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Strange P-39.....with under belly jet pod

Wed May 27, 2015 10:28 pm

Strange P-39.....am on a roll tonight....

No info added from http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/KleinBernhard/4859.htm

Searched and found nothing......

Image

Re: Strange P-39.....with under belly jet pod

Wed May 27, 2015 10:57 pm

notice there is no cannon? thats because the nose has a huge turbo in it and thats the air feed. i believe this is one of my P-39's with the naca

Re: Strange P-39.....with under belly jet pod

Wed May 27, 2015 11:11 pm

pop1
Last edited by Lon Moer on Thu May 28, 2015 11:45 am, edited 1 time in total.

Re: Strange P-39.....with under belly jet pod

Wed May 27, 2015 11:54 pm

What's with the long Shinny Pipe from the pod up to the fuselage ? Just wondering.

Re: Strange P-39.....with under belly jet pod

Thu May 28, 2015 12:46 am

Almost looks like a V-1 ish type ramjet

Re: Strange P-39.....with under belly jet pod

Thu May 28, 2015 1:23 am

According to Birch Matthews book "Cobra" it was purely a mock up for an external turbo supercharger.
The pipe to the rear was to simulate a feed pipe to deliver compressed air to the engine supercharger.
It was flown in this configuration but the drag caused a 40 MPH drop in top speed. The idea was abandoned. This is P-39D 40-6770

Re: Strange P-39.....with under belly jet pod

Thu May 28, 2015 8:46 pm

it was purely a mock up for an external turbo supercharger


Ram air boost?

Interesting test concept!
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