Where did the P-47's bubble canopy come from?

Short answer

From a Hawker Typhoon: in July 1943 Republic fitted a bubble canopy from that British fighter onto a P-47D-5-RE, designated XP-47K. It was the response to pilots' complaints about the poor rearward visibility of the "razorback" canopy, and it greatly improved vision.

Published: November 1, 2026 · Updated: November 1, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

Where did the P-47's bubble canopy come from?

Republic P-47D (bubble canopy version) 2 USAF

A recurring pilot complaint

The "razorback" canopy limited rearward visibility and was a common complaint among P-47 pilots. Above the raised spine, rear vision remained poor, and the complaints were constant.

The British graft

In response to those complaints, Republic fitted a bubble canopy taken from a Hawker Typhoon onto a P-47D-5-RE in July 1943. The resulting aircraft was designated XP-47K, and its new canopy greatly improved visibility. Another "bubbletop" prototype was converted from a P-47D-20-RE under the designation XP-47L, which differed from the XP-47K in its greater fuel capacity.

From prototypes to the production line

Production of the bubble-canopy Thunderbolt began with the P-47D-25-RE at Farmingdale and the P-47D-26-RA at Evansville, aircraft based on the XP-47L and with that increased fuel capacity. From the D-25 blocks onward, the rear fuselage was lowered and a teardrop-shaped canopy adapted from the Hawker Typhoon was adopted. The sliding bubble canopy introduced on the P-47D offered good visibility.