P-39 Airacobra
Bell Aircraft · United States · first flew 1938 · fighter
The Bell P-39 Airacobra was an unconventional American fighter built around a 37mm hub cannon, with its engine mounted amidships behind the cockpit.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.19 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Tricycle undercarriage with a distinctive nosewheel, rare for the era
- 37mm cannon barrel projecting through the propeller hub
- Mid-mounted engine sited behind the pilot, driving the nose prop via a long shaft
The nosewheel, the cannon muzzle in the spinner, and the cockpit set unusually far forward over the wing leading edge mark it out instantly.
Specifications
- The P-39 Airacobra has a length of 9.19 m (30 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.36 m (34 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 605 km/h (376 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in April 1938, the design placed the Allison engine behind the pilot to free the nose for heavy armament, driving the propeller through an extension shaft. The layout also allowed a car-style cockpit door and a then-novel tricycle landing gear.
Variants
Numerous sub-marks adjusted armament and equipment; the related P-63 Kingcobra was a refined successor. The vast majority of P-39s went to the Soviet Union under Lend-Lease.
Where you'll see it
The RAF briefly evaluated the Airacobra in 1941 but found it disappointing at altitude and quickly withdrew it from front-line use, passing most examples on. Its greatest success came on the Soviet Eastern Front as a low-level fighter.
Related aircraft
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