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Bell P-59 Airacomet (US Navy designation: YF2L-1) was a twin jet engined fighter aircraft, the first for the USAAF, designed and built by Bell Aircraft during World War II.
Toal production: 66.
Specifications:
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- P-59A 44-22609 and P-63A
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- XP-59A Airacomet 42-108786 rear view
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- P-59A 44-22610 “Smokey Stover” 1944
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- Bell XP-59 Airacomet
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- YP-59A 42-108775 Wright Field 2
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- Bell YP-59A 42-108775 Wright Field
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- Bell P-59A 44-26609 in flight
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- Prototype XP-59 Airacomet with a fake propeller
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- Prototype YP-59A Airacomet
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- Bell YP-59A 42-108775 Wright Field 3
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- XP-59A Airacomet color photo
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- Bell P-59B 42-22633 named “Reluctant Robot”
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- XP-59 Airacomet in flight
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- Bell P-59B Airacomet n a test flight
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- Bell fighters P-39, P-63 and P-59 in formation
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- P-59A Airacomet 44-22610
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- Prototype Bell YP-59A in flight
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- Prototype XP-59 Airacomet 2
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- P-59 Airacomet, serial number have been censored 1944
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- Jet fighter Bell YP-59 Airacomet and test pilot Jack Woolams 1943
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- P-59A Airacomet 44-22610 “Smoky Stover” Alaska
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- Jet fighter Bell P-59 Airacomet 44-22625 in flight
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- P-59 Airacomet takes off Fairbanks Alaska 1945
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- Bell P-59A-1-BE Airacomet 44-22610 Alaska 1945
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- Jet fighter Bell P-59A Airacomet rear view 1945
Bell P-59 Airacomet (US Navy designation: YF2L-1) was a twin jet engined fighter aircraft, the first for the USAAF, designed and built by Bell Aircraft during World War II.
Toal production: 66.
Specifications:
variant |
P-59B |
crew |
1 |
wingspan (m) |
11,62 |
lenght (m) |
13,87 |
height (m) |
3,66 |
wing area (m2) |
35,84 |
empty weight (kg) |
3705 |
take-off weight (kg) |
5010 |
max take-off weight (kg) |
6215 |
engines |
General Electric J31-GE-5 turbojets, 8,89 kN each |
fuel (l) |
1350 + 1140 |
speed (km/h) |
615 km/h at 1500 m; 665 km/h at 10668 m |
ceiling (m) |
14080 |
range (km) |
885-1450 |
climb to |
6092 m – 7’24” ; 9144 m 15’30” |
bombs (kg) |
2 x 454 kg |
armament |
1 x 37mm, 3 x 12,7 mm |
Bibliography:
- Steve Pace: Bell P-59 Airacomet, Air Force Legends Number 208
- David M. Carpenter: P-59 Airacomet First Jet Flame Powered
- Pelletier – Bell Aircraft Since 1935, Putnam Aeronautical Books
- Hugh Harkins: USAF Jet Powered Fighters: XP-59 – XF-85
- Hugh Cowin; X-Planes – Research Aircraft 1891-1970; A Unique Pictorial Record of Flying Prototypes, their Designers and Pilots, Osprey Aviation Pioneers 1
- Antony L. Kay: Turbojet – History And Development 1930-1960 Volume 2: USSR, USA, Japan, France, Canada, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy and Hungary
- Various Authors: United States Army and Air Force Fighters 1916-1961, Harleyford Publications 1961
- Kev Darling: American X & Y Planes Volume I – Experimental Aircraft to 1945; Crowood Aviation Series