Something for high performance engine fans!

By Wayne Minor
MAFM Volunteer

It is a privileged sight when the public even gets to see a World War II fighter and even more so, when they get to see them fly. 

With production beginning around 1938, the P-40 pre-dates the United States' literal and official entry into the war by a few years but these particular aircraft had great involvement, especially with Clair E. Chennault's famed Flying Tigers. This particular specimen was flown by our-then allied Russian pilots.

The P-40 today is a much more rare sight than the P-51. An even rarer sight almost never seen by the public, is a P-40 with the Cowling removed. Here is a look at the massive 1200 HP Allison V-12 engine of Mid America Flight Museum's P-40 in for servicing.

We have some photos of the Merlin from the MAFM P-51 with the cowlings off. We will share them when we locate them.