The first production P-40N-1-CU appeared in March of 1943 powered by the Allison V-1710-81 engine, with 122 gallons of internal fuel and a generally lighter structure than its predecessors. With weight reduced to 6000 pounds empty, 7400 pounds gross, and 8850 pounds maximum, the N-1 was the fastest P-40 service variant and was intended for high altitude combat. Maximum speed was 378 mph at 10,500 feet and service ceiling was 38,000 feet. An altitude of 15,000 feet could be attained in 6.7 minutes. Armament consisted of four 0.50-inch machine guns in the wings. Four hundred P-40N-1-CUs were built.
The P-40N-5-CU variant introduced a modified cockpit canopy with a frameless sliding hood and a deeper, squared-off rectangular aft transparent section to improve the rearward view. This cockpit canopy was retained for all the rest of the production blocks of the N version. The N-5 version restored the full six-gun wing armament, since pilots had complained that four guns were insufficient. Underwing racks were fitted for bombs or drop tanks, increasing external stores capacity to 1500 pounds. The new heavier gross weight of 8350 pounds limited top speed to 350 mph at 16,400 feet and service ceiling to 31,000 feet. An altitude of 14,000 feet could be attained in 7.3 minutes. Range was 340 miles with a 500-pound bomb underneath the fuselage. Three drop tanks promised a ferry range of up to 3100 miles at 198 mph.(source)
MISS KATHLEEN II
The following, regarding the remains and parts of a 1942 model P-40N-5-CU, Serial Number 42-104949, showed up listed for sale dated August 4, 2014 from South Penrith, NSW, Australia, attributed to one 1983newman. Sold and struck-off Australian Register January 5, 2015 to a unknown owner (USA) and registered with the FAA under tail number N537BR (P-40N, 42-104949) January 23, 2015. Prior to events leading up to that sale 1983newman wrote:
This is a rebuild project of a 1942 model P-40N-5-CU combat veteran that flew with the USAAF in the south pacific during WW2.
The aircraft was flown by Lt Dan H David who later changed his name to Dan Rowan and was the host of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In on NBC. During his service in 1943 Lt David shot down two (possibly 3) Japanese Army Air Force KI-43 "Oscar's" in Pupua New Guinea and received a Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal, and the Purple Heart during this tour.
Not long after this dog fight Lt David was strafing a Japanese mortar position in this P-40 when he got hit and lost oil pressure, a wheels up landing was made in a dry river bed severely damaged the aircraft and left Lt David with a broken back, he was then picked up by an L-5 "Grasshopper" and evacuated back to the United States.
The aircraft sat hidden in the jungle until it was located about 15 years ago (roughly 1998) and now (2013) a rebuild has been started, however with other projects that need to be done I cannot manage this at the same time and it is up for sale. However, if the reserve is not met it will go back into storage and be finished at a later date.
The P-40 N-5 is the perfect candidate for a two seat conversion where the second seat is hidden by a removable deck panel behind the pilots seat so it could be used for paid warbird adventure flights.
The project consists of but is not limited to the following:
Original Rear fuselage from access door back, some frames, pulleys etc may be usable
Original Left;wing, de-skinned underside, some ribs/forgings maybe usable, good for patterns
Original Tail fin in good condition but off another P-40
Rear greenhouse canopy, disassembled for rework, good condition, usable
Original Sliding canopy, has corrosion, pattern/display only
17 original Exhaust stacks, in varying from good to pattern (early type)
2 x tail wheels in good condition
Firewall New made
Frame 1 New/Assembled (doublers etc)
Frame 1A New/Assembled (doublers etc)
Frame 2 New/Assembled (doublers etc)
Frame 3,New/Assembled (doublers etc)
Frame 4,New/Assembled (doublers etc)
Frame 5,New/Assembled (doublers etc)
Lower longerons,New/Assembled (doublers etc)
Upper longerons,New Longerons only
Engine bearers, 1 x salvageable, 1 x pattern
