Bell Aircraft’s first aircraft.
http://1000aircraftphotos.com/APS/2511.htm
Unfortunately,
it did not work as designed. Reality of the new war overtook it as well.
In his book Victory Through Air Power, Alexander de
Seversky had high praise for the Airacuda.
The P-39 Airacobra was always one of my favorites. Bell also made the first American jet, P-59
ReplyDeleteYes. Over the years I read that the P-39 was useless against Japanese and German aircraft, but the Russians appreciated it as an anti-armor airplane. Then along comes the internet, with stories and interviews of Soviet pilots who said the P-39 was a masterful fighter below 10,000 feet. And, almost every high standing Russian pilot had most of his shootdowns flying the P-39. Difference in approach -- strategic air by the US, tactical by the Soviets.
ReplyDeleteYep, high altitude was no good and the engine was underpowered. P-39 was dream compared to the crap the Soviets made for themselves.
DeleteYes. Early MiG and Lag fighters were nowhere equal of the P-39. The Brewster Buffalo was another bad-mouthed by Americans but which when flown by Finnish pilots did a number on the Soviets.
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