From my reading they gave a safety specification 1 and 1/2 G less than the test pilots would stress the aircraft. From the former test pilots they would take the planes up, make sure it would do the basic manuvers (shake the plane to make sure everything was in place.) Then stunt it taking it to the redline of every specification. Ergo a plane rated for 8 Gs should take 9.5 which I know factory test pilots would stress the plane too.
Erik Shilling who test piloted the P-47 recounted a story about an army pilot who dove a jug and it started shaking, so he bailed. Erik said that he had, had several jugs shake up prior to compression, but decreasing the angle of the dive made the problem go away, increasing the angle repeated the problem. After landing he checked and found the antenna loose. He borrowed a wrench and tightend the antenna and the plane was fine after that. He checked several more planes, but never thought that it would be a problem, it was just a loose antenna. Anyhow the Army Pilot haveing bailed caused a big stir with Republic, and they were very thankfull for Erik finding the problem (even if he was a bit remiss in not mentioning it before the incedent with the army pilot occured.)
From what I have read, the P-47 should out perform the pony in roll and on horizontal type manuvers. I don't remember reading the Jug as having great e-retention, but it should out accelerate the pony and out flat turn it. The pony should have the jug in verticals. The Hog should have both in S-Turns but the Jug should have the advantage over the Pony.
I don't remember his name but on the history channel a WWII Pilot said.
"All those pretty turns, spirals and manuvers look good in an airshow, but will get you killed real quick in combat."
Avoid any manuver that doesn't involve E when flying U.S. Aircraft and you will do well.
U.S. Pilots said that the Early P-40 was by far the best U.S. Turn fighter of the War. Ergo
DON'T TURN FIGHT IN U.S. AIRCRAFT!------------------
"Downtown" Lincoln Brown.
lkbrown1@tir.com http://www.tir.com/~lkbrown1 Wrecking Crews "Drag and Die Guy"
Hals und beinbruch!
[This message has been edited by Downtown (edited 07-31-2000).]