DESCRIPTION

Made the Bell P-59 Airacomet, America's first jet fighter

OPERATION EXPLANATION

Throttle:Engine start
VTOL:Flap

Weapon

1 × 37 mm M10 autocannon

2× .50 cal AN/M2 Browning heavy machine guns

HISTORY

The Bell P-59 Airacomet was a single-seat, twin jet-engined fighter aircraft that was designed and built by Bell Aircraft during World War II, the first produced in the United States. As the British were further along in jet engine development, they donated an engine for the United States to copy in 1941 that became the basis for the General Electric jet used by the P-59 a year later. Underpowered, the United States Army Air Forces was not impressed by its performance and cancelled half of the original order for 100 fighters, using the completed aircraft as trainers. Although no P-59s entered combat, the aircraft paved the way for later generations of U.S. turbojet-powered aircraft.