8. The War’s Heaviest Fighter
The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter was exceptionally huge by the standards of WWII. Also nicknamed “The Jug”, the P-47 was the conflict’s heaviest fighter, clocking in at 8 tons when fully loaded in its ground attack role, and 10,000 pounds empty. It was 50 percent heavier than the P-51 Mustang, and almost twice as heavy as the Spitfire. Despite its weight, the P-47 was fast, capable of matching the Mustang’s 440 m.p.h. top speed, with one late war variant reaching 473 m.p.h. However, it had a shorter range, at 800 miles, than the Mustang’s nearly 1600 miles.
Ironically, the P-47 had originally been intended as a light interceptor. However, between proposal and prototype, requirements and minds changed, and a heavy fighter emerged. Initial designs were for a small fighter with a liquid-cooled engine, but when the Army raised concerns, designers turned to an air-cooled engine that was exceptionally powerful for its day. The powerful engine meant the plane no longer needed to be small, and so its size grew, resulting in a heavy fighter with a respectable range.
Related: Top 10 Fighter Planes of World War II.
