Description
The Bell P-39 Airacobra is a fighter produced by Bell Aircraft for the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. It was one of the principal American fighters in service when the United States entered combat. The P-39 was used by the Soviet Air Force, and enabled individual Soviet pilots to collect the highest number of kills attributed to any U.S. fighter type flown by any air force in any conflict. Other major users of the type included the Free French, the Royal Air Force, and the Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force.
It had an unusual layout, with the engine installed in the center fuselage, behind the pilot, and driving a tractor propeller in the nose with a long shaft. It was also the first fighter fitted with a tricycle undercarriage. Although its mid-engine placement was innovative, the P-39 design was handicapped by the absence of an efficient turbo-supercharger, preventing it from performing high-altitude work. For this reason it was rejected by the RAF for use over western Europe but adopted by the USSR, where most air combat took place at medium and lower altitudes.
The P-39F (Bell Model 15B) was a production variant with a three-bladed Aeroproducts constant speed propeller. Only 229 we ever built.
MANUFACTURED BY
BELL AIRCRAFT
CORPORATION
BUFFALO N.Y.
SERIAL 15-6xx MODEL P39F
DATE MFD 3-1-42
ENGINE ALLISON-V1710-35
ENGINE NO. 7689 A.T.C. E4
The LAST images depict the exact type of aircraft this plate was removed from. A PERFECT addition to any collection, display, or restoration project!
Powered by SixBit’s eCommerce Solution
