Bell Aircraft Corporation — P-39 Series & P-63 Series Aircraft
Index of Drawings on Microfilm — T.O. No. 01-110F-215
Published by authority of the Commanding General, Army Air Forces · 1 May 1944 · Microfilm set correct to October 4, 1943
From the original Bell Aircraft Corporation manufacturing drawings, converted first to microfilm and now digitised in electronic format. This collection delivers over 11,500 airframe engineering drawing sheets extracted from 9 microfilm reels (16 rolls total, lettered A through R), covering the complete P-39 Series and P-63 Series aircraft families.
This set of drawings is not complete or exhaustive.
Document Structure — T.O. 01-110F-215
- Section I — Introduction: Instructions for use of microfilm indexes, associated equipment, and revision procedures
- Section II — Numerical Index: Full drawing number cross-reference across all 16 rolls
- Section III — Alphabetical Index by Groups: Wing · Fuselage · Tubing · Engine · Power Plant · Fixed Equipment · Armament · Landing Gear
Engineering Legacy: P-39 Airacobra → P-63 Kingcobra
The evolutionary line from the Bell P-39 Airacobra to the P-63 Kingcobra represents one of the most documented aerodynamic redesign cycles of World War II, driven by NACA wind tunnel testing at Langley Field and operational field data from multiple theatres.
Aerodynamic & Airfoil Development
- P-39 Drag Deficiencies: NACA full-scale tunnel testing revealed high zero-lift drag (CD0) penalties from complex oil and coolant duct routing
- P-63 Laminar Flow Wing: The second American production fighter (after the P-51 Mustang) to adopt an advanced NACA laminar-flow airfoil — reducing boundary-layer friction and delaying drag rise at high speed
- Experimental Variants: Two P-63 airframes converted to Vee-tail configuration; the classified Bell L-39 tested 35° and 40° swept wings for early jet design research
Engine Technical Notes
- P-39 — Allison V-1710 (single-stage): Absence of turbo-supercharger limited peak performance to below 15,000–17,000 ft
- P-63 — Allison V-1710-93 (two-stage mechanical supercharger): Restored high-altitude capability; 1,325 hp standard, up to 1,500 hp war emergency rating
Stability & Handling Studies
- CG Migration & Flat Spins: Rearward CG shift after ammunition depletion created dangerous flat-spin susceptibility on both types
- P-39 Empennage: Directional instability with 4-blade propellers forced reversion to 3-blade Aero-Products units
- P-63 Tail Redesign: Joint Bell/NACA project produced an enlarged vertical fin, rudder, and horizontal tail to counter propeller torque and shifting CG
Performance Comparison Matrix
| Metric | Bell P-39Q Airacobra | Bell P-63A Kingcobra |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Allison V-1710-85 (single-stage) | Allison V-1710-93 (two-stage supercharged) |
| Max Output | ~1,200 hp | 1,325 hp (1,500 hp war emergency) |
| Max Speed | 385–389 mph at 11,000 ft | 410–421 mph at 24,100 ft |
| Wingspan | 34 ft 0 in | 38 ft 4 in |
| Empty Weight | ~5,600 lbs | 6,800 lbs |
| Gross Weight | ~7,600–8,200 lbs | 8,800–10,500 lbs |
| Armament | 1× 37mm T9 cannon, 2× .50 cal nose, 4× .30/.50 cal wings | 1× 37mm M4/M10 cannon, 4× .50 cal M2 Browning |
| Total Built | 9,588 units | 3,303 units |
The Soviet Lend-Lease Connection
Over 4,700 P-39s and roughly 70% of all P-63s produced were delivered to the Soviet Air Force via the Alaska-Siberia (ALSIB) ferry route. Operating primarily below 15,000 ft on the Eastern Front, both types excelled in low-altitude dogfighting and ground attack, with their 37mm nose-hub cannons proving devastating against enemy aircraft and light armour.
Unique Variants Documented
- RP-63 Pinball: All armament removed; over one ton of armour added. Live frangible bullets fired by trainee gunners — hits registered by a light in the propeller hub
- Bell L-39 Swept-Wing Research (1946): Two surplus P-63s modified for the U.S. Navy with 35° swept wings — data directly influenced early American jet fighter design and the Bell X-2
Surviving Airframes
Of the 9,588 P-39s and 3,303 P-63s built, only approximately 7 examples remain airworthy worldwide — roughly 4 P-39s and 4 P-63s — maintained by warbird preservation groups including the Commemorative Air Force, Military Aviation Museum (Virginia Beach), CAF Airbase Georgia, and Yanks Air Museum.
This is an archival, static-copy edition fixed at its original publication date. Intended for historical reference, flight simulation, museum restoration, and educational use only. Not approved for active airworthiness maintenance under FAA 14 CFR § 43.13, EASA Part-M, or equivalent international regulations. Operators of active aircraft must use current, revision-controlled publications from the Type Certificate holder or an authorized distributor.
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