A aviation & planes forum. AviationBanter

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Go Back   Home » AviationBanter forum » Aviation Images » Aviation Photos
Site Map Home Register Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

Bell P-59 Airacomet



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old July 11th 16, 08:55 PM posted to alt.binaries.pictures.aviation
Miloch
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 24,291
Default Bell P-59 Airacomet

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_P-59_Airacomet

The Bell P-59 Airacomet was a twin jet engined fighter aircraft, the first for
the USA, designed and built by Bell Aircraft during World War II. The United
States Army Air Forces were not impressed by its performance and cancelled the
contract when fewer than half of the aircraft ordered had been produced.
Although no P-59s went into combat, it paved the way for another design
generation of U.S. turbojet-powered aircraft and was the first turbojet fighter
to have its turbojet engine and air inlet nacelles integrated within the main
fuselage.

Role Fighter
Manufacturer Bell Aircraft
First flight 1 October 1942
Primary users United States Army Air Forces
United States Navy
Royal Air Force
Number built 66

The 13 service test YP-59As had a more powerful engine than its predecessor, the
General Electric J31, but the improvement in performance was negligible with top
speed increased by only 5 mph and a reduction in the time they could be used
before an overhaul was needed. One of these aircraft, the third YP-59A (S/n:
42-22611) was supplied to the Royal Air Force (receiving British serial
RG362/G), in exchange for the first production Gloster Meteor I, EE210/G.[6]
British pilots found that the aircraft compared very unfavorably with the jets
that they were already flying. (The YP-59A also compared unfavorably to the
propeller-driven North American P-51 Mustang.[citation needed]) Two YP-59A
Airacomets (42-108778 and 42-100779) were also delivered to the U.S. Navy where
they were evaluated as the "YF2L-1" but quickly found completely unsuitable for
carrier operations.

Faced with their own ongoing difficulties, Bell eventually completed 50
production Airacomets, 20 P-59As and 30 P-59Bs. Each was armed with one 37 mm M4
cannon and 44 rounds of ammunition and three .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns with
200 rounds per gun. The P-59Bs were assigned to the 412th Fighter Group to
familiarize AAF pilots with the handling and performance characteristics of jet
aircraft.[7] By 1950, all examples of the Airacomet were no longer airworthy.
Over time, disposal of the aircraft included use as static displays,
instructional aids in military training and use as static targets. While the
P-59 was not a great success, the type did give the USAAF experience with the
operation of jet aircraft in preparation for the more advanced types that would
shortly become available.

Specifications (P-59B)

General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 38 ft 10 in (11.84 m)
Wingspan: 45 ft 6 in (13.87 m)
Height: 12 ft 4 in (3.76 m)
Wing area: 386 sq?ft (35.86 m²)
Empty weight: 8,165 lb (3,704 kg)
Loaded weight: 11,040 lb (5,008 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 13,700 lb (6,214 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × General Electric J31-GE-5 turbojets, 2,000 lbf (8.9 kN) each

Performance
Maximum speed: 413 mph (359 knots, 665 km/h) at 30,000 ft (9,140 m)
Cruise speed: 375 mph (326 knots, 604 km/h)
Range: 375 mi (326 nm, 604 km)
Service ceiling: 46,200 ft (14,080 m)
Climb to 30,000 ft (9,140 m): 15 min 30 s

Armament
Guns:
1x 37 mm cannon
3x .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns
Rockets: 8× 60 lb (30 kg) rockets
Bombs: 2,000 lb (910 kg) bombs



*

 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
UK2 RJ362 Bell Airacomet ex US 42-108773 YP-59.jpg Joseph Testagrose Aviation Photos 1 July 20th 14 07:14 PM
Bonneville Power Administration Bell 407 - "BPA Bell 207 N794BP.jpg" yEnc (17/17) Glen Wattman Aviation Photos 0 September 24th 11 02:50 AM
Bonneville Power Administration Bell 407 - "BPA Bell 207 N794BP.jpg" yEnc (5/17) Glen Wattman Aviation Photos 0 September 24th 11 02:49 AM
Bonneville Power Administration Bell 407 - "BPA Bell 207 N794BP.jpg" yEnc (4/17) Glen Wattman Aviation Photos 0 September 24th 11 02:49 AM
P-59 Airacomet Glenn[_2_] Aviation Photos 0 March 6th 10 01:55 AM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 02:52 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 AviationBanter.
The comments are property of their posters.