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Type: Single Seat Fighter Origin: Bell Aircraft Models: P-39 to P-39Q First Flight: August 1938 (XP-39) Service Delivery: 1941 (P-39C) Final Delivery: May 1944 (production shifted to P-63) Total Produced: 9,588 Powerplant: P-39D: Model: Allison V-1710-35 Type: Liquid Cooled V12 Number: One Horsepower: 1,150 hp P-39L & P-39K: Model: Allison V-1710-63 Type: Liquid Cooled V12 Number: One Horsepower: 1,325 hp P-39Q-5-BE: Model: Allison V-1710-85 Type: Liquid Cooled V12 Number: One Horsepower: 1,325 hp Dimensions: Wing span (Typical): 10.37m (34 ft.) Length (Typical): 9.2m (30 ft. 2 in.) Height: Typical: 11 ft. 10 in.* P-39Q-5-BE: 12 ft. 5 in.)* Wing Surface Area: 213 Sq. Ft. *One prop blade vertical Weights: Empty: P-39D: 5,462 lbs. P-39L: 5,600 lbs. P-39Q-5-BE: 5,645 lbs. Loaded: P-39D: 7,650 lbs. P-39L: 7,780 lbs. P-39Q-5-BE: 7,600 lbs. Maximum: P-39D: 8,200 lbs. P-39Q-5-BE: 8,300 lbs. |
Performance: Maximum Speed at 5,000 ft: P-39D: 335 mph P-39Q-5-BE: 330 mph Maximum Speed at 10,000 ft: P-39D: 355 mph P-39Q-5-BE: 357 mph Maximum Speed at 15,000 ft: P-39D: 360 mph P-39L: 380 mph P-39Q-5-BE: 376 mph Initial climb: P-39L: 4,000 ft. (1220 m) per minute Service Ceiling: P-39D: 32,100 ft. P-39L: 35,000 ft. P-39Q-5-BE: 35,000 ft. Range: (Clean) P-39D: 600 Miles at 10,000 ft. at 231 mph P-39Q-5-BE: 525 Miles at 10,000 ft. at 250 mph Range: (with 145.7 Imp. Gallon drop tank) P-39D: 1,100 Miles at 10,000 ft. at 196 mph P-39Q-5-BE: 1,075 Miles at 10,000 ft. at 195 mph Range: (Ferry range with drop tanks) P-39L: 1,475 Miles (2360 km) at 160 mph Armaments: P-39D: One 37mm M4 cannon firing through hub. Ammunition: 30 rounds Two synchronized .50 machine guns in nose. Ammunition: 200 rounds per gun Two or four .30 machine guns in outer wings. Ammunition: 1000 rounds P-39Q-5-BE: One 37mm cannon firing through hub. Ammunition: 30 rounds Two synchronized .50 machine guns in nose. Ammunition: 200 rounds per gun Two .50 machine guns in outer wings. Ammunition: 300 rounds per gun |
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COMMENTS: The P-39 was an unusual design
for the time, incorporating a tricyle landing gear and having the engine
mounted behind the pilot with a shaft driving the propeller through a reduction
gear box in the nose. A 37mm cannon was mounted behind the gear box and
situated to fire through the propeller hub. The British purchased the
unconventional fighter with the armament changed (see above). The British did
not fair well with the type and eventually the British versions were acquired
by the US Army and redesignated the P-400. Over 5,000 were supplied to Russia through Lend-Lease and were well liked by the Soviet pilots due to it's centrally focused firepower. One of the most unusual uses of the P-39Q was as a live-fire aerial target for training bomber gunners. The aircraft was mounted with sensors and lights while the gunners used soft frangible bullets that would hit the sensors and shatter. The rounds would not damage the aircraft. |
Sources:
Gunston, Bill - The Encyclodepia of the Worlds Combat aircraft, 1976, Chartwell Books, Inc., New York
The Complete Encyclodepia of World Aircraft, 1997, Barnes & Nobles Books, ISBN: 0 7607 0592 5
