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Subject: Bell P-59 Airacomet
Date: 11 Jul 2016 12:55:49 -0700
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_P-59_Airacomet
The Bell P-59 Airacomet was a twin jet engined fighter aircraft, the first for
the USA, designed and built by Bell Aircraft during World War II. The United
States Army Air Forces were not impressed by its performance and cancelled the
contract when fewer than half of the aircraft ordered had been produced.
Although no P-59s went into combat, it paved the way for another design
generation of U.S. turbojet-powered aircraft and was the first turbojet fighter
to have its turbojet engine and air inlet nacelles integrated within the main
fuselage.
Role Fighter
Manufacturer Bell Aircraft
First flight 1 October 1942
Primary users United States Army Air Forces
United States Navy
Royal Air Force
Number built 66
The 13 service test YP-59As had a more powerful engine than its predecessor, the
General Electric J31, but the improvement in performance was negligible with top
speed increased by only 5 mph and a reduction in the time they could be used
before an overhaul was needed. One of these aircraft, the third YP-59A (S/n:
42-22611) was supplied to the Royal Air Force (receiving British serial
RG362/G), in exchange for the first production Gloster Meteor I, EE210/G.[6]
British pilots found that the aircraft compared very unfavorably with the jets
that they were already flying. (The YP-59A also compared unfavorably to the
propeller-driven North American P-51 Mustang.[citation needed]) Two YP-59A
Airacomets (42-108778 and 42-100779) were also delivered to the U.S. Navy where
they were evaluated as the "YF2L-1" but quickly found completely unsuitable for
carrier operations.
Faced with their own ongoing difficulties, Bell eventually completed 50
production Airacomets, 20 P-59As and 30 P-59Bs. Each was armed with one 37 mm M4
cannon and 44 rounds of ammunition and three .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns with
200 rounds per gun. The P-59Bs were assigned to the 412th Fighter Group to
familiarize AAF pilots with the handling and performance characteristics of jet
aircraft.[7] By 1950, all examples of the Airacomet were no longer airworthy.
Over time, disposal of the aircraft included use as static displays,
instructional aids in military training and use as static targets. While the
P-59 was not a great success, the type did give the USAAF experience with the
operation of jet aircraft in preparation for the more advanced types that would
shortly become available.
Specifications (P-59B)
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 38 ft 10 in (11.84 m)
Wingspan: 45 ft 6 in (13.87 m)
Height: 12 ft 4 in (3.76 m)
Empty weight: 8,165 lb (3,704 kg)
Loaded weight: 11,040 lb (5,008 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 13,700 lb (6,214 kg)
Performance
Maximum speed: 413 mph (359 knots, 665 km/h) at 30,000 ft (9,140 m)
Cruise speed: 375 mph (326 knots, 604 km/h)
Range: 375 mi (326 nm, 604 km)
Service ceiling: 46,200 ft (14,080 m)
Climb to 30,000 ft (9,140 m): 15 min 30 s
Armament
Guns:
1x 37 mm cannon
3x .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns
Bombs: 2,000 lb (910 kg) bombs
*
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