Fantasy of Flight

This two-seat training version of the P-40 was built by Curtiss in the later part of World War II. Its serial number 44-47923 indicates it was one of 26 built for that purpose in 1944. The first modification of the earlier P-40Es included the removal of the fuel tank and armor plating behind the pilot, its rear vision panels, and upper fuselage decking. A second set of controls, seat and instrument panel was added inside the plexiglas tunnel connecting the two cockpits and the aircraft was designated the TP-40N.

The aircraft served at various training bases around the country but got little use since by then the Curtiss Warhawk type was being replaced by more state-of-the-art fighters. This aircraft, with only 67.5 hours on the airframe, was rescued from the smelter by Paul Mantz along with several other types he purchased from the (George) Searcy Airport in Stillwater, Oklahoma, which was used by the U.S. Navy as an auxiliary field for nearby NAS Clinton. This TP-40N was among the 473 bombers and fighters scheduled for the scrap heap in 1945.

Paul moved the aircraft to the Tallmantz facility in Orange County Airport (now John Wayne Airport) in Southern California where it was used in films and served as a camera plane. Kermit Weeks purchased the Tallmantz collection in 1985 and moved it to his facility at Tamiami Airport until 1992 when Hurricane Andrew devastated the Museum and much of its aviation memorabilia. Fortunately the TP-40N was disassembled for restoration at the time and did not suffer severe damage.

Thousands of volunteer hours under the guidance of Vincent Tirado went into the airplane until its first flight was made in March, 2004 by Kermit Weeks. Later, the original engine was replaced with a V-1710-111 and flew for Kermit's AVG reunion in April with general "Tex" Hill on board as a passenger. The TP-40N is currently on display at Kermit Week's Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Florida and very seldom leaves the area.

By Frank Schaufler and Seth Goltzer