P-39 AIRACOBRA MANIFOLD PRESSURE GAUGE

The P-39 had an unusual layout, with the Allison V-12 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.

Originally ordered by the RAF, the absence of an efficient turbo-supercharger the P-39 performed poorly above 17,000 feet and as a consequence, the RAF rejected the aircraft for use over Western Europe.

Instead, the aircraft was adopted by the Soviet Airforce and the US sent some 4,773 P-39s to the Soviet Union under the US Lend Lease program  

The P-39's unusual configuration of mounting the heavy Allison V-12 engine in the middle of the fuselage just behind the cockpit, enabled the aircraft to carry a formidable M4 37 mm cannon and two synchronised machine guns in the aircraft's nose. Coupled with two wing mounted machine guns, the Soviet pilots were able to wreak havoc against the invading German ground troops.

It was however in low altitude air-to-air combat that the P-39 came into its own against a wide variety of Luftwaffe aircraft including the Bf 109s, Focke Wulf Fw 190s and Ju87s.

Most of the Luftwaffe fighters relied on their speed and high altitude performance but at low level - against the slower P-39s, they were sluggish and difficult to manoeuvre giving the slower P-39s a distinct advantage.

Installed in an operational aircraft, the instrument rear casing still retains its protective gauze tape that was used to cover the instrument's pressure hose intake from dust and dirt after its removal from the aircraft for servicing. 

Manufactured by Manning Maxwell & Moore Inc, thisAN5770-1 Manifold Pressure Gauge comes complete with Manufacture's plate and would make a fantastic collectable with its detailed model of the iconic P-39 Airacobra atop its 100yr old Mango Wood stand.

* Note that this P-39 Airacobra collectable comes with the standard detailed, but smaller 1/72 scale. Click on the 'Model Upgrade' option at the top of this page for the larger super detailed 1/48 scale or Ultra detailed 1/32 scale.

What a great original, one-of-a-kind gift for any aviation enthusiast or budding, active or retired pilot.

This Bell P-39 Airacobra Instrument comes complete with detailed Scale Model, Mango Wood Stand & Plaque plus Printed Fact Sheet featuring photo of instrument in aircraft cockpit.

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