"Cub Driver" wrote in message
...

The much loved US Gruman Bearcat for instance was inspired and the P47
was
built specifically to deal with the 190.

I would say that the Bearcat was inspired by the Hellcat, which was
inspired by the Wildcat. As for the P-47, it was an outgrowth of the
P-43 which was an outgrowth of the P-35.

The designers of the Bearcat flew to england and inspected (and flew) a
captured FW190 and they were inspired by the concept of a small aircraft
with a high power to weight ratio and were inspired to do better. Bearcat
was a break with the Hellcat concept it was small and powerfull.

Watched it on televison and the designers actualy related the story
themsleves. Can't remember what program now.



The XP-47 was ordered in 1939, and the XP-47B with a PW 2800 engine in
January 1940. Did the USAAC even know about the FW-190 in January
1940?

I would say that the two American fighters were sui generis: The
Bigger the Better.

There was some influence of the FW 190 on the P47. Perhaps I am thinking of
the P47D. Untill the P47 got water injection a FW190 could outrun it at
low altitude.




all the best -- Dan Ford
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