3/06/2011
Warbirdfare
The Bell P-63 Kingcobra was a United States fighter aircraft developed in World War II from the P-39 Airacobra in an attempt to correct that aircraft's deficiencies. Although the aircraft was not accepted for combat use by the United States Army Air Forces, it was successfully adopted by the Soviet Air Force.
The Soviets developed successful group aerial fighting tactics for the Bell fighters and P-39s scored a surprising number of aerial victories over German aircraft, mostly Junkers Ju-87 Stukas and bombers but including many advanced fighters as well.
Low ceilings, short missions, good radios, a sealed and warm cockpit and ruggedness contributed to their effectiveness. To pilots who had once flown the tricky Polikarpov I-16, the aerodynamic quirks of the mid-engined aircraft were unimportant. In the Far East, P-63 and P-39 aircraft were used in the Soviet invasion of Manchukoku and northern Korea.
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 32 ft 8 in (10.0 m)
- Wingspan: 38 ft 4 in (11.7 m)
- Height: 12 ft 7 in (3.8 m)
- Wing area: 248 sq?ft (23 m²)
- Empty weight: 6,800 lb (3,100 kg)
- Loaded weight: 8,800 lb (4,000 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 10,700 lb (4,900 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Allison V-1710-117 liquid-cooled V-12, 1,800 hp (1,340 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 410 mph (660 km/h) at 25,000 ft (7,620 m)
- Range: 450 mi[30] (725 km)
- Ferry range: 2200 mi (3,540 km)
- Service ceiling: 43,000 ft (13,100 m)
- Rate of climb: 2,500 ft/min (12.7 m/s)
- Wing loading: 35.48 lb/sq?ft (173.91 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.20 hp/lb (0.34 kW/kg)
Armament
- 1× 37 mm M4 cannon firing through the propeller hub
- 4× 0.50 in (12.7mm) M2 Browning machine guns
- 1,500 lb (680 kg) bombs
** Bell P-63 Kingcobra - Warbird Fare
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