NOTE:
RADIO CONTROL AIRPLANES ARE ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE
PAGE.
Bell
P-39 Airacobra aircraft played a vital role in Allied air power,
especially during the first part of World War II. Although not
suitable for operating at higher altitudes, due to having only a
single stage supercharger, they proved a formidable adversary when
operating below 12,000 feet.
The Airacobra
was equipped with a 37 mm cannon, firing through the propeller hub.
There were a pair of 12.7 mm machine guns in the nose and four 7.62
mm machine guns in its wings. This made it the most heavily armed
single engine Allied fighter plane of World War II.
It is said that at speeds below 235 mph, the Bell P-39 Airacobra
could out turn, out dive and out roll most aircraft of its time, even
formidable Japanese front line fighters. The reason for the excellent
low speed and low altitude performance was the location of its
engine, behind the pilot.
Its placement permitted a very
streamlined fuselage having much less frontal area than aircraft that
had their engines located in their noses. The mid engine location of
the engine provided room in the nose of the aircraft for its cannon
and machine guns.
Airacobras were widely
used by the Soviet air force for both air to air combat, ground
attack, and troop support. The most successful Soviet aces claimed
over 50 air to air victories while piloting the aircraft.
One would think that the 37 mm cannon would make the Aircobra an excellent
aircraft for use by the Soviets against German tanks. However, the United States chose to supply
the Soviet Union only with high explosive 37 mm shells, not the armor piercing type.
This made the 37 mm cannon equipped aircraft more useful against "soft" targets.
The aircraft were also active in the Pacific
Theatre where they were successfully used against Japanese ground
forces.
A total of 9,584 Bell P-39
Airacobra aircraft of all types were produced of which approximately
5,000 were supplied to the Soviet Union.
fighter
one
Allison V1710-83
1,200
h.p.
5,600 lbs.
8,400 lbs.
1-
37 mm
2- 12.7 mm / 4- 7.62 mm
30'
2"
34' 0"
386 mph
3,750 fpm
30,000 feet
650
miles
4/6/38
1941
Radio Control Airplane
A rc P-39 Airacobra
from Guss Morfis plans.
Radio Control
Airplanes:
In the photo
immediately above is the rc Bell P-39 Airacobra built by Jeff Charlot
from Guss Morfis plans. Wingspan is 34". Jeff powers his rc
airplane with a Speed 480 motor. It weighs 19 oz.
The photo directly below shows the Sure Flite rc P-39 Airacobra
built by Splash of RC Groups. It has a wing span of 50".
Powering the Bell P-39 is a Himax 2825-2700 motor geared 4.75:1. All
up weight is 55 oz.
The middle photo
below is of a P-39 Airacobra rc built from plans for sale at Kit
Cutters by Jim Pepino Plans. Kit Cutters offers two sizes of the rc
airplane. The smaller has a wingspan of 68" and a
length
of 60 1/2". Suggested power can come from two stroke engines
from .60 to .90 size. The larger plan for sale has a wingspan of 80
1/2" and a length of 72". A 1.8 c.i.d. engine is
the recommended power.
The third photo
below is of the Bell P-39 Airacobra rc built from a kit for sale from
CAP. Wingspan is 59.5". Construction materials used are
balsawood and plywood. You will need a .60 two cycle engine for
power.
The bottom picture is of Bob Neider
with his P-39 Airacobra built from a kit for sale from American
Eagle. The giant scale radio control airplane has a 96"
wingspan, is 86" long, and weighs around 32 lbs. It Sachs
4.2 or larger engine power.
Radio
Control Airplane
A rc
P-39 Airacobra by Splash of RC Groups.
Radio Control
Airplane
P-39
Airacobra rc from Jim Pepino
plans.
Radio Control
Airplane
CAP
Kits rc P-39 Airacobra.
Radio Control
Airplane
Bob
Neider and his rc P-39 Airacobra.
ESM Models has a
rc P-39 Airacobra ARF for sale. It has a 80" wingspan and is
70" long. It needs a 30 cc gas engine for power. Weight is
about 16 lbs.
We found a rc P-39
Airacobra from World Models on the RC Universe website. Wingspan is
63 1/2", length is 51 1/2" and weight is 7 1/2
lbs.
Top Flite had a popular rc P-39
Aircobra kit for sale. Its wingspan is 63" and length
55".
Made of balsa and plywood, recommended engines
ranged from .61 to .75
two cycle or from .70 to .91 four cycle.
Weight is about 7 3/4 lbs. We
recently saw one for sale on RC
Groups.
Rengine of RC Groups started a
construction thread for a rc P-39 Airacobra.
Gus Morfis of RC groups had plans for sale for a rc P-39
Airacobra.
Jurgen Be started a
construction thread for a rc P-39 Aircobra at RC Groups.
At RC Groups thrasher started a rc P-39 Aircobra
construction thread.
Bill Diedrich of
RC Universe was looking for rc P-39 Airacobra plans.
Kram Noskcire of RC Universe was asking for information
about the P-39 Airacobra.
At RC
Universe grbaker posted that he had built a rc P-39 Airacobra.
Capt. Winters of RC Universe posted pictures
and a description of his rc P-39 Airacobra.
TLH101 posted pictures and a description of his giant scale
P-39 Airacobra at RC Universe.
At RC
Universe miklos posted pictures of a rc P-39 Airacobra built from a
kit.
At RC Universe full rudder
started a thread about the P-39 Airacobra.
At RC Universe wingspar posted three view drawings of a P-39
Airacobra.
At RC Universe tigertooth
posted a picture of his rc P-39 Airacobra.
Pat Jenkens has a giant scale P-39 Airacobra with a 98"
wingspan powered by a Quadra 50.
Neil
Robertson built his rc P-39 Airacobra from a kit. Its has a
fiberglass
fuselage with sheeted foamy wings. Wingspan is
102"; pulled by a Q75 engine.
Stan
Lennox has a rc P-39 Airacobra with a 100" wingspan. It uses
a Sachs 4.2 engine to power its 32 lb. weight.
Steve Mikolowski built a rc P-39 Airacobra from a kit for
sale by American Eagle. He uses a Q75 engine power.
David McDonald has rc P-39 Airacobra that he built from a
Top Flite Kit. He powers it with a Super Tiger G90 engine.
X1CM posted a video of a rc P-39 Airacobra
on YouTube.
Please email us
if you know of a rc Bell P-39 Airacobra radio control airplane that
should be included on this page.
Bell P-39 Airacobra
