United States of America
United States of America
The story of the P-63 Kingcobra is as sad as the story of the P-39 Airacobra, it's predecessor. Designed to be all that the P-39 was not, it still failed to be a good fighter: it's specifications were overclassed by the time it was ready for production. 3303 Kingcobras were built, of wich Russia received 2421. 300 Kingcobras went to France. The remaining Kingcobras (332) received the dubious honor to be adapted to armored target-practice aircraft.
The fuselage was very similar to the P-39, but the rest got changed drastically.
Versions:
Further pictures:
| Technical data on the Bell P-63A-10 Kingcobra |
|---|
| Powerplant | 1 × Allison V-1710-93, rated at 1325 hp (987.77 kW) | Role during war |
| |
| Length | 32 ft 8.375 inch | Height | 12 ft 6.875 inch | |
| Empty weight | 6375 lb | Operational weight | 10500 lb max | |
| Wing Span | 38 ft 4 inch | Wing Aspect ratio | 5.925 | |
| Wing Area | 248 sq ft | Service ceiling | 43000 ft | |
| Maximum speed | 410 mph at 25000 ft | Cruising speed | 376 mph at optimum altitude | |
| Initial climb rate | Climb to 25,000 ft in 7 min 18 sec | Range | 450 miles typical, 2575 miles max | |
| Fuel capacity internal | 83.25 Imp gal (100 US gal) | Fuel capacity external | Up to 270.6 Imp gal (325 US gal) in 3 droptanks, in either 1 × 145.75 Imp gal (175 US gal) plus 2 × 62.5 Imp gal (75 US gal), or 3 × 62.5 Imp gal (75 US gal), or 1 × 62.5 Imp gal (75 US gal) plus 2 × 53.3 Imp gal (64 US gal) | |
| Machine guns |
| Cannons | 1 × 37 mm fixed forward-firing in a moteur-cannon installation, 58 rounds | |
| Bomb load | Up to 1,500 lb on 3 hardpoints. Typical load-out would be either 3 × 500 lb bombs, or 1 × 500 lb bomb plus rockets | Torpedoes/rockets | 6 × 5 in HVAR rockets | |
| Crew | 1 | Naval or ground based | Ground | |
| First flight (prototype) | 7 December 1942 | Operational Service | October 1943 - 1957 | |
| Manufacturer | Bell Aircraft Corporation | Number produced | 3,303 total, 1,725 this version |
| Metric system |
|---|
| Length | 9.97 m | Height | 3.83 m | |
| Empty weight | 2892 kg | Operational weight | 4763 kg max | |
| Wing Span | 11.68 m | Wing Aspect ratio | 5.925 | |
| Wing Area | 23.04 m² | Service ceiling | 13106 m | |
| Maximum speed | 660 km/h at 7620 m | Cruising speed | 605 km/h at optimum altitude | |
| Initial climb rate | Climb to 7620 m in 7 min 18 sec | Range | 724 km typical, 4144 km max | |
| Fuel capacity internal | 378 liters | Fuel capacity external | Up to 1230 liters in 3 droptanks, in either 1 × 622 liters plus 2 × 284 liters, or 3 × 284 liters, or 1 × 284 liters plus 2 × 242 liters | |
| Machine guns |
| Cannons | 1 × 37 mm fixed forward-firing in a moteur-cannon installation, 58 rounds | |
| Bomb load | Up to 680 kg on 3 hardpoints. Typical load-out would be either 3 × 227 kg bombs, or 1 × 227 kg bomb plus rockets | Torpedoes/rockets | 6 × 127 mm HVAR rockets |
Here is a quick overview of all different versions, without the full technical specifications:
| Different versions of the Bell P-63 Kingcobra |
|---|
| Bell XP-63 Kingcobra | First designated XP-39 E, later renamed XP-63. Differences from the P-39: better powerplant due to supercharger and propeller, laminar flow wings for reduced drag. Number built: 2 |
| Bell P-63A Kingcobra | First production version of the P-63. It featured a number of subvariants:
Number built: 1725 |
| Bell RP-63A Kingcobra | 5 P-63-A9's were converted to this version, a manned target practise aircraft. All armament was removed, and a lot or armor was added. It could detect hits by frangible bullets that disintegrated upon contact and furtherly it featured 110 microphones to record impacts and a nose flashlight to flash upon bullet impact,. There ware several subvariants:
Number converted: 100 |
| Bell QF-63A Kingcobra | Redesignation of the Bell RP-63A Redesignated aircraft |
| Bell TP-63A Kingcobra | A number of Bell P-63A's were modified to be a two-seat trainer Number converted: 9 |
| Bell P-63C Kingcobra | Similar to the Bell P-63A, this version had a ventral fin, and another powerplant: 1 × Allison V-1710-117, rated at 1,510 hp (1126 kW). Also armor was increased to 201 lb (91 kg). Two subvariants exist:
Number built: 1227 |
| Bell RP-63C Kingcobra | Manned target version of the Bell P-63C variant. Two subvariants exist:
Number converted: 200 |
| Bell QF-63C Kingcobra | Redesignation of the RP-63C in 1948 Redesignated aircraft |
| Bell TP-63C Kingcobra | Conversion of the P-63C to two-seat trainer with an added cockpit Number converted: 1 |
| Bell P-63D Kingcobra | This version ahd several improvements upon the P-63A and P-63C, among which a bubble canopy, and a more powerful engine: 1 × Allison V-1710-107, rated at 1,425 hp (1062 kW). Because of this the speed incerased with almost 30 Mph (50 km/h) compared to the P-63A. Since the North American P-51D was already in full production, this fighter had only one example Number built: 1 |
| Bell P-63E Kingcobra | Similar to the P-63C, but powered by the engine of the P63-D. Production was cancelled when VJ-day (Victory over Japan) arrived. Number built: 13 |
| Bell P-63F Kingcobra | Based on the P-63 E, but powered by 1 × Allison V-1710-135, rated at 1,425 hp (1062 kW). Also the tail and wings were slightly adjusted. Number built: 2 |
| Bell RP-63G Kingcobra | Another manned-target variant, based on the RP-63C. It had even more armor: 2,165 lb (982 kg) Number converted: 32 |
| Bell QF-63G Kingcobra | Redesignation of the RP-63G in 1948 Redesignated aircraft |
Remarks:
The Kingcobra was almost exclusively shipped to Russia in the Lend-Lease program. A small number has served for a short time in a number of squadrons, but not on any front (except the Russion front). Too late, just not good enough... These words describe why the Kingcobra was never used on any other front.
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
| Previous (Bell P-39 Airacobra) | Warbirds Main page | Homepage of Frans Bonné | Next (Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress) |