Often overshadowed by more famous fighters, a legendary fighter will take center stage at the International Sanicole Airshow 2026. As part of the 85th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, we pay tribute to this rugged and heroic aircraft that fought across nearly every major theatre of the Second World War: the Curtiss P-40E Warhawk.
First flown in 1938 and entering service in 1940, the P-40 may not have matched the cutting-edge performance of icons like the Supermarine Spitfire or Messerschmitt Bf 109, but what it lacked in refinement it made up for in toughness, firepower, and sheer determination. In the darkest early days of the war, the Warhawk proved itself time and again, from the deserts and skies of the Pacific to the frozen battlefields of the Eastern Front.
The aircraft also played a dramatic role during the Attack on Pearl Harbor, one of the key themes of this year’s show. Against overwhelming odds, a handful of P-40s managed to take to the skies and engage the attacking Japanese formations, with six aircraft successfully shooting down several enemy strike aircraft during the historic battle.
More than 13,000 P-40s were built, making it one of America’s most widely produced fighter aircraft of the war. Its durability and reliability meant it could fight where others could not, often on remote and harsh frontlines where newer aircraft were unavailable.
At Sanicole 2026, you will witness a rare flying example of this warbird. The beautifully restored P-40E by Fast Aero Services once served on the icy Eastern Front of World War II as part of the Lend-Lease program supporting the Soviet Union. In early 1942 it helped defend the strategic Arctic port of Murmansk against invading forces, operating in some of the harshest conditions of the war.
Now this remarkable aircraft will roar back to life in the skies above Sanicole. Veteran display pilot Bernard Van Milders will present the Warhawk in a powerful flying display, bringing history alive with the unmistakable sound and presence of one of World War II’s most battle-tested fighters.
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see the P-40E Warhawk in flight and experience history where it belongs: in the sky. Join us at the International Sanicole Airshow at Hechtel-Eksel during the weekend of 12-13 September and witness the legacy of an unsung hero of the Second World War.
Fabrikant/Manufacturer:
Curtiss-Wright
Tech Specif::
Length: 9,66 m,
Heigth: 3,76 m,
Width: 11,38 m, Topspeed: 580 km/u
Power:
1× Allison V-1710-39 V12 , 858 kW
