The R-1830 engine was reliable and powerful by the standards of the 1930s, but when it became clear that it lacked the potential for development into more powerful forms full exploitation of the Model 75 airframe was schemed on the basis of the Allison V-1710 Vee engine. The installation of this engine into a converted P36A created the Model 81 that first flew in October 1938 as the XP-40.

Lope's Hope hanging from the ceiling, right at eye level when entering the UHC.

The first production model was the P40 of which 199 were delivered with the 1150hp (976kW) V-1710-33 engine for service from May 1940. There followed 131, 193, 22 and 2320 examples of the P-40B, P-40C, P-40D and P-40E as well as 2060 Tomahawk Mk I aircraft for the UK. The P40 was an adequate fighter by the standards prevailing early in World War II, but really made its mark as a capable fighterbomber in the close support role.

Country of origin: USA
Type: (P-40B) single-seat fighter
Powerplant: one 1040hp (775kW) Allison V-1710-33 (C15) 12-cylinder Vee engine
Performance: maximum speed 567km/h (352mph); climb to 4570m (15,000ft) in 5 minutes 6 seconds; service ceiling 9875m (32,400ft); range 1513km (940 miles)
Weights: empty 2536kg (5590lb); maximum take-off 3447kg (7600lb)
Dimensions: span 11.37m (37ft 3.5in); length 9.66 m (31ft 8.5in); height 3.22m (10ft Tin)
Armament: two 0.5in fixed forward-firing machine guns in the upper part of the forward fuselage, and two 0.3in fixed forward-firing machine guns in the leading edges of the wing 

Text from: Aircraft of WWII by Chris Chant (Fiedman/Fairfax, 1999, ISBN: 1-58663-303-1), a handy book with specs for 300 aircraft.

UHC Displays