Bell P-39K-1 Airacobra - First Interim Variant of Airacobra Mid-Series

[Nostalgistic]

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Bell P-39K-1 Airacobra

   Hello everybody. I’d like to introduce and suggest the Bell P-39K-1 Airacobra for the US aviation tech tree, and this is one of my series of suggestions for the mid-series of P-39 variants in the US Army Air Corps and US Army Air Force services. This P-39K-1 started with a new development of Model 26A and was the earliest variant equipped with M8 Bazooka launchers.

TL;DR:

A P-39 variant (Model 26A) with an uprated 1,325 hp Allison V-1710-63 with new small vents added to each side of the nose and new provisions for M8 bazooka launchers.

History

The P-39K-1 was the first batch of Airacobra aircraft in development of the initial P-39G, but this P-39G designation was dropped and divided into the batches of the P-39Ks, P-39Ls, and P-39Ms. These variants were commonly known as mid-series Airacobras.

The P-39K-1 started with a new company designation of Model 26A, powered by the 1,325 hp Allison V-1710-63 and reverted to six exhaust stacks. It differed from the P-39D-2 with new Aeroproducts propellers and additional small vents on each side of the P-39K-1’s nose. The armament remained the same as the P-39D, and the powerplant was identical to the P-39D-2. The additional vents were added to the forward fuselage of the P-39K to improve the ventilation in the cockpit after firing the 37-mm cannon. Consequently, the P-39K weighed 800 pounds more by these minor changes.

210 P-39K-1s were ordered on August 25, 1941. 40 of 210 were delivered to the Soviet Union under the Lend-Lease program.

The P-39K-1s arrived in New Guinea and were issued to the 41st Fighter Squadron of the 35th Fighter Group as the attrition replacements starting in late fall of 1942 to early December 1942, where they would perform aerial combat missions in 1943.

Specifications

Bell P-39K-1 Airacobra

General Characteristics

• Crew: 1 (Pilot)
• Dimensions:
  • Length: 30 ft 2 in (9.19 m)
  • Height: 11 ft 10 in (3.6 m)
  • Span: 34 ft (10.36 m)
  • Wing Area: 213.22 sq ft (19.81 sq m)
• Propeller:
  • Type: 3-bladed Aeroproducts Hydraulic propeller
  • Diameter: 10 ft 5 in (3.175 m)
• Powerplant:
  • Type: Allison V-1710-63 liquid-cooled piston engine
  • Configuration: Single-stage, single-speed supercharger
  • Output: 1,325 hp (1,343.38 ps)
• Fuel/Oil:
  • Internal Fuel: 120 US gal. (454 L)
  • Oil: 13.8 US gal. (52.2 L)
• Weights:
  • Empty: 6,663 lb (3,022 kg)
  • Gross: 7,648 lb (3,469 kg)
  • Max. Takeoff: 8,200 lb (3,719 kg)

Engine Ratings

• Takeoff:
  • 1,325 BHP @ 3,000 RPM @ S.L.
• Military:
  • 1,050 BHP @ 3,000 RPM @ S.L.
  • 1,150 BHP @ 3,000 RPM @ 12,000 ft (3,658 m)
• Normal:
  • 910 BHP @ 2,600 RPM @ S.L. - 10,800 ft (3,292 m)

Performance

• Power-to-Weight Ratio: 0.17 hp/lb (0.39 ps/kg)
• Wing Loading: 35.02 lb/sq ft (171 kg/sq m)
• Airspeeds:
  • Sea Level: 307 mph (494 km/h)
  • Critical Altitude: 363 mph @ 11,800 ft (584 km/h @ 3,597 m)
• Climb Performance:
  • Rate of Climb: 3,040 fpm (15.4 m/s)
  • Time to Altitude:
    • 1.1 minutes to 3,280 ft (1,000 m)
    • 3.2 minutes to 9,850 ft (3,000 m)
    • 3.4 minutes to Critical Altitude
• Service Ceiling: 31,400 ft (9,571 m)
• Ranges:
  • Combat: 280 miles (451 km)
  • Max.: 600 miles (966 km)

Armament

• Guns:
  • 37-mm M4 cannon (30 rounds)
  • 2 x .50-cal. M2 Browning Machine Guns (200 rpg; 400 rounds)
  • 4 x .30-cal. M1919 Browning Machine Guns (400 rpg; 1,200 rounds)
• Bomb:
  • 1 x 100-lb bomb
  • 1 x 250-lb M57 bomb
  • 1 x 300-lb M31 bomb
  • 1 x 500-lb M43 bomb
  • 1 x 600-lb M32 bomb
• Rockets:
  • 6 x M8 rocket launchers
• Drop Tank:
  • 1 x 75-gal drop tank
  • 1 x 175-gal drop tank

Supplemental Data

Livery Examples - Illustrations

Images

Conclusion | Why it should be in the game

   I made this suggestion to request more World War II-era vehicles for War Thunder. I feel the P-39K-1 could be a great choice to add as the premium aircraft since it had limited service in the US Army Air Forces. It could equip M8 rocket launchers at the earliest. Performance-wise, the P-39K-1 is similar to the P-39D-2. The P-39K-1 would make a welcoming addition to the P-39 Airacobra family for US aviation, providing an opportunity for dedicated completionists.

Related Suggestions

   I made additional suggestions for other P-39 variants. If you’re interested in these suggestions, check them out!

• P-39C
• P-39D
• P-39D-1
• P-39D-2
• P-39F-1
• P-39J
• P-39L-1
• P-39M-1

Sources

• Erection and Maintenance Instructions for Army Model P-39 Series, 5 July 1943
• Wartime Tactical Planning Characteristics & Performance Charts (EE-393), 20 July 1943
• Airplane Performance Characteristics for the P-39 Planes
• Pilot’s Flight Operating Instructions for Army Models P-39K-1 and P-39L-1 Airplanes
• Pilot’s Flight Operating Instructions for Army Model P-39Q-1
• The Bell P-39 Airacobra, Profile Publications Ltd, Profile 165 (1971)
• P-39 Airacobra in Action (1980)
• P-39 Airacobra In Detail & Scale 63 (1999)
• Crowood Aviation Series Bell P-39 Airacobra (2000)
• P-39 Airacobra Aces of World War 2 (2001)
• Mushroom Yellow Series 6106 Bell P-39 Airacobra (2003)
• Bell P-39K Airacobra
• Bell P-39 Airacobra - Wikipedia
• Bell P-39 Airacobra & P-63 Kingcobra
• Bell P-39 Airacobra Single-Seat, Single-Engine Fighter / Fighter-Bomber Aircraft

Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestion! 😃

[R_nminbiY_n]

I noticed you have some approximations in the specs, have you seen this document that conveniently has a bunch of spec numbers for the later P-39s?

[http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/P-39/P-39_Aircraft_Performance_Characteristics.jpg]

[Nostalgistic]

Hey, this is a great document! I knew I was missing/forgetting something when browsing for the documents in P-39 Performance Tests from wwiiaircraftperformance.org. Thank you and I’m going to update the specs at this moment!

[Nostalgistic]

Updated specs & included charts in the supplemental data section. Changed the title description to a more accurate one.

[Ayrek2023]

+1 definitely deserves a place in the TT