Planes in flight. The P-40 single-engine fighter plane--which the British have used in its various models as the "Tomahawk," "Kittyhawk" and "Warhawk"--is a fast pursuit ship in the 400-mile-per-hour class. It has an approximate service ceiling of 30,000 feet and a range of about 900 miles. Carrying various combinations of light and heavy caliber guns, it has performed notably with the RAF (Royal Air Force) in England and Africa, with the AVG (American Volunteer Group--Flying Tigers) in China and. with the AAF (Army Air Forces) in the South Pacific