Bell P-59 Airacomet
The Bell P-59 Airacomet is an American military aircraft. It was the first fighter jet designed and built in the United States. It was used in World War II against Nazi Germany's Luftwaffe fighters, but it was far below the best enemy aircraft of the time. It was finally replaced in end of 1946 by the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star. The last one was retired in 1949.
| P-59 Airacomet | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Bell P-59B Airacomet at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton, Ohio | |
| Role | Fighter |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Bell Aircraft |
| First flight | 1 October 1942 |
| Primary users | United States Army Air Forces United States Navy Royal Air Force |
| Number built | 66 |
| Variants | YF2L-1 |
Bell P-59 Airacomet Media
The Power Jets W.1 engine that was later to be produced by GE as the General Electric J31
Details of fuselage and undercarriage of a P-59B, showing the nose armament
The first production P-59A with a Bell P-63 Kingcobra behind
XP-59A with the short-lived red-outlined national markings (June 1943 to September 1943)
A Bell P-59A Airacomet at the March Field Air Museum in 2013
3-view drawing of the P-59
Bell YP-59A in flight. X and Y aircraft had rounded vertical stabilizers and wingtips while the production A and B models had squared surfaces. The YP-59A can be distinguished from the XP-59A because Ys had nose armament.
