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Bell |
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P-63
King Cobra
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Photo: Robert Deering
10/26/2018
Dallas
Executive Airport (RBD)
Dallas, Texas |
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Photo: Robert
Deering 10/28/2016
Dallas Executive Airport
(RBD)
Dallas, Texas |
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Photo:
Robert Deering 10/18/2012
National Museum of
the USAF
Wright-Patterson AFB (FFO)
Dayton, Ohio |
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Photo: Robert Deering 1973
Greater Southwest
International Airport (GSW)
Fort Worth, Texas |
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Photo: Robert Deering 1981
Valley International Airport
(HRL)
Harlingen, Texas |
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This World War II fighter was developed from the P-39 Airacobra, which it closely resembles. The Army Air Forces never used the P-63 in combat, but some were used for fighter training. Many P-63s were exported as Lend-Lease aircraft; the Soviet Union received 2,456 and Free French forces obtained 300. P-63 performance was adequate for low-level fighting, and P-63s were widely used by the Soviets for such missions as "tank busting." Bell produced 3,305 P-63s, 13 of which were E models.
The most unusual P-63 variations were the RP-63A and RP-63C "pinball" versions developed late in WWII. These manned target aircraft were fired at by aerial gunnery students using .30-cal. lead and plastic frangible machine gun bullets that disintegrated harmlessly against the target's external skin of Duralumin armor plating. Special instruments sent impulses to red lights in the nose of the "pinball" aircraft, causing them to blink when bullets struck the plane.
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SPECIFICATIONS:
(P-63E) |
PERFORMANCE: |
| Span:
38 ft. 4
in. |
Maximum speed:
408 mph
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Length:
32
ft. 8 in.
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Cruising speed:
280
mph
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Height:
12
ft. 7 in.
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Range:
450 miles
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Empty Weight:
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Service ceiling:
43,000
ft.
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Gross Weight:
9,350
lbs. maximum
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Crew:
One
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Engines:
One
Allison V-1710 of 1,325 hp
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Armament:
One 37mm
cannon and four .50-cal. machine
guns
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SOURCE:
National Museum of the United
States Air Force |
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