Bell P-63A Kingcobra

A development of Bell Aircraft’s P-39 Airacobra, the P-63 Kingcobra featured the same unusual, mid-engine configuration, tricycle undercarriage and nose-mounted 37mm cannon. While the U.S. Army Air Forces chose not to field P-63s in combat, the Soviet Air Force received more than 2,300 examples late in WWII.

While the U.S. military chose not to employ the P-63 in combat due to its inferiority over the P-51, which was already in production, they did approve the type for delivery to Allied Nations via the Lend-Lease act. The Soviet Union received more than 70% of the 3,303 P-63s built. Based upon a 1943 agreement with the United States, the Soviets were prohibited from deploying P-63s against Germany, being asked to concentrate them in the Far East instead for an eventual attack against Japan. Even so, it is widely believed that P-63s did indeed see Soviet European service. When the Soviet Union did finally move against Japan in the waning days of WWII, their Kingcobras served in bomber escort, close air support and ground attack roles.

The Museum’s P-63A (s/n 42-70609) is known to have flown in Soviets attacks against Japanese forces in August 1945. The main components of the museum’s P-63 were recovered from the Kuril Islands in 1998. The airframe, while externally complete and on static display, has yet to receive a comprehensive, airworthy restoration.

Did You know?

The United States Army Air Forces used some of its P-63s for target practice! Provided with armor plating and a system of lights to indicate ordnance strikes, manned P-63s served as aerial targets for trainee gunners to shoot at with special frangible bullets. The P-63’s lighting system, which flashed whenever the aircraft took a hit, earned these airplanes the nickname “Pinball.”

Specifications

Number Built: 3,303 total Kingcobras (730 P-63A-10 variants)
Year Produced: 1942
Serial Number: 42-70609
Crew: (1) Pilot
Current Pilots:

Dimensions

Length: 32 ft. 8 in.
Wingspan: 38 ft. 4 in.
Empty Weight: 6,800 lbs.
Loaded Weight: 8,800 lbs.
Engine: 1x Allison V-1710-93 liquid-cooled V-12, supercharged inline piston engine
- *MAM aircraft does not have an engine
Engine Power: 1,325 hp

Performance

Cruising Speed: 378 mph
Max Speed: 410 mph
Range: 450 miles
Ceiling: 43,000 ft.
Rate of Climb: 3,600 ft./min. initial

Armament

1x 37mm cannon firing through the propeller hub
2x 0.50 caliber machine guns mounted in the upper nose of the fuselage firing through the propeller
2x 0.050 caliber machine guns mounted in pods on the underside of each wing
*MAM aircraft are unarmed