Bell P-39F Airacobra (Model 15B)

The P-39F was produced in order to cope with a shortage of Curtiss Electric propellers. On 13 September 1940 an order was placed for 254 P-39Fs using the 10ft 4in Aeroproducts propeller. Eventually 229 aircraft were built to the P-39F standard, while the last twenty five became the P-39J.

The P-39F was powered by the 1,150hp Allison V-1710-34 (E4), as used in the P-39C and P-39D. Of the 229 aircraft produced 27 were converted to act as ground attack and tactical reconnaissance aircraft by Field Modification Centres, and redesignated as the B-39F-2.

Bell P-39 Airacobra, Robert F. Dorr with Jerry C. Scutts (Crowood Aviation). A detailed looked at the development and service history of this controversial American fighter aircraft. The P-39 had a poor reputation amongst British and American pilots, and Dorr examines the reasons why, as well as looking at why the same aircraft was so much more popular in Soviet Service. Scutts provides a chapter on the P-63 Kingcobra, and the book also covers the numerous Bell fighter projects that failed to enter production.

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