Title
American Bell P-39 Airacobra fighters, World War II.
Caption
American Bell P-39 Airacobra light, single-engine fighters in flight..
Above left: the prototype that made its first flight in April 1939 ; middle: one of the 4,773 P-39 delivered to the U.S.S.R. in the framework of the Lend-Lease; below: one of the Airacobras given to the French air force. 9,558 Airacobras were built, but it was never a good fighter plane, handicapped by its Allison V-1710-85 straight engine that was not powerful enough. This engine was located behind the pilote, explaining the air scoop visible on the fuselage behind the canopy. In front was a 37-mm gun that permitted transforming the P-39 into an excellent tactical support plane.
Date
20th century
Credit line
Photo12/Collection Bernard Crochet
Reference
CRO01169_106
Model release
No
License type
Rights managed
Available size
67,9Mb (2,7Mb) / 14,9in x 17,7in / 4468 x 5315 (300dpi)