P-39 AIRACOBRA

The Bell P-39 Airacobra was one of the primary American fighter aircraft in service when the United States entered World War II. Also used by the Soviet Air Force to devastating effect, the P-39 scored the highest number of individual kills attributed to any U.S. fighter type in the Eastern European theatre

Conceived as a single-engine high-altitude "interceptor" having "the tactical mission of interception and attack of hostile aircraft at high altitude, its lack of an efficient turbo-supercharger, preventing it from performing high-altitude interception. As such 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.

Designed by the Bell Aircraft Corporation, the P-39had an unusual and innovative layout, with the engine installed in the centre fuselage, behind the pilot, and driving a tractor propeller via a long shaft. It was also the first fighter fitted with a tricycle undercarriage. 

The main reason for the unusual positioning of the P-39’s Allison V-1710 liquid-cooled V-12 engine behind the cockpit was to free up space for the heavy main armament - a 37mm Oldsmobile T9 cannon which fired a 1.3 lb projectile capable of piercing 2 cm of armour at 450 m through the centre of the propeller hub for optimum accuracy and stability when firing. 

A secondary benefit of the mid-engine arrangement was that it created a smooth and streamlined nose profile. Much was made of the fact that this resulted in a configuration “with as trim and clean a fuselage nose as the snout of a high velocity bullet”. Entry to the cockpit was through side doors (mounted on both sides of the cockpit) rather than a sliding canopy.  

The tractor propeller was driven via a 3m long drive shaft made in two sections, incorporating a self-aligning bearing to accommodate fuselage deflection during violent manoeuvres. This shaft ran through a tunnel in the cockpit floor and was connected to a gearbox in the nose of the fuselage which, in turn, drove the three - or (later) four-bladed propeller via a short central shaft.

The Airacobra saw combat throughout the world, particularly in the Southwest Pacific, Mediterranean and Soviet theatres with the most successful and numerous use of the P-39  by the Red Air Force. 

Receiving the considerably improved N and Q models via the Alaska-Siberia ferry route, the tactical environment of the Eastern Front did not demand the high-altitude performance the RAF and USAAF did. The comparatively low-speed, low-altitude nature of most air combat on the Soviet Front suited the P-39's strengths: sturdy construction, reliable radio gear, and significant firepower.

The first Soviet Cobras had a 20 mm Hispano-Suiza cannon and two heavy Browning machine guns, synchronised and mounted in the nose. Later, Cobras arrived with the M4 37 mm cannon and four machine guns, two synchronised and two wing-mounted.

When the Soviets first received the P-39 they immediately removed the wing machine guns, leaving one cannon and two machine guns greatly improving its handling with five of the 10 highest scoring Soviets aces logging the majority of their kills in P-39s. 

23 reconditioned Airacobras were also loaned to the RAAF as a stop-gap measure during the opening months of the Pacific War when Australia could only manage to secure enough Curtiss Kittyhawks to equip 3 squadrons destined for front line duties in Papua New Guinea. Eventually the RAAF were able to secure the upgraded Spitfire for home defence duties.

All P-39 Airacobra Instruments listed below come complete with detailed Scale Model, Mango Wood Stand & Plaque plus Printed Fact Sheet featuring photo of instrument in the aircraft cockpit.

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  P-39 AIRACOBRA ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE GAUGE

  Rare Bell P-39 Airacobra, Weston Electric Inst Corp 115412 T-52H,...

  $520.00

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  P-39 AIRACOBRA MANIFOLD PRESSURE GAUGE

  P-39 Airacobra, Manning Maxwell Moore Inc, thisAN5770-1 Manifold Pressure Gauge...

  $680.00

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  BELL, P-39 AIRACOBRA BC-608 PIPSQUEAK CONTACTOR UNIT

  Rare, P-39 Airacobra, BC-608 Pip-Squeak Radio Transmitter Contactor Unit

  $920.00

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