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Subject: Bell P-63 Kingcobra
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_P-63_Kingcobra
The Bell P-63 Kingcobra is an American fighter aircraft developed by Bell
Aircraft in World War II from the Bell P-39 Airacobra in an attempt to correct
that aircraft's deficiencies. Although the P-63 was not accepted for combat use
by the United States Army Air Forces, it was successfully adopted by the Soviet
Air Force.
Although the XP-39E proved to be disappointing, the USAAF was nevertheless
interested in an even larger aircraft based on the same basic layout. Even
before its first flight, the USAAF placed an order on 27 June 1941 for two
prototypes of an enlarged version powered by the same V-1710-47 engine. The new
design was given the designation XP-63 and serials were 41-19511 and 41-19512. A
third prototype was also ordered, 42-78015, this one featuring the Packard
V-1650, the U.S.-built version of the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine.
Deliveries of production P-63As began in October 1943. The USAAF concluded the
Kingcobra was inferior to the Mustang, and declined to order larger quantities.
American allies, particularly the Soviet Union, had a great need for fighter
aircraft, however, and the Soviets were already the largest users of the
Airacobra. Therefore, the Kingcobra was ordered into production to be delivered
under Lend-Lease. In February 1944, the Soviet government sent a highly
experienced test pilot, Andrey G. Kochetkov, and an aviation engineer, Fyodor P.
Suprun, to the Bell factories to participate in the development of the first
production variant, the P-63A. Initially ignored by Bell engineers, Kochetkov's
expert testing of the machine's spin characteristics (which led to airframe
buckling) eventually led to a significant Soviet role in the development. After
flat spin recovery proved impossible, and upon Kochetkov's making a final
recommendation that pilots should bail out upon entering such a spin, he
maximum aft CG was moved forward to facilitate recovery from spins.
Role
Fighter aircraft
National origin
United States
Manufacturer
Bell Aircraft
First flight
7 December 1942
Introduction
October 1943
Status
Retired
Primary users
United States Army Air Forces
Soviet Air Force
French Air Force
Produced
Number built
3,303
Unit cost
US$65,914 (1945)
Developed from
Bell P-39 Airacobra
The first version to be supplied in quantity to the Soviet Union was the P-63A-7
with a higher vertical tail, and reinforced wings and fuselage. The fuselage
proved to need strengthening, consequently in October 1944, a reinforcement kit
for operational P-63s was developed.
In general, official Soviet histories played down the role of Lend-Lease
supplied aircraft in favor of local designs, but it is known that the P-63 was a
successful fighter aircraft in Soviet service. A common Western misconception is
that the Bell fighters were used as ground attack aircraft.
"One of the enduring myths regarding the P-39/P-63 in Soviet use is that because
of its armament, in particular the 37mm nose cannon, it excelled as a
ground-attack aircraft, even a 'tank buster'. In translating and preparing this
manuscript for publication, I have had the opportunity to peruse several
Russian-language sources. Mentions of the employment of this aircraft in the
ground-attack role are so rare in these sources as to be exceptional ... The
'tank buster' myth has its roots in the misunderstanding of the general wartime
role of the Red Air Force and in the imprecise translation of specific
Russian-Language terms that describe this role. The specific Russian-Language
term most often used to describe the mission and role of the Airacobra-equipped
Red Air Force fighter units, in this manuscript and other Russian-language
sources , is prikrytiye sukhoputnykh voysk... Frequent misunderstanding in this
country as to the combat role of the P-39 in Soviet use is based in part on
imprecise translation of the term prikrytiye sukhoputnykh voysk to 'ground
support'. The latter term as it is understood by many Western military
historians and readers, suggests the attacking of ground targets in support of
ground troops, also called 'close air support'. Did a Soviet Airacobra pilot
ever strafe a German tank? Undoubtedly. But this was never a primary mission or
strong suit for this aircraft."
The Soviets developed successful group aerial fighting tactics for the Bell
fighters and scored a surprising number of aerial victories over a variety of
German aircraft. Low ceilings, short missions, good radios, a sealed and warm
cockpit and ruggedness contributed to their effectiveness. To pilots who had
once flown the tricky Polikarpov I-16, the aerodynamic quirks of the mid-engined
aircraft were unimportant. In the Far East, P-63 and P-39 aircraft were used in
the Soviet invasion of Manchukuo and northern Korea. In the Pacific theatre, the
Kingcobras flew escort, close air support and ground attack missions. The Soviet
P-63s achieved their first air victory on 15 August 1945, when Lejtenant I. F.
Miroshnichenko from 17th IAP/190 IAD, shot down a Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa IJAAS
fighter off the coast of North Korea.
Its main use in American service was the unusual one of a manned flying target
for gunnery practice. The aircraft was generally painted bright orange to
increase its visibility. All armament and the regular armor was removed from
these RP-63 aircraft, and over a ton of armored sheet metal was applied to the
aircraft. This was fitted with sensors that would detect hits, and these hits
were signaled by illuminating a light in the propeller hub where the cannon
would have been. This earned the aircraft the unofficial nickname of Pinball.
Special frangible rounds made of a lead/Bakelite combination were developed that
would disintegrate upon impact. These were known as the "Cartridge, Caliber .30,
Frangible, Ball, M22". Ivan L. Hickman, a veteran Pinball pilot, eventually
authored Operation Pinball in 1990.
Specifications (P-63A)
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 32 ft 8 in (10.0 m)
Wingspan: 38 ft 4 in (11.7 m)
Height: 12 ft 7 in (3.8 m)
Empty weight: 6,800 lb (3,100 kg)
Loaded weight: 8,800 lb (4,000 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 10,700 lb (4,900 kg)
Performance
Maximum speed: 410 mph (660 km/h) at 25,000 ft (7,620 m)
Range: 450 mi (725 km)
Ferry range: 2,200 mi (3,540 km)
Service ceiling: 43,000 ft (13,100 m)
Rate of climb: 2,500 ft/min (12.7 m/s)
Power/mass: 0.20 hp/lb (0.34 kW/kg)
Armament
of the aircraft onward, the M4 gun was replaced with the slightly improved M10
37 mm cannon, which used a disintegrating link ammunition belt, increasing the
ammo capacity to 58 rounds; the M10 also had a slightly higher rate of fire.
in the wings)
Bombs: 1,500 lb (680 kg) bomb load on wing and fuselage
*
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