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P-59 Airacomet

13.5k f80shootingstarlover  2 months ago

The P-80's older brother.


Wikipedia Description:

The Bell P-59 Airacomet is a single-seat, twin jet-engine fighter aircraft that was designed and built by Bell Aircraft during World War II. It was the first jet 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 J31 jet engine used by the P-59 a year later. Because the plane was underpowered, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) was not impressed by its performance and canceled half of the original order for 100 fighters, using the completed aircraft as trainers. The USAAF would instead go on to select the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star as its first operational jet fighter. Although no P-59s entered combat, the aircraft paved the way for later generations of U.S. turbojet-powered aircraft.


Controls:

Group 1: Landing/Taxi Lights
Group 2: Strobe Lights
Group 3: Navigation Lights
Group 4: Arm Mark 65 Bombs


Credits:

  • SSEntwicklungsstelleIV for the USAAF Roundel.

That's all you need to know! Happy Flying!

Spotlights

General Characteristics

  • Created On Android
  • Wingspan 33.1ft (10.1m)
  • Length 28.3ft (8.6m)
  • Height 8.9ft (2.7m)
  • Empty Weight 5,381lbs (2,440kg)
  • Loaded Weight 7,331lbs (3,325kg)

Performance

  • Power/Weight Ratio 0.919
  • Wing Loading 31.5lbs/ft2 (153.8kg/m2)
  • Wing Area 232.8ft2 (21.6m2)
  • Drag Points 3085

Parts

  • Number of Parts 60
  • Control Surfaces 5
  • Performance Cost 334