P-39 Question

King · **Posted:** Wed Dec 20, 2006 5:17 pm

I noticed on Courtesy Aircraft's website, they list P-39 Airacobra 42-19027 "Small Fry" as the serial number of this project aircraft stored at Aero Trader.

On the Warbird Registry, P-39 42-19027 "Small Fry" is at the Planes of Fame in Chino being restored to airworthy. Is this the same aircraft?

Also, what are the drawbacks to owning a P-39 today, as I see only 3 listed as airworthy?

Warren_C · **Posted:** Wed Dec 20, 2006 6:04 pm

King,

I believe the Stokes/CAF P-39 is still up in San Marcos. If I remember correctly this is the ex-Slovak Mr. Mennen -39. The CAF guys will give you an education on the P-39, ask them about maintenance and the fuel system.
While, some may think this aircraft is the bees knees, it doesn't take long to understand why we lend/leased this one.

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

King wrote:

I noticed on Courtesy Aircraft's website, they list P-39 Airacobra 42-19027 "Small Fry" as the serial number of this project aircraft stored at Aero Trader.

On the Warbird Registry, P-39 42-19027 "Small Fry" is at the Planes of Fame in Chino being restored to airworthy. Is this the same aircraft?

Also, what are the drawbacks to owning a P-39 today, as I see only 3 listed as airworthy?

They are different planes. The POF example has been moved inside now but is not beng restored at this time beyond the static restoration already accomplished some years ago. Not sure if there are any specific future plans or not. Lots of corrosion though!

Quote:

Due to the way this P-39 and others retrieved from New Guinea were moved and stored, it is probable the aft fuselage and other major assemblies are from different combat P-39 aircraft in the same batch retrieved from New Guinea.

http://www.courtesyaircraft.com/P-39%20proj.htm

Perhaps the registry is wrong. I do not know what serial number POF claims for their P-39. Perhaps both are claiming the same number for the reasons noted above!

I do know that the TFC example restored to airworthy at Chino has a Reno racing style radiator spray bar added to keep the engine cool enough to ge to the end of the runway for takeoff.

hang the expense · **Posted:** Wed Dec 20, 2006 8:42 pm

The holdup on airacobrobras are the internal goodies,screw jacks and decent gear. years ago i contemplated getting into a p-39 project because they are a beautiful A/C. Twice as much work in the fuselage as opposed to a p-40.Nose cases were pretty hard to comeby 10 years ago as well as props.Maybe there is a warehouse full of cobra parts out there somewhere but I doubt it.

Mudge · **Posted:** Wed Dec 20, 2006 8:50 pm

At Flying Legends in '05, "Brooklyn Bum" only flew on Saturday. I ran into Steve Hinton (who was flying it) and asked him why it didn't fly Sunday or in the Balbo. If I remember correctly, he said that it overheats too quickly in those (summertime) conditions. Don't know if that's a recurring condition or if it was just the conditions that weekend.

Mudge the uncertain

King · **Posted:** Wed Dec 20, 2006 8:56 pm

Keep the comments coming, I need the information!

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Wed Dec 20, 2006 10:16 pm

Yeager and Bud Anderson both told me that it was a great airplane as long as you didn't do anything stupid in it.

george · **Joined:** Wed Dec 15, 2004 10:20 pm **Posts:** 435

If they overheat so easily while taxiing and preparing for takeoff, how could so many have been utilized in the sweltering heat of New Guinea and Guadalcanal?

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

george wrote:

If they overheat so easily while taxiing and preparing for takeoff, how could so many have been utilized in the sweltering heat of New Guinea and Guadalcanal?

They didn't have far to taxi?

Mudge · **Posted:** Wed Dec 20, 2006 11:47 pm

Mrs. Mudge read the post and said she remembers Steve as saying that "Brookln Bum" had the wrong radiator in it and that's why it was overheating.
Oh well...when you get to be my age, the memory is the SECOND thing to go.

Mudge the geezer

Lynn Allen · **Posted:** Wed Dec 20, 2006 11:54 pm

Warren_C wrote:

King,

I believe the Stokes/CAF P-39 is still up in San Marcos. If I remember correctly this is the ex-Slovak Mr. Mennen -39. The CAF guys will give you an education on the P-39, ask them about maintenance and the fuel system.
While, some may think this aircraft is the bees knees, it doesn't take long to understand why we lend/leased this one.

The Mr. Mennen is now with the Air Zoo in Kalamazoo.......

Lynn

Bill Greenwood · **Posted:** Thu Dec 21, 2006 12:08 am

In discussions with Jerry Billings on whether wheel landings or 3 point was better for a Spitfire, Jerry told me that if you could not make a 3 point in the RAF they sent you to fly P-40s. In one of the books there are several Polish or Chek pilots who are brave and motivated, but not big on group discipline. They are constantly complaining about their Hurricanes and how much better they will score with Spitfires until the group leader threatens to assign them to P-40s, at which point they found the Huri quite acceptable.

Alan Brooks · **Posted:** Thu Dec 21, 2006 12:29 am

The CAF P-39 has a water spray bar for the radiator and Bill thought his Spitty was bad about overheating? Alan

Mike · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 8:54 am **Posts:** 3331

There are 2 flyers, CAF's and TFC's. Kalamazoo's, although it was airworthy, is now entombed in a mausoleum, sorry, museum.

TFC's example has had the radiator replaced, so next season should be adding to its 2 airshow appearances (Legends 2004 and 2005) in the past 3 years.

Warren_C · **Posted:** Thu Dec 21, 2006 12:52 am

Lynn Allen wrote:

Warren_C wrote:

King,

I believe the Stokes/CAF P-39 is still up in San Marcos. If I remember correctly this is the ex-Slovak Mr. Mennen -39. The CAF guys will give you an education on the P-39, ask them about maintenance and the fuel system.
While, some may think this aircraft is the bees knees, it doesn't take long to understand why we lend/leased this one.

The Mr. Mennen is now with the Air Zoo in Kalamazoo.......

Lynn

Thanks Lynn, well it official I have CRS syndrome. I walked past the -39 a Hundred times when I was part of the San Marcos CAF group. That was 8 years ago, it had the russian paint scheme. I tried all day to remember the guys names that worked on it, I'll have to call my brother, I can picture his face still drawing blanks on the name

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