Republic P-43 Lancer
| P-43 Lancer | |
|---|---|
| A USAAF P-43 in 1942 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Fighter |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Republic Aviation |
| Status | Retired |
| Primary users | United States Army Air Corps |
| Number built | 272 |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1940–1941 |
| Introduction date | 1941 |
| First flight | March 1940 |
| Retired | 1944 (China) |
| Developed from | Seversky P-35 |
The Republic P-43 Lancer was a single-engine, all-metal, low-wing monoplane fighter aircraft built by Republic, first delivered to the United States Army Air Corps in 1940. A proposed development was the P-44 Rocket. While not a particularly outstanding fighter, the P-43A had a very good high-altitude performance coupled with an effective oxygen system. Fast and well-armed with excellent long-range capabilities, until the arrival of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, the Lancer was the only American fighter capable of catching a Japanese Mitsubishi Ki-46 "Dinah" reconnaissance plane at the speeds and heights at which they flew. In addition, the P-43 flew many long-range, high-altitude photo recon missions until replaced by F-4/F-5 Lightnings (P-38 variants) in both the USAAF and RAAF.