|
P-39 Airacobra piston engine WW2 fighter aircraft
|
P-39 Airacobra
The P-39 Airacobra was Bell's unorthodox contribution to the allied fighter line-up of WW2. The aircraft had several features which were unusual for it's time, these included a tricycle undercarriage and an inline engine mounted behind where the pilot sat. The Allison liquid cooled engine transmitted it's power to the front mounted three blade propeller via a long propshaft which ran under the pilot's legs.
The aircraft had a hard hitting 37mm cannon which fired through the nose of the aircraft, this being one of the core design features of Bell's highly original aircraft design.
|
The RAF briefly operated the P-39, but did not warm to the new aircraft, this being mainly due to it's poor performance at altitude. These British operated machines ended up with the Russians, who made fine use of the aeroplane.
Further aircraft were delivered to the Russians for use on the eastern front. In the vast Russian expanse most action took place at low alitude where the Airacobra proved highly effective, it's heavy nose mounted cannon making short work of anything unlucky enough to get lined up with it. The planes also had several mgs backing up the 37mm. The heavy armament and the ability to carry a 500lb ordnance load under the fuselage made the Airacobra a formidable ground attack aircraft. The Russians made much use of the aircraft in this role, though the real master of the ground attack aircraft force was their superlative IL2 Sturmovik. Several notable Russian aces flew the P-39 as their principle aircraft type.
|
The USAAF made some use of the Airacobra, though the type was never widely favoured with the Americans. They were used in combat over Guadalcanal, Anzio and other areas, most being replaced in service by other aircraft types as they became available.
Many marks of Airacobra were produced, mostly due to progressive power upgrades of the Allison engine.
The aircraft spanned about 34 feet and was a bit over 30ft long. In later more powerful forms the aircraft could attain over 370mph in straight and level flight. The aerodynamically clean design allowing power dives well in access of 500mph. In total not far short of 10,000 Airacobras were manufactured with roughly half finding their way to the Eastern front for use by Russian pilots.
|
|
|
|
