Bell P-39N Airacobra

Wallpaper Description:

The Bell P-39 Airacobra was one of the principal American fighter aircraft in service when the United States entered World War II.

The P-39 was used with great success by the Soviet Air Force, which scored the highest number of individual kills attributed to any U.S. fighter type.

Other major users of the type included the Free French, the Royal Air Force, the United States Army Air Forces, and the Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force.

Designed by Bell Aircraft, it had an innovative layout, with the engine installed in the centre fuselage, behind the pilot, and driving a tractor propeller via a long shaft.

t 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, limiting it to low-altitude work.

Together with the derivative P-63 Kingcobra, the P-39 was one of the most successful fixed-wing aircraft manufactured by Bell.

General characteristics

• Crew: One
• Length: 30 ft 2 in (9.2 m)
• Wingspan: 34 ft 0 in (10.4 m)
• Height: 12 ft 5 in (3.8 m)
• Wing area: 213 sq ft(19.8 m²)
• Empty weight: 5,347 lb (2,425 kg)
• Loaded weight: 7,379 lb (3,347 kg)
• Max. takeoff weight: 8,400 lb (3,800 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Allison V-1710-85 liquid-cooled V-12, 1,200 hp (895 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 376 mph (605 km/h) (Redline dive speed was 525 mph)
• Range: 525 miles on internal fuel (840 km)
• Service ceiling: 35,000 ft (10,700 m)
• Rate of climb: 3,750 ft/min (19 m/s)
• Wing loading: 34.6 lb/sq ft (169 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.16 hp/lb (0.27 kW/kg)
• Time to climb: 15,000 in 4.5 min at 160 mph (260 km/h).

Armament

• Guns:

• 1 x 37 mm M4 cannon in nose (firing through the propeller hub). 30 rounds of HE-T ammunition gun.
• 2 x .50 cal (12.7 mm) synchronized Browning M2 machine guns, nose-mounted. 200 rounds per gun
• 4 x .30 cal Browning M1919 machine guns, wing mounted. 300 rounds per gun
• Bombs:

Up to 500 lb (230 kg) of bombs under wings and belly