The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was a single-engine, single-seat, metal fighter aircraft and ground attack aircraft manufactured by the Americans. P-40 Warhawk fighters first flew in 1938 and attracted the attention of the United States Air Force, which placed the largest ever order for combat aircraft for fighters, for an amount of 524, at a cost of 13 million dollars. It was the first serious fighter of World War II and did its job until better fighters came out. It was known as a safe and secure aircraft, capable of returning pilots home after being shot down in combat. Many variations of this aircraft were subsequently created. Additionally, shark tooth graphics were a prominent feature of this aircraft. The first flight of the XP40 took place in Buffalo, New York, by a man named Edward Elliot. There were many variations of this aircraft. The first variant was the P-36 Hawk. Ten later variants of the P-36 Hawk were the XP 40, which was equipped with an Allison V-P7-10-v-12 engine. Its maximum speed was 315 miles per hour. The V-12 engine offered as much power as a radial engine. You can also get a cowling on the V-12 engine that will eliminate drag, allowing it to have sufficiently less drag than a radial engine. Curtiss was upset by the XP-40's top speed. He took it into the wind tunnel to figure out how to make it faster. From March 28 to April 11, 1939, he studied it. He decided to move the radiator up to his chin and give it an air intake. They administered more tests and determined that it was capable of reaching speeds of 366 mph. The P-40 was a very agile, high-speed aircraft. Of all the monoplanes of its era, it was one of the most successful monoplanes. At lower speeds it could not outmaneuver the Zero, but the standard dive attack was considered effective, as was the F...... middle of paper ......Editors of Publications International, Ltd.. (2007, October 22). Curtiss P-40 Warhawk. How things work. Retrieved May 26, 2014, from http://science.howstuffworks.com/curtiss-p-40-warhawk.htmCurtiss P-40 Warhawk - History, Specifications and Photos - Military Aircraft. (February 3, 2014). Curtiss P-40 Warhawk. Retrieved May 26, 2014 from http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=75Dann, RS (2007). P-40 Warhawk. Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications. Joe Baugher's Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk files. (May 1, 2008). Joe Baugher's Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk files. Retrieved May 26, 2014, from http://www.warbirdforum.com/p040.htm Johnsen, F. A. (1998). P-40 Warhawk. Osceola, WI: MBI Publishing. Kinzey, B. (1999). P-40 Warhawk in detail. Part 2: P-40D to XP-40Q. Carrollton: Squadron Publications/Signals.