Starting Up The Rare P-47D Thunderbolt-Absolutely Perfect Sound

It’s the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp Engine That Gives Her This Awesome Idle

The legendary P-47 Thunderbolt was Republics winning design for the United States Army Air Force’s request for a a fighter bomber. Powered by a 2,600 horsepower engine, the Jug as it was called, was capable of carrying half the payload of a B-17 Flying Fortress. Additionally, they held their own in air-to-air combat as well, unleashing their eight .50 caliber machine guns on any enemy target within reach.

There were six total Tallahassee Lassie Thunderbolts during World War II, all flown by now retired Col. Ralph Jenkins.

About 6 years ago, the Paul Allen Flying Heritage Collection restored one of their Jugs, naming her Tallahassee Lassie. Named after the pilot’s wife, Jenkins flew six of these Jugs during World War II, completing 129 missions, including one on D-Day. Both he and his wife attended the first flight of the restored warbird. They married after only four months of meeting each

Both he and his wife attended the first flight of the restored warbird. They married after only four months of meeting each other and were there 67 years later to celebrate this event together. The stories of World War II pilots are always mesmerizing and this is yet another one.