page_title: Republic P-47 Thunderbolt variants
section_title: XP-47K/L
hierarchical_section_title: Republic P-47 Thunderbolt variants / Bubbletop Thunderbolts / XP-47K/L
caption_attribution_description: English: PictionID:42002267 - Title:Republic XP-47K Thunderbolt XP-47K, 42-8702. As an experiment to improve the rearward visibility, the USAAF fitted a standard P-47D-5-RE airframe (serial number 42-8702) with a bubble canopy taken from a Hawker Typhoon. In order to accommodate the bubble canopy, the Republic design team had to cut down the rear fuselage. This conversion was re-designated XP-47K, and was tested in July 1943. - Catalog:15_002975 - Filename:15_002975.TIF - Repository: San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive
context_page_description: The P-47 Thunderbolt was a World War II fighter aircraft built by Republic Aviation from 1941 to 1945.
context_section_description: A common complaint from P-47 pilots was that the razorback cockpit limited rearward visibility.  In response to these complaints, Republic fitted a bubble canopy from a Hawker Typhoon onto a P-47D-5-RE in July 1943.  Designated XP-47K, the aircraft's new canopy improved visibility greatly.  Another "bubbletop" prototype was modified from a P-47D-20-RE as the XP-47L, differing from the XP-47K in that it had an increased fuel capacity.  For reasons unknown, the first production bubbletop Thunderbolts were not given a new variant letter, instead they were a continuation of the P-47D line.
caption: XP-47K, s/n 42-8702, the first bubbletop Thunderbolt
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