The Bell P-39 Airacobra.
The Bell P-39 was an unusual fighter at the time, the engine was
placed in the center of the aircraft for a good weight-ratio. This was not
unique but at the least unusual.
The P-39 Airacobra had a tricycle landing gear, which was the
first such gear ever used on a production fighter. The Airacobra battled
throughout the world, particularly in the Southwest Pacific, Mediterranean and
Russian theaters. Because its engine was not equipped with a supercharger, the
P-39 performed best below 17,000 feet (5,200 m) altitude.
The P-39 often was used at lower altitudes for such missions as
ground strafing. Same with the P-63 Kingcobra, the P-39 aircraft was considered
to be the most victorious mass-produced, fixed-wing aircraft manufactured by
Bell Aircraft Corporation. Primarily used by the U.S Army Air Force
- The prototype XP-39 flew for the first time on April 6th 1938
powered by an Allison V-1710-17 12 Cylinder liquid-cooled engine providing 1150
Hp.
- The next step was the YP-39 of which 13 were produced for
service evaluation. The YP-39 was mounted with an 37 mm M4 Cannon, two fuselage
mounted 12,7 mm guns and two wing-mounted 7,62 mm guns.
- The initial production model (P-39C) was similar to the YP-39
and 20 were built.
- Adding self sealing fuel-tanks and two additional 7,62 mm
machine guns in the wings resulted in the P-39D witch entered service to the
USAAC in February 1941.
- The P-39-1 replaced the 37 mm M4 cannon with a 20 mm M1 cannon.
- After that the P-39D-2 replaced the 1150 Hp V-1710-35 with a
1325 Hp V-1710-63 engine.
- There were three examples built with laminar-flow wings
(XP-39E)
- The P-39F was basically a P-39D with minor upgrades.
- Only 25 Airacobra's were built with a 1100 Hp engine (V-1710-59
by Allison) designated P-39J.
- P-39K: was also basically a P-39D-2 but with a different
propeller
- P-39L: Also a P-39D-2 only with a different nose-wheel
- In November 1942 the first P-39M began to appear, it had a 1200
Hp V-1710-83 engine.
- P-39N: This was the first Airacobra built in large numbers, it
had a 1200 Hp V-1710-85 engine, and 2095 were built.
- The final subtype of the P-39, the P-39Q had the wing-mounted
7,62 mm machine guns deleted, and a 12,7 mm gun mounted beneath each mainplane.
The P-39Q was built in the largest numbers, at total of 4905 P-39Q's left the
factories.
Totally a number of 9558 P-39 of all types were produced.
Interested in a handcrafted model of the P-39D? |
