View CAF Centex's Rare Vintage Bell P-63 Kingcobra

View Rare Flying Bell P-63 at the CAF-Central Texas Wing Museum and historic hanger. 

This World War II fighter was developed from the P-39 Airacobra, which it closely resembles. The Army Air Forces never used the P-63 in combat, but some were used for fighter training. Many P-63s were exported as Lend-Lease aircraft; the Soviet Union received 2,456 and Free French forces obtained 300. P-63 performance was adequate for low-level fighting, and P-63s were widely used by the Soviets for such missions as "tank busting." Bell produced 3,305 P-63s, 13 of which were E models. 

The Bell P-63 Kingcobra was a United States fighter aircraft developed by Bell in World War II from the Bell P-39 Airacobra in an attempt to correct that aircraft's deficiencies. Although the aircraft was not accepted for combat use by the United States Army Air Forces, it was successfully adopted by the Soviet Air Force.[2]

Bell P-63 Kingcobra Flight Demonstration- BIG ALLISON SOUND!

This is a nice video of a flight demonstration of the Palm Springs Air Museum's Bell P-63A Kingcobra. Not the greatest aircraft of WWII, but a significant one nonetheless, especially to the Soviets. This is one of the most wicked looking fighters of all time, in my honest opinion. This thing also really scoots off the runway despite the reduced, low-octane-fuel power settings that need to be used these days!

Bell P-63 Kingcobra cockpit controls

P-63 Kingcobra Pilot's Cockpit Video

Cockpit video footage of the start, takeoff, passes and landing the P-63 Kingcobra at the 2011 Legacy Flight Museum's fly in at Rexburg Idaho

KING COBRA P-63 AEROBATIC FLIGHT DEMO

A stunning aerobatic display performed in the brutish Bell P-63 King Cobra.

The P-63 Kingcobra Technical Data

Crew: One (Pilot)
Engine: 1x Allison V-1710-117, liquid-cooled V-12, produced 1,800 hp (1,340 kW)
Span: 38 ft 4 in
Length: 32 ft 8 in
Height: 12 ft 7 in
Maximum Speed: 410 mph at 25,000'
Range: 450 miles
Armament: (nose & wings) 4 x 50 caliber machine guns (propeller hub) 37mm cannon
External:  1,500 lb in bombs or drop tank

P-63 Production: Over two thirds of Kingcobra production, some 2,400 aircraft were ferried from Alaska to Russia over the ALSIB (Alaska-Siberia) route. 

For more historical data on the P-63 and its role in WWII:  

P-63 Historical Blog

For More in formation on The Central