P-47 Thunderbolt Airbase Georgia

The P-47 Thunderbolt was one of the most produced aircraft during World War II, and plays a very important role in the CAF’s fleet. The P-47 earned a reputation as a tough airplane due to its beefy construction and a stunning ability to absorb punishment while still bringing its crews home safely.The CAF's P-47 was built at the Republic Aviation Factory in Evansville, Indiana. In a 2006 accident, the CAF's P-47 engine caught fire, causing the pilot to execute an extremely skilled emergency landing, saving his life and the aircraft.

The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt was a World War II era fighter aircraft produced by the United States between 1941–1945. Its primary armament was eight .50-caliber machine guns and in the fighter-bomber ground-attack role it could carry five-inch rockets or a bomb load of 2,500 pounds (1,103 kg). When fully loaded the P-47 weighed up to eight tons (tonnes) making it one of the heaviest fighters of the war. The P-47 was designed around the powerful Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp engine which was also used by two U.S. Navy fighters, the Grumman F6F Hellcat and the Vought F4U Corsair. The Thunderbolt was effective as a short-to-medium range escort fighter in high-altitude air-to-air combat and ground attack in both the World War II European and Pacific theaters.