The Bell P-39 Airacobra was a unique all metal mid-engined pre-war fighter with tricycle undercarriage, the propeller drive shaft literally running under the pilot's feet. Due to the Bell P-39 Airacobra's lack of a turbocharger or supercharger it had poor performance above 14,000, it was however available in large numbers at the time America entered WWII, and was very reliable with the ability to take a lot of punishment and still remain airworthy. A total of 9,500 Bell P-39 Airacobra fighters were produced, the majority of the aircraft were delivered to the Russian Red Air Force as part of the the WWII Lend-Lease program. The Red Air Force made good use of the Airacobra in ground support and attack roles where the aircraft's poor high level performance was of no consequence. Four particularly successful Russian P-39 Airacobra pilots were Major Gregoriy Rechkalov, Colonel Aleksandr Pokryshkin, Major Dmitriy Glinka and Major Nikolay Gulaev. 
Specifications: Bell P-39Q Airacobra - Crew: Pilot only
- Length: 30 ft 2 in (9.2 m)
- Wingspan: 34 ft 0 in (10.4 m)
- Height: 12 ft 5 in (3.8 m)
- Empty weight: 5,347 lb (2,425 kg)
- Loaded weight: 7,379 lb (3,347 kg)
- Engine: Single 1,200 hp (895 kW) Allison V-1710-85 liquid-cooled V-12
- Maximum speed: 376 mph; (605 km/h)
- Range: 1,098 miles (1,770 km)
- Service ceiling: 35,000 ft (10,700 m)
Armament: - Single 37 mm M4 cannon firing through the propeller hub with 30 rounds of ammunition.
- Four .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns.
- Maximum of 500 lb (230 kg) of bombs externally carried
|