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Hello everybody. I’d like to introduce and suggest the Bell XFL-1 Airabonita as a potential addition to US aviation in War Thunder. The XFL-1 was a carrier-based interceptor developed by Bell for the United States Navy, created in parallel with the land-based XP-39 Airacobra for the Army. Only one prototype was built and completed in the spring of 1940. Although an ambitious project for Bell, the Airabonita encountered early design issues and ultimately did not advance to production, losing out to the Chance Vought XF4U-1 Corsair.
Key Characteristics
- Carrier-based interceptor aircraft with a tail-wheel undercarriage
- Shared the resemblance to its land-based cousin, the P-39 Airacobra
- Planned armament of 2 x 0.30-cal. and 1 x 0.50-cal. machine guns
- Allison piston inline engine
- No suspended weaponry
History
The Bell XFL-1 Airabonita was an experimental carrier-based interceptor developed by Bell for the U.S. Navy, aiming to replace outdated biplane fighters still in service. Designed in response to a Navy specification issued on January 1, 1938, the XFL-1 was envisioned as a lightweight, high-performance fighter.
Bell submitted its design proposal alongside Brewster, Curtiss, Grumman, and Vought-Sikorsky on April 11, 1938. After review, the Navy awarded prototype contracts to Bell, Grumman, and Vought-Sikorsky for testing and evaluation. Bell received a contract on November 8, 1938, to proceed with the carrier-based XFL-1 Airabonita, also developed in parallel with the land-based XP-39 Airacobra for the Army. The XFL-1 was powered by a 1,150-hp Allison V-1710-6 inline engine driving a Curtiss Electric three-blade propeller, though it lacked a high-altitude supercharger.
One key difference between the XFL-1 and the XP-39 was the undercarriage configuration: the XFL-1 used a conventional tailwheel landing gear instead of the XP-39’s tricycle gear, making it better suited for carrier operations. The XFL-1 also featured a larger wingspan, shorter fuselage, and a smaller rudder. The pilot’s seat was raised, which required a modified canopy design for visibility, and a small window was added below the nose to aid in carrier landings. The airframe was strengthened to withstand the stresses of carrier operations, and an arresting hook was installed. Additionally, the air inlets originally located in the wing roots were later replaced with under-fuselage scoops due to repositioned main landing gear struts to correct the shifted center of gravity.
The XFL-1’s armament included two .30-cal machine guns and one .50-cal machine gun. The mockup was inspected on December 20, 1938, but development was slowed by issues with the center of gravity, pushing back its expected first flight to the fall of 1939.
By April 1940, Bell completed the XFL-1 prototype, which underwent its maiden flight on May 13. However, this flight was accidental, as the aircraft was performing a high-speed taxi test when a gust lifted it off the runway. The test pilot managed a safe landing despite the unexpected takeoff and the flotation bags in the wings inflating mid-flight. The second flight attempt on May 20 ended abruptly when the engine failed shortly after takeoff, forcing an emergency landing in a nearby ditch.
Flight testing exposed significant challenges, including yaw oscillations, poor handling, and inadequate cooling. During a flight on June 29, the XFL-1 entered a spin due to yaw issues, but the pilot recovered when a Plexiglas canopy panel broke off, unexpectedly altering airflow over the rudder. These and other issues led to multiple modifications.
In July 1940, the Navy began official evaluation, but the XFL-1 struggled with carrier suitability, mainly due to its problematic landing gear. Additionally, the Allison engine, with its single-speed supercharger, provided inferior altitude performance compared to Navy fighters like the Grumman F4F Wildcat. The Navy sent the prototype back to Bell in December 1940 for further modifications, and it was returned to Naval Air Station Anacostia in February 1941 for continued testing.
Although the modifications improved stability and control, they added considerable weight, increasing the XFL-1’s empty weight by 8% and reducing its top speed from a promised 339 mph to 333 mph. Worse, the minimum airspeed rose to 78.6 mph, exceeding the Navy’s 70-mph limit for safe carrier landings, disqualifying it from carrier use.
Ultimately, the Navy canceled the XFL-1 program. The Chance Vought XF4U-1 Corsair, which achieved 400 mph in testing, proved a more promising option for carrier operations. The XFL-1’s limited armament and performance shortcomings made it uncompetitive, and in 1942, the prototype was used for destructive armament testing. The remains were ultimately last seen at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, marking the end of Bell’s attempt to produce a carrier-based interceptor for the Navy.
Specifications
Bell XFL-1 AirabonitaGeneral Characteristics
- Crew: 1 (Pilot)
- Length: 29 ft 9 in (9.07 m)
- Height: 12 ft 9.5 in (3.9 m)
- Span: 35 ft (10.67 m)
- Wing Area: 232 sq ft (21.6 sq m)
- Propeller Type: Curtiss Electric three-blade propeller
- Propeller Diameter: 10 ft 4.8 in (3.17 m)
- Powerplant: Allison V-1710-6 piston inline engine
→ 1,150 hp (860 kW)- Internal Fuel: 200 US gal. (757 L)
- Empty Weight: 5,161 lb (2,341 kg)
- Gross Weight: 6,651 lb (3,017 kg)
- Max. Takeoff Weight: 7,212 lb (3,271 kg)
Performance
- Power-to-Weight Ratio: 0.17 hp/lb (280 W/kg)
- Cruising Speed: 172 mph (277 km/h)
- Sea Level Speed: 307 mph (494 km/h)
- Critical Altitude Speed:
- 336 mph @ 11,000 ft (541 km/h @ 3,353 m)
- 333 mph @ 12,000 ft (536 km/h @ 3,658 m)
- Stall Speed: 72 mph (116 km/h)
- Wing Loading: 29 lb/sq ft (140 kg/sq m)
- Rate of Climb: 2,630 fpm (13.4 m/s)
- Time to Altitude: 3.8 minutes to 10,000 ft (3,048 m)
- Service Ceiling: 30,900 ft (9,418m)
- Combat Range: 965 miles (1,533 km)
- Max. Range: 1,072 miles (1,725 km)
Armament
- Guns:
- 1 x 0.50-cal. M2 Browning machine gun (unknown # of rounds)
- 2 x 0.30-cal. M1919 Browning machine guns (unknown # of rounds)
Conclusion | Why it should be in the game
The XFL-1 Airabonita, while often described as a navalised version of the P-39, stands out as an intriguing possible addition for US aviation in War Thunder as a low-tier aircraft. Its most unique feature was its conventional tailwheel undercarriage and arresting gear, designed specifically for carrier operations that set it apart from the P-39. In gameplay terms, the XFL-1 wouldn’t offer a performance advantage over the P-400 or P-39 Airacobra due to its aerodynamic limitations despite being classified as a lightweight fighter. Its armament, featuring a single .50-cal M2 Browning rather than the more powerful 37-mm cannon, might be somewhat underwhelming but would still provide a unique experience for people who are fans of early naval aviation. In my view, it would be ideally suited as a low-tier event or premium aircraft.
- P-39 Airacobra in Action (1980)
- The American Fighter: The Definitive Guide to American Fighter Aircraft from 1917 to the Present (1987)
- P-39 Airacobra in Detail & Scale Volume 63 (1999)
- Bell P-39 Airacobra (The Crowood Press, 2000)
- US Experimental & Prototype Aircraft Projects - Fighters: 1939-1945 (2008)
- Bell XFL Airabonita - Wikipedia
Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestion! 😃
