Did the P-40B 's flaps have individual actuator rods to each of the flap ribs from a central “torque rod” to push the flaps down like on the AT-6 flaps, or was it only actuated from the front hind position?
Also would the flaps on the P-40 be down usually while on the ground like P-51’s or retracted while in the desert?
Thanx
Theuns
I cant answer about the actuator system, but these photos here appear to show them all retracted while on the ground.
The flaps and center landing gear doors on the P-51 are hydrolically actuated and when the engine is shut down they “bleed down”. IIR the flaps in the P-40 are mechanical lever actuated.
Thanx guys.
Stick, that is a cool pic of an ex RAF P-40 with the star painted on. I see they even left the RAF fin flash on 
Theuns
Actually that one is a USAAF P-40. In North Africa, they fin flash and red spinner were used as theater ID markings, adapted from the RAF. The sand scheme was stricctly USAAF, whereas the Dark Earth and Midstone scheme was for Lend Lease or USAAF.
To be precise, those are P-40F’s with the Packard Merlins. There is no upper nose scoop. Before the famous mating of a Merlin to a P-51A
Yes, and not quite as much of an improvement over the Allison engined P-40 to justify discontinuing production and improvements to those.
I read elsewhere that the flaps were immediately retracted on touchdown because they would impede ground handling by cutting airflow to the tail. Now I don’t know how true that is, nor would I suggest you let any perceived “accuracy” stop you from dropping them if that’s what you want to do.
Some Flying Tiger P-40s…
Looks like they were usually up… but not always as the maintainence shot shows…
Excellent references pics. You’d have to imagine that flaps would be dropped at some point on the ground. It’s amazing how dirty those things are.
They operated under pretty austere conditions in China & Burma.
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