Bell YFM-1 Airacuda
Bell Aircraft Corporation · United States · first flew 1937 · fighter
The Bell YFM-1 Airacuda was an unconventional twin-engined 'bomber destroyer', mounting heavy cannon in forward gunner pods ahead of pusher-propeller engine nacelles.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 13.67 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin pusher engines with propellers facing backward at the trailing edge of each nacelle
- A glazed gunner's pod with a 37mm cannon in the nose of each engine nacelle
- Tricycle undercarriage, unusual for a late-1930s design
Unmistakable for its backward-facing pusher propellers and glazed gunner positions in the nose of each engine nacelle, ahead of a tricycle undercarriage rare for its era.
Specifications
- The Bell YFM-1 Airacuda has a length of 13.67 m (45 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 21.29 m (70 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 446 km/h (277 mph).
- Typical crew: 5.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Bell's first military aircraft, the Airacuda paired two Allison V-1710 engines in pusher configuration so a 37mm cannon and gunner could be housed in the nose of each nacelle, clear of the propeller arc. First flown in 1937, it suffered chronic engine overheating on the ground since pusher propellers gave no cooling airflow, and had to be towed to the runway before starting.
Variants
Thirteen production YFM-1 and YFM-1A/B aircraft followed the prototype, with minor changes to landing gear and fuel system, but the type never overcame its operational problems.
Where you'll see it
All Airacudas were retired by 1942 without seeing combat; none survives — the nine remaining airframes went to Chanute Field as ground instructional airframes and had all been scrapped by March 1942.
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