Mystery Bell P-63

[Dan K]

[quote="zorro7"]

Does anyone have any pictures or close-ups of the Bell P-63E dual seaters?? quote]


NX41964

http://www.aerofiles.com/P63-2seat.jpg

[pbeegle1]

Dixie Wing P-63 Update.
The 63 is progressing nicely. Here is a quick list of competed parts:
Empennage
Flaps
Ailerons
Fuel bay doors
Gear
Radiators
Oil cooler

In work:
Right wing reqs a few more rivets and fuel cell.
Left wing needs closure and fuel cell.
Main fuselage, this is where our team is working now.

The project is not on hold. On our “work” days there are 5-7 people working the aircraft. I will try and get some pics this weekend. Warbird51 did get one thing right, we always need $.

[Dan K]

The project is not on hold. On our “work” days there are 5-7 people working the aircraft. I will try and get some pics this weekend. Warbird51 did get one thing right, we always need $.

pbeegle, I believe the Dixie Wing is rebuilding #42-68941.

Warbird51 was describing the status of #43-11734.

There certainly is a family resemblance, but it is kinda' sad when you can't recognize your own kid anymore.

http://www.dixiewing.org/aircraft/p63/p63other.html

[Dan K]

And an action pic of NX41964:

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii12 ... seater.jpg

[zorro7]

P-63 Folks:

The one and only P-63 S.of the border is now getting a facelift!! Bell P-63E, AAF 43-11732 an X FAH 403 will be displayed in bare metal scheme in the near future. Toncontin, Honduras. Photo E.H Apr-2011.

p.s For quite some time its true FAH id was hidden below many layers of paint!!!

[Speedy]

Dixie Wing P-63 Update.
The 63 is progressing nicely. Here is a quick list of competed parts:
Empennage
Flaps
Ailerons
Fuel bay doors
Gear
Radiators
Oil cooler

In work:
Right wing reqs a few more rivets and fuel cell.
Left wing needs closure and fuel cell.
Main fuselage, this is where our team is working now.

The project is not on hold. On our “work” days there are 5-7 people working the aircraft. I will try and get some pics this weekend. Warbird51 did get one thing right, we always need $.

I know it's not right...but can I have any hope that it will be 'restored' back in the pseudo Free-French markings that it wore in the early '70's? Wildly inaccurate, but that was from my young and impressionalbe years, and that was kind of an iconic CAF plane back then.

[zorro9]

P-63 Folks:

Good Day!

Pictured below is Bell P-63E AAF 43-11732 X FAH 403 showing its NMF scheme prior to a facelift during late 2011.

It has a partial L/strut on the L/wing assy area. It also appears to be a composite aircraft with the wings of the X FAH 401. One of the ID plates at the tail section shows AAF 43-11736 which is a sample that never went into production. Photo via E.H/AEC




p.s If you live near Falcon Field, AZ where other P-63 parts are in storage plz send us a pm. We are interested to know the S/N of those airframes & the extra wings. Tks

[zorro9]

P-63F Folks:

Good day!

Some folks say there was only one sample of a P-63F (tall tail) & some other books mention 2 samples. We found the 1st sample in the NMF of c. 1945-46. Bell AAF 43-11719. Now with CAF in TX. Photo AEC.





p.s We'll begin some digging on the poss 2nd sample P-63F 43-11722! C/N ??

[zorro9]

TP-63?

There were prob 2 samples. One made at Bell c. 1944-45 & another in the former USSR. (Factory kit) Some Flypast folks mention some issues with the CG & structural problems on these training birds. Photo via Flypast Forum.

[bdk]

That big forward canopy sure looks like it would impair stability. I would expect the vertical stabilizer would need to be enlarged.

[zorro9]

BDK:

Good day!

I agree.. the sample will fly one way & then the original P-63 will be another training time! Some of the main landing gears were also known to collapse on hard landings.

p.s back to the NMF of the USAF Museum c. 1960s. AAF-43-11728.. clean cut & simple in design. We are finding out what happened to the aft canopy & aft seat. Do you know any data/pics of the late Bill Ross dual canopy AAF -43-11734?? c. 1960s?

[zorro9]

P-63 Folks:

Good day!

Does anyone know where this stash of P-63 parts came from? poss location? Photo via John Kerr.

Tks in advance!

Last edited by zorro9 on Wed Apr 23, 2014 8:31 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Jesse C.]

I think that pic is from Chino and taken a while ago

[John Kerr]

Malstrom AFB, MT I have seen a series of 3 photos of these parts. including this one. Date unknown. Will try to find.

[zorro9]

John:

Good day!

Tks for the info & data!

Maybe you have additional data/pics on the below sample. Bell P-63E N41964, poss 43-11734. At Palmdale Int airport of all places c. 1950s. Photo via AEC.

This sample used to belong to a guy in S. Florida named David Robinson & then went to Bill Ross c. 1970s of Chicago. (fuselage only)IL. Maybe you captured it in some airshow in your area.