions in various references to combat and handling tests carried out between the British pair and the H75/Mohawk, but I have not been able to track them down.

3) The French comparison between the H75, M 152, D. 520 and Me 109E. Again, this report is referred to in some English-language sources, but is difficult to track down directly.

4) RAE report B.A.1523 - Handling tests on the Curtiss H-75, and comparative Aileron Tests on the Curtiss H-75, Spitfire and Gloster F5/34. r. & M. 2379 April, 1940.**

5) @font-face { font-family: "Verdana"; }@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; font-size: 9pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } Anything else I haven't though of


*I already have the US P-36A/C manual and H75 Specification, which have basic speed/ time to height data. I also have an online copy of the French 1939 manual for the H75 A1 (http://www.gc2-4.com/NMACcouv.htm), which contains some more detailed information on performance at altitude.

**I do have the 1942 USAAF roll rate comparison between the Hurricane, Spitfire, P-36A and P-40. Quite an interesting document in its own right, but not the comparison I am searching for.

[Juha]

Hello
it isn't possible to upload big photos here, so only one small photo from RAE's B.A.1523 from The NA (ex PRO) AVIA 6/2338.
BTW IMHO if something would have replaced Hurricane it might well have been Gloster F.5/34. It was as fast as Hurri, had the 8mg armament, good all around view and good handling, especially its rollrate was good.

Juha

[Juha]

2 more

[Juha]

And here a Finnish flight test report on a after-overhaul test flight
H=2350m
Nopeusmitt. = IAS in km/h, the first one is the cruise speed and the second max speed at that altitude

Juha