The P-40C Tomahawk had replaced its older sibling, the P-36. What made the P-40C so special was the fact it remained cost efficient to produce, and could be dispatched in a hurry if needed for the war. The shark mouth design made it even more unique, which was the preferred design by the Flying Tiger squadron. The model seen here was made in the USA, and remains the only P-40C in flying condition today.
14) The Grumman Hellcat
The Hellcat was considered one of the best fighter planes in the Pacific. The Hellcat’s ability to withstand enemy fire lead pilots to nickname it the “Aluminum Tank.” It was built to outperform the Japanese Mitsubishi Zero-Sen. The Hellcat could fold its wings for hangar and deck storage. The Grumman manufacturing company was able to produce a Hellcat per hour, which was a feat never duplicated to present day. The model seen here is only one of a few remaining in the world.
15) The White Knight
The White Knight was developed by an American aerospace company called Scaled Composites. The spacecraft features a pair of J-85 GE-5 turbojet engines, and funded by aerospace engineer Burt Rutan, and Paul Allen himself. The 8,000lb (3,623kg) was able to launch at an altitude of 8.7 miles (14km). In order to prepare pilots for rocket flight, the cockpit of the White Knight was configured to resemble SpaceShipOne.
16) The P-51 Mustang
The Mustang was the fighter plane said to have won the war in Europe. Lt. Harrison B.”Bud” Tordoff had been assigned to conduct the daylight raids against Germany, even helping many Ally ground forces all across Europe during the war. The plane was stored in Raydon, England. The P-51 was fitted with a Rolls Royce Merlin engine, and a very far extended range of fire. Lt. Tordoff was reunited with his former “baby” during a visit to Allen’s museum in 2003.
Funotic.com Where Fun Never Ends
