Bell P-39 Airacobra
The P-39 Airacobra was a fighter aircraft made by Bell Aircraft. It first flew in 1939, and was introduced in 1941. While it had good weapons, it was known for being very unstable and could lose control easily. It was fast but not very good above 5000 m (15,000 feet) as it lacked turbocharger.[5] The Soviet Union used it during World War II as a fighter interceptor as most air battles at the Eastern front were fought at low heights. Very near the ground the Airacobra became extremely maneuverable and could out-turn any German airplane. The Russians liked the plane, and they often removed the wing guns to make it even more maneuvreable. Several Soviet pilots became fighter aces on P-39. The main weapon of P-39, a 37 mm cannon, was so powerful that it could destroy almost any airplane on a single hit.
| P-39 Airacobra | |
|---|---|
 | |
| P-39Q 42-1947, "Saga Boy II" of Lt. Col. Edwin S. Chickering, CO 357th Fighter Group, July 1943 | |
| Role | Fighter |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Bell Aircraft |
| First flight | 6 April 1938[1][N 1] |
| Introduction | 1941 |
| Status | Retired |
| Primary users | United States Army Air Forces Soviet Air Force Royal Air Force |
| Produced | 1940 – May 1944 |
| Number built | 9,588[3] |
| Unit cost | US$50,666 (1944)[4] |
| Variants | Bell XFL Airabonita Bell P-63 Kingcobra |
The pilot who scored the most aerial victories was Grigori Rechkalov of the Soviet Air Force. He shot down 57 Germans with Airacobra. His squadronmate Aleksandr Pokryshkin had 59 victories, of which 47 were with Airacobra.
The P-39 was different from most aircraft in World War II. It had "tricycle" landing gear, doors that opened like a car (pilots would climb out of most fighters of the time) and the engine was behind the pilot. The "Q" version could go 375 miles per hour (600 km/h), had four 12.7mm machine guns, and one 37mm cannon.[5]
Bell P-39 Airacobra Media
Bell XP-39 showing the position of the supercharger air intake
Bell P-39 Airacobra center fuselage detail with maintenance panels open
Bell P-39K-L internal layout from Pilot's Flight Operating Instructions P-39K-1 and P-39L-1 (T.O. No. 01-110FG-1)
The weapons bay of the P-39
Bell P-39 Airacobra firing all weapons at night
Bell P-39Q Airacobra (US)
601 Squadron Airacobra I. The long-barrelled 20 mm Hispano-Suiza cannon Hispano is clearly shown, as are the .303 wing guns.
72nd Tactical Recon Group P-39, c. 1942
USAAF P-400 of 80th Fighter Squadron "Headhunters", 8th Fighter Group
Soviet P-39Q formerly 44-2664 on display at the Aviation Museum of Central Finland
Notes
References
- ↑ Angelucci and Bowers 1987, p. 41.
- ↑ Matthews 1996, p. 85.
- ↑ Angelucci, Enzo (1988). Combat aircraft of World War II. p. 40. ISBN 978-0-517-64179-8.
- ↑ ""Army Air Forces Statistical Digest – World War II."". Archived from the original on 2004-01-20. usaaf.net Retrieved: 26 September 2011.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Bell P-39 Airacobra". Archived from the original on 2007-10-24. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
Other websites
Media related to Bell P-39 Airacobra at Wikimedia Commons
