Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>P-39>HA1703

General Background

The P-39Q has the distinction of being the most produced series with 4,905 built. The Q also was the last version of the Airacobra to be made by the Bell Aircraft company. The main difference between the Q version and earlier versions was the replacement of the 4 wing-mounted 0.30 – inch machine guns with a single 0.50 - inch machine gun mounted inside a pod attached to the bottom of each wing. The P-39Q-1-BE also regained the additional 231 pounds of armor of the P-31N-1.

The Aircraft

The only RAF unit to use the P-39 was the 601 Squadron. Based on the performance of the test model the RAF ordered 675 of these aircraft armed with 0.50-inch machine guns in the fuselage and four 0.30-inch machine guns in the wings, the 37 mm gun was replaced by a 20 mm Hispano Suiza. What the RAF received were aircraft without the turbo-superchargers severely reducing its effectiveness and after only one operational use by the 601 these aircraft were deemed unfit with further orders cancelled and the aircraft removed from service.

Specifications :

Manufacturer:	Bell Aircraft.
Number built:	4,905
Armament:	1 X 37-mm cannon, 2 X .37 caliber machine guns, a single 0.50 caliber with 300 rounds of ammunition in a pod under each wing.
Powerplant:	Allison V-1710-85 1,200 hp
Maximum speed:	385 mph @ 15,000 feet
Rate of climb:	4.5 minutes to 15,000 feet
Ceiling:	35,000 feet
Maximum range:	1,100 miles
Combat range:	650 miles
Wingspan:	34 feet
Length:	30 feet 2 inches
Height:	12 feet 5 inches
Empty weight:	5,645 pounds
Gross weight:	7,700 pounds
Maximum take-off weight:	8,350 pounds
Maximum internal fuel load:	120 US gallons
Maximum external fuel load:	175 US gallons