Bell P-63E King Cobra NX41964 then and now ...

[Mark Allen M]

This particular P-63 seems to have had an interesting career. There's a couple of 'lively' discussions here on WIX about it. And a few other bits of information floating around the www.
http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.o ... hp?p=47278

WIX registry: http://www.warbirdregistry.org/p39-p63r ... 11728.html

"This Bell P-63E King Cobra carried the civil registration NX41964. It was built for the Army Air Corps as 43-11728 and then bailed to Bell Aircraft Corporation of Buffalo, New York. It had been modified with a second cockpit behind the engine. Bell P-63E King Cobra NX41964 was subsequently delivered to FA Hondurena as FAH 401 in October 1948. It was damaged on landing during its delivery flight at Tegucigalpa on October 15, 1948. Bell Aircraft Corporation acquired it again as N41964 in 1957 and provided it to the US Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio in January 1958. It was loaned to the Pima County Air Museum in 1976. It is presently displayed at the National Museum of the US Air Force as Pinball RP-63E 42-69654."
http://www.air-and-space.com/19460622%20GEARL.htm

J. Bougher's site: Bell P-63E King Cobra 43-11728 to Bell Aircraft Corp with civil registration NX41964 and modified with second cockpit. To Honduras AF as FAH 401 in Oct 1948. Damaged during delivery flight Oct 15, 1948. Used for spare parts by FAH. Civil registration N41964 cancelled Jun 2, 1953. Back to US civil registry as N41964 in 1957. To display at WPAFB Museum Jan 1958, marked as 42-69654, a 'pinball' aircraft.

There were several two-seat adaptations of the Kingcobra, which paralleled the development of the TP-39 two-seat Airacobra.

The TP-63A-10 (Model 38) was a proposed two-seat Kingcobra variant. It was basically inspired by the two-seat TP-39 Airacobra. A new cockpit grafted onto the nose ahead of the existing cockpit of the P-63, with a leftward-opening canopy installed. All armament was removed, and a ventral fin was added. The basic idea was for the company to build conversion kits for existing P-63A-10 aircraft. However, none were actually built at the factory, although at least three were completed in the Soviet Union (42-69304, 42-70503, and 43-11334).

An entirely different two-seater was produced by the Bell company for internal use. Two P-63E-1s were modified by Bell with a separate observer seat in the rear fuselage, located behind the engine and mounted under a separate canopy. A probe was mounted which extended through the spinner, and to make space for the observer the radio equipment had to be moved forward into the armament bay. The aircraft carried the civilian registrations NX41963 and NX41964.

Below are some photos of Bell P-63E King Cobra NX41964 during 'Project Regulus' - Remote Controlled testing.




























With a Mustang escort


19460622 GEARL Richard Lockett 351 P-63E NX41964 43-11728 left side taxiing

Bell P-63E Kingcobra N41964/269654 when prepared for the USAFM











More recent photos:

"Bell P-63E Kingcobra N41964/269654 USAFM 26-9-07
c/n 33-16, ex Honduras Air Force FAH401, NX41964, USAAF 43-11728. Painted as an RP-63A 42-69654/IL76 in "Pinball" gunnery target colours."
Chris England


Chris England photo c 2007


Chris England photo c 2007

[Mark Allen M]

Here's a nice set of Bell P-63 training school photos. I'm going to guess these were taken at the Buffalo factory location

[res6kgcr]

Hi all,

Looks to me that this was some kind of drone test by Bell with the second cockpit for a observer, no controls. I know that Bell used the same set-up with drone test they did for the air force with P-59s. Also the "pod" on the left wing looks like it has a T.V. camera. For sure they have the coolest support vehicle ever.

What do you all think?

All the best to you all,

Tom

[Craig59]

Thanks for yet another great photo essay, Mark. The gear head in me can't help but point out the uber-rare, 1942 Ford Woody Wagon with only 5483 produced before new car construction ceased until the 1946 model year.

[bdk]

Thanks for yet another great photo essay, Mark. The gear head in me can't help but point out the uber-rare, 1942 Ford Woody Wagon with only 5483 produced before new car construction ceased until the 1946 model year.

Yup, like the US Government Woody with the wooden antenna masts nailed on!

[Lon Moer]

Wow, that's some serious rear CG!