Jerry Yagen's new combat vet P-400 Airacobra project

[Digger]

Hi

I'd like to clarify a few things, Bell was the first US fighter to take advantage of the NACA wind tunnel assembly - most aircraft producers at that time poo poo-ed the notion but Bell recognised
the benefits. The P-40 was indeed an export aircraft but was deliberately named so because of its differences. British requirements necessitated that additional armour in plate and
glass was added and wing guns were 30 cal, the RAF also wanted self sealing tanks which Bell had already included into its revised model 14 design. The model 14 was being constructed on the same
assembly line as the P-400's. I have a lend lease plate that was attached to a P-400 which identifies what changes were made. The 400 mph issue which so many people seem to quote is often linked to
the P-400 designation. The facts about the P-39 are these. All allied aircraft, US, RAF or whatever were put through the same set of tests. The 400 barrier was broken by the P-39C/D in the
standard dive test. The YP-39 went through a series of these tests to improve the tail design. In comparison to the Spitfire, Me109, P-40 and most other aircraft types at that time the P-39 equaled
or exceeded the performance of all others under 15K feet. Bell actually exceeded the 400 mph with a specially prepared P-39D, its was highly polished and had all items of resistance removed from its
air contact surfaces - things like gun ports were removed or sealed up. In a flat straight low level test the P-39 flew over 400mph on 3 separate occasions.

Operationally the airwar in Europe was above 15k feet except on the Russian front where the USSR demonstrated clearly the effectiveness of the Cobra. It was the P-39 along with the P-40 that held the
Japanese until the more improved P38s, P-47s etc came on strength and were equipped with the much desired superchargers that the USAAC had specifically instructed Bell not to include in its P-39 design.

Chuck Yeager is quoted as stating the P-39 was the best aircraft he ever flew in WW2. Need I say more? - Yes I am biased, I love the P-39

hope this helps a little

[dirtysidedown430]

Wonder where they found the Stuabaker door handles

[JohnTerrell]

The Russians made the Germans fight at low level where the P-39 performed at its best, and there were many Russian aces that had great "success" with the P-39, like Pokyrshkin (more than 40 of his 59 kills flying the P-39), Rechkalov (52 of his 56 kills flying the P-39), Gulaev (32 of his 57 kills flying the P-39), Arkhipenko (26 kills flying the P-39), and the list goes on and on.

The P-39 flew/flies best when properly balanced with enough weight in the nose (i.e. fully loaded with ammunition). It became unbalanced (center of gravity shifting too far aft) as the ammunition became depleted. The 'tumbling' phenomenon and unbalanced characteristics were usually/only always recorded when on training flights, with no ammunition loaded, or after the ammunition was depleted following combat. As I understand it, when the P-39 was officially tested for 'tumbling', and they could never get it to 'tumble', the tests were all done with full ammunition loaded in the nose. The restored P-39 "Brooklyn Bum" has a full load of solid brass 75-mm cannon shells in order to keep the C.G. well forward.

[gemmer]

Digger:

I believe that General Yeager said that the P-39 was the nicest aircraft to fly but he would not have wanted to fly combat in it. A P-39's superiority over the competition below 15,000 ft would be relative to the version of the Spitfire, Bf109,etc it was up against. A Spit MkII or 109E? Maybe. But keep in mind that by the time Pearl Harbor happened, the Spit V(not a world beater, but a good fighter) and the excellent 109F were in service, with the FW190 soon to follow. The average P-39 pilot stood little chance against aircraft of that quality, and even the early versions of the A6M as well. Any fighter's
qualities have to be based on the task and tactics required of it. The Soviets fared better with The P-39
Because the used it in a tactical role for which it was better suited. As an escort, interceptor or air superiority fighter it was outclassed. No range, low ceiling, mediocre speed and poor armament.

Duane

[Invader26]

The restored P-39 "Brooklyn Bum" has a full load of solid brass 75-mm cannon shells in order to keep the C.G. well forward.

Not sure how they fitted a 75mm cannon in a P-39 normally had a 37mm M4 with 30 rounds>>>

[JohnTerrell]

Sorry, I miss-typed - meant 37mm.

[k5083]

I believe that General Yeager said that the P-39 was the nicest aircraft to fly but he would not have wanted to fly combat in it.

My recollection is the opposite, I think he said he loved it and WOULD gladly have flown it in combat.

But, that was when he was a trainee in an empty sky. Later he surely realized what a disadvantage it would have been at.

Another fan of the P-39 was British test pilot Eric Brown who kept one as his personal hack through the war. Again, while delighted with it as an aeroplane he was not blind to its limitations as a weapon.

August

[ErrolC]

Hi all,
Kermit Weeks is in Australia and yesterday visited Precision Aerospace at Wangaratta, and shared this in a longer post on Facebook:
"Jerry Yegan's[sic] Kingfisher and P-39 projects are heading to Pioneer Aircraft in New Zealand..."

Would this be the P-400 mentioned above?

And P-39F-1BE Airacobra now at Pioneer!
http://www.pioneeraero.co.nz/project/p- ... airacobra/

Serial # 41-7215

[Zac Yates]

I think 41-7125 is the one that was previously restored to static - with meticulous attention to detail - by a bloke and his mates in Australia in the 90s and covered in an issue of Classic Wings Downunder/Classic Wings. My copies have been lent out but hopefully DaveM2 can chime in with some info.

Outstanding to see a P-39 set for a trip to NZ. Another excellent project to watch.

[DaveM2]

I think 41-7125 is the one that was previously restored to static - with meticulous attention to detail - by a bloke and his mates in Australia in the 90s and covered in an issue of Classic Wings Downunder/Classic Wings. My copies have been lent out but hopefully DaveM2 can chime in with some info.

Outstanding to see a P-39 set for a trip to NZ. Another excellent project to watch.

Yes 41-7125 is the North Queensland example which they mistakenly refer too, this isn't Jerry's machine which is based on ex Soviet P-39Qs

[Zac Yates]

Thanks Dave

[Pogo]

Sorry, I'm on the road, lost track, have little time for browsing -- what's the status on the ex-Taft now Yagen P-400? Do I understand correctly that Mr. Yagen has 3 Bell projects: a Q, F, and -400?

[Zac Yates]

This photo was posted on the web several years back, taken in 2008(!) of Yagen's P-39Q 42-20341 at Precision.

Going by the photo on Pioneer's website it looks like this is indeed the machine on its way over to NZ: http://www.pioneeraero.co.nz/project/p- ... airacobra/

Ignore the nomenclature in the website address as the aircraft seems to have changed into a Q overnight.

[dirtysidedown430]

Hope he knows how to check the alheainment of the drive shafts that's why most of them got parked. Still want to know where they got the Studebaker door handles.