Silver Bells ...

[Mark Allen M]

cheesy title ...

[Mark Allen M]

A few more racers & surplus Bells.











All photo sources: SDASM archives Charles Daniels Collection Album "Cleveland 46, 47, 48, 49"

[jbell]

I think it is a great title........John Bell

[CWBuff]

Nice... I'll throw one in here... you wanna see some Airacudas as well?


Project 914 Archives (S.Donacik collection)


Fade to Black...

[Mark Allen M]

Nice Steve-O and yes please post some Airacudas.
Another racer

[Elwyn]

Racer #55 is a bit of an odd looking bird. I see it's an A model.

[planeoldsteve]

How'z about this one?

Nothing beats the air like a Silver Bell


A Bell XH-40, a prototype of the UH-1 Public Domain, U.S. Army Photograph
Steve

[Matt Gunsch]

I kind of like this one

and this is different

[sdennison]

So why was it only the Russians liked the Cobra? Sorry for my stupidity...

[John Dupre]

So why was it only the Russians liked the Cobra? Sorry for my stupidity...

The Cobra's were tough and maneuverable and heavily armed. Below 15,000 feet they were as good as anything the Germans had. The Soviets essentially made sure that they flew below 15,000 feet all the time forcing the Germans to come to them. Since German fighters were usually based very close to the front due their lack of range they rarely had the time to climb very high before encountering Soviet aircraft. So the Soviets giving away the height advantage to the Germans didn't seem to affect the overall tactical situation. In the Pacific, North Africa and Great Britain the Cobras lack of high altitude capability really hampered them since in those theaters getting the altitude advantage was always paramount. Also while maneuverable compared to a 109 or 190 the Bells were outclassed by the Zero and Oscar as were most other aircraft.

[CWBuff]

Here's some Airacudas of the 10th ABS, ACTS Chanute Field, IL.


Project 914 Archives (S.Donacik collection)


Project 914 Archives (S.Donacik collection)


Project 914 Archives (S.Donacik collection)


Project 914 Archives (S.Donacik collection)


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Project 914 Archives (S.Donacik collection)

[Matt Gunsch]

One has to wonder what the gunner in those pods thought if they ever had to bail out

[shrike]

One has to wonder what the gunner in those pods thought if they ever had to bail out

Pete Bowers wrote that normal access to the pods was through a crawl space in the wings, and that he, being young, skinny and lightly dressed at the time, had difficulty negotiating the passage.
Theoretically explosive bolts were supposed to jettison the props before the gunners bailed out. I doubt the radio operator/waist-/ventral-gunner was particularly thrilled with this idea either.

[TAdan]

Excellent Airacuda images, I've never seen those angles before. What a cool looking plane.

[DH82EH]

Does anything remain of any Airacudas?

Cool thread BTW.

Andy