Main wheels with tires, 1 x Good, 1 x good but with chip on inside
Wing roots with undercarriage, u/c repairable
Tail wheel strut corroded pattern only
R/h engine cowling Pattern/parts only
Y-pipes,Good
Trim tab,Pattern only
Prop shaft,Salvageable
Various electric motors,Good
Vent window x 2,Good
Instrument panel,New build
Instrument panel mounts,New
some instruments Instruments ,suit o/h
P40N-20 seat, late war phonelic/wood like material has disintegrated but frame is good (plywood can be used as a substitute)
Throttle quadrant, Disassembled but good with spares
Oxygen tank,Good
boxes of fittings, pullet brackets etc
Cowl flaps,some parts usable
Hydraulic pump,Good
Gun mount,Pattern
Firewall heat duct,Salvageable
Tail wheel locking bar,Good
Gun ejection chutes,Pattern
Rudder pedals,parts/repair
Rudder bar,Damaged
Prop pitch motor,unknown
Inspection panels,Various
Small Unopened Boxes of unknown curtiss parts,nos
Boxes of damaged airframe parts,patterns
Data plate,Burnt/damaged
Usaac data plate, Good, several bullet holes
Canopy Cranks x2 Nos
Control column pattern/damaged
Gunsight New old stock
Brakes, parts/salvage
Chin cowling remains
remains of stick and controls assembly
+lots of others bits and pieces not listed
HISTORY OF LINEAGE
N537BR 42-104949
P-40N 42-104949 Miss Kathleen II: crashed Hopoi, near Lae PNG October 24, 1943
Reevers Pastoral Pty Ltd, Adelaide SA February 22, 2013
Tristan Masterson, Lalor Park NSW March 2, 2014
1983newman, South Penrith, NSW, Australia August 4, 2014.
Sold to USA, struck-off Australian Register January 5, 2015
To unknown owner now registered with the FAA under tail number N537BR (P-40N, 42-104949) January 23, 2015
N537BR owner Mickael Rabilloud, Framingham MA February 6, 2015
Mickael (as mickaelUSA) March 28, 2015:
I bought the wreck (data plates and parts) and I am very happy. The history behind is just great and it is worth to bring the scrap metal back into the air.
CURTISS.doc Page 24
Reg: N537BR
Manu: CURTISS WRIGHT
Type: P-40N
ICAO: TP40
CN: 42-104949
Hex: A6CA97
Old Owner: RABILLOUD MICKAEL
New Owner: SOUTHERN AIRCRAFT CONSULTANCY INC TRUSTEE
Date Reg: August 8, 2017 (20170808)
Status: Valid Registration
SOUTHERN AIRCRAFT CONSULTANCY INC:
The Southern Aircraft Consultancy is in the business of what they call Professional Aircraft Registration. Basically they provide a service wherein non US citizens can "own" a US registered aircraft with a US tail number. It would appear that the P-40 in question above has changed hands to an unnamed person through their services. The following is from their home page at the source so cited.
Southern Aircraft Consultancy is the leading professional aircraft registration company in the UK.
We specialise in providing Individual Trust Agreements to non-US citizens to enable them to legally register their aircraft on the American "N" register.
We will provide you with a fully Approved Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Trust Agreement and all supporting documentation. Our Trust Agreement is individually drawn up for you and your aircraft, providing you and your aircraft with complete security.
(source)
FAA REGISTRY
N-NUMBER INQUIRY RESULTS
REGISTRY N537BR
ARCHIVED REGISTRY N537BR
P-40 FIGHTER PILOT DAN ROWAN
THE BATTLE OF THE ZAMBOOGIE THEATER
P-40: FIGHTER IS A REBUILT PIECE OF WWII HISTORY
THE TANGO SQUADRON AIR MUSEUM, WING 41, CHIANG MAI
FLYING TIGERS AND MORE
THE BOY IN THE MAN REMEMBERS THE LEGEND
The third plane down in the graphic below shows Dan Rowan's- P-40N-5-CU Miss
Kathleen II, 42-104949, in the South Pacific theater colors where he was stationed.
ILIAD DESIGN
P-40 WARHAWK
PEARL HARBOR SURVIVOR
THE LADY ON THE DOCK AND THE PBY
PBY BLACK CAT ATTACKING AT MAST HEIGHT IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT
(please click image)
THE LADY ON THE DOCK
CLICK
HERE FOR
ENLIGHTENMENT
ON THE RAZOR'S
EDGE
THE WANDERLING
(please click)
As to the subject of donations, for those of you who may be interested in doing so as it applies to the gratefulness of my works, I invariably suggest any funds be directed toward THE WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT and/or THE AMERICAN RED CROSS.
