Nice page on the 2 seater P-39 & P-63

[Michel Lemieux]

Nice page on the 2 seater P-39 & P-63

http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/lendlease/tp-39/twoseaterp-39.htm








Anyone knows why the fuse under the tail looks extended on this one ? Stability fin ?



And not this one ?

[Second Air Force]

Neat photos, Michel.

I think the airplane marked "N-M" does have the ventral fin, it is just harder to see with the other airplane in the background. The forward cockpit and windscreen of the P-63 looks almost like a Vought Cutlass!

Scott

[Django]

Wow, that's ugly!

[Jesse C.]

Wow! That pig is going to need more than just lipstick!

Isn't one of the current flyers out there a former two seater?

[ww2John]

Truly a LUFF

[gale_dono]

Wow! That pig is going to need more than just lipstick!

Isn't one of the current flyers out there a former two seater?

While not a flyer, the NMUSAF's P-39 is a de-converted 2-seater.

[Steve T]

To quote my 2-year-old niece: "ewww, that's gross!"

Usually I like the dual-control versions of fighter types: Spit T9, TF-51, Fury T20, et cetera. But these Cobras...ick! Very interesting to hear that the NMUSAF P-39 is an ex-two-seater. Usually I'd be dismayed to find a rare sub-variant had been converted to a more common version, but in this case, three cheers...

Terrific photos of some remarkable airplanes though; thanks for posting them.

S.

[Dan K]

Stop the presses. There's not just one surviving TP-39, but two. 44-3908 was also restored with a single cockpit and now is displayed proudly as "Whistlin' Britches" at the Kalamazoo Air Zoo.

Last edited by Dan K on Tue Jan 27, 2009 12:32 am, edited 1 time in total.

[bdk]

Anyone knows why the fuse under the tail looks extended on this one ? Stability fin ?

Yes, the front canopy acts like a vertical stabilzer in front of the center of pressure and thus has a destabilizing influence. The "skeg" balances it out again.

[Steve Nelson]

Wow..I never knew they did one of those conversions to a P-63. I didn't think it was possible, but that's even uglier than the TP-39!

Note the aircraft has the Russian "Ferry" insignia. The quality of the photo also looks rather Russkie. I wonder if it was a Red Air Force conversion inspired by the TP-39.

SN

[TAdan]

Wow, that's ugly!

X2!

I've never seen these before. Thanks for posting them... I think.

[Michel Lemieux]

In all it's beauty........it reminds me of another lovely design

[Mudge]

All these remind me of the Schwartzenegger line from Predator when he first sees the predator, "You are one ugly mother_ _ _ _ _ _."

Mudge the nauseaus

[Second Air Force]

What's not to love about the Gannet?

[Steve T]

Yep...so homely it's cool...looks like it doesn't give a rip what anyone thinks of it!

S.