Bell XFL-1 Airabonita
Bell Aircraft Corporation · United States · first flew 1940 · fighter
The Bell XFL-1 Airabonita was a single prototype naval carrier fighter variant of the P-39 Airacobra, adapted for US Navy evaluation with a conventional tail-wheel undercarriage and arresting hook. It competed unsuccessfully against the Grumman F4F Wildcat.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.07 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Naval version of the P-39 with tail-wheel undercarriage
- Mid-engine layout with propeller extension shaft
- Single prototype carrier fighter that lost to the Grumman F4F
Strongly resembles the P-39 Airacobra but with a conventional tail-wheel undercarriage rather than the tricycle gear of the Army version. The mid-fuselage engine, nose air intake scoops, and car-door cockpit entry are characteristic Bell features.
Specifications
- The Bell XFL-1 Airabonita has a length of 9.07 m (30 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.67 m (35 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 541 km/h (336 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The US Navy awarded Bell a contract in 1938 to develop a carrier-based version of the innovative mid-engine P-39 layout. The XFL-1 flew in 1940 but suffered from poor low-speed handling, inadequate stability, and problems with the arresting gear, all critical deficiencies for carrier operations. The Navy selected the more conventional Wildcat instead, and the Airabonita programme was cancelled after the single prototype.
Variants
Only one XFL-1 prototype was built; no production variants followed.
Where you'll see it
Never entered service; the sole prototype was evaluated by the US Navy and found unsuitable for carrier operations.
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