United States' Bell P-63 Kingcobra fighter

Photos

Bell P-63 Kingcobra fighter:

Bell P-63 Kingcobra fighter:

Bell P-63A Kingcobra fighter:

Design

The Bell P-63 Kingcobra was larger and had a more powerful engine than the Bell P-39.^2,3,4

In June 1941 the US Army Air Force ordered two prototypes to be built.¹

Like the P-39 it also had tricycle landing gear, engine behind the pilot, and a door similar to a car for the pilot.¹ The P-63 had a taller tail.¹

The intake, right behind the cockpit glass, provided air to the carburator.¹

Prototype

The first flight of the XP-63 prototype was in / on December 1942⁴ / December 7, 1942.^1,2,3,4 Both prototypes were lost in early accidents.¹

The third prototype, XP-63A, was first flown on April 26, 1943.²

Production

Deliveries of the production version began in October 1943.^1,3

• Bell XP-63/A: 3³
• Bell P-63A: 1,725^2,3,4
• Bell P-63C: 1,227^2,3
• Bell P-63D: 1^2,3
• Bell P-63E: 13^2,3
• Bell P-63F: 1², 2³
• Bell RP-63A: 90³
• Bell RP-63C: 200³
• Bell RP-63G: 42³
• Total: 3,300¹, 3,303^3,4
  • Manufacturer: Bell Aircraft Corporation⁴
  • Production: ? - 1945⁴

Orders Cancelled

At the end of World War II orders for 2,930 P-63Es were cancelled.³

Variants

• Bell XP-63: Had an Allison V-1710-47 engine (1,325 HP).²
• Bell XP-63A: Was the third prototype.² Had an Allison V-1710-93 (1,500 HP).²
• Bell P-63A-1: Delivery started in October 1943.²
• Bell P-63A-10:
• Bell P-63B: Was to have a Packard-Merlin engine but was never produced.³
• Bell P-63C: Most supplied to the Soviet Union.²
• Bell P-63D: Larger wing and bubble canopy.^2,3 Had an V-1710-109 engine.²
• Bell P-63E: Used standard canopy of earlier models (pre P-63D).^2,3 Had the V-1710-109 engine.³
• Bell P-63F: New vertical tail surfaces.^2,3 Used an V-1710-135 engine.^2,3
• Bell RP-63A: Had armor and armament removed.³ A tough aluminum skin was added to the wings, fuselage, tail, and canopy.³ Firing aircraft fired frangible bullets.³ If a hit was scored a red light on the spinner would blink giving the aircraft the nickname "Pinball."³
• Bell RP-63C: Had armor and armament removed.³ A tough aluminum skin was added to the wings, fuselage, tail, and canopy.³ Firing aircraft fired frangible bullets.³ If a hit was scored a red light on the spinner would blink giving the aircraft the nickname "Pinball."³
• Bell RP-63G: Had armor and armament removed.³ A tough aluminum skin was added to the wings, fuselage, tail, and canopy.³ Firing aircraft fired frangible bullets.³ If a hit was scored a red light on the spinner would blink giving the aircraft the nickname "Pinball."³

Usage

Countries Using P-63s

France, Soviet Union, United Kingdom and the United States used the P-63.³ However, the United States never used it in combat, only as a trainer or a target aircraft.^1,3,4

The US Army Air Force decided it was advanced enough and around 2,400 / 2,421³ P-63s were shipped to Russia.^1,3 Around 300 went to the Free French forces.^1,3,4 One was sent to the RAF.¹

Korea

There were some reports by United Nations' pilots that they encountered P-63s flown by North Koreans.¹

Specifications

	Bell P-63 Kingcobra3	Bell P-63A Kingcobra1,4	Bell P-63A-1 Kingcobra2	Bell P-63A-10 Kingcobra2	Bell P-63C Kingcobra3
Type	Fighter bomber3, Manned target3	Fighter1,4, Ground Attack1		Fighter bomber2
Crew	13	11,4
Engine (Type)		Allison V-1710-931,3, Allison V-1710-954			Allison V-1710-1173
Cylinders		V 121,3,4
Cooling		Liquid1,4
HP		1,3251,3,4			1,5103
Propeller blades	43	41
Dimensions
Span	38' 4"3 11.68 m3	38' 4"1,4 11.68 m1		38' 4"2 11.68 m2
Length	32' 8"3 9.95 m3	32' 8"1,4 9.96 m1		32' 8"2 9.96 m2
Height	12' 7"3 3.83 m3	12' 7"1,4 3.84 m1		12' 7"2 3.83 m2
Wing area		248ft2 1 23.04 m2 1		248 ft2 2 23.04 m2 2
Weight
Empty		6,375 lb3, 6,932 lb1 2,892 kg1,3		6,375 lb2 2,892 kg2
Loaded		10,479 lb1, 10,500 lb3,4 4,763 kg1,3		10,500 lb2 4,763 kg2
Performance
Speed @ 5,000' / 1,524 m				361 mph2 581 kph2
Speed @ 24,450' / 7,450 m		408 mph3,4 656 kph3
Speed @ 25,000' / 7,620 m		409 mph1 660 kph1		410 mph2 660 kph2
Cruising speed		377 mph1 608 kph1
Climb to 25,000' / 7,620 m		7.3 minutes3
Service ceiling		43,0003,4, 43,200'1 13,105 m3, 13,106 m1
Range		450 miles1,3,4 724 km1,3
Range with external tanks @ 177 mph / 285 kph @ 10,000' / 3,048 m				2,200 miles2 3,540 km2
Armament		1: 37 mm4 4: MG4
Through propeller hub	37 mm3	37 mm1 30 rounds1	37 mm M42
Nose	2: 0.5" MG3	2: 12.7 mm1	2: 12.7 mm MG2
Wings			2: 12.7 mm MG2
Under wing	2: 0.5" MG3	6 rockets1
Bombs	3: 500 lb3 3: 227 kg3	520 lb1, 1,500 lb4 237 kg1	3: 500 lb2 3: 226.8 kg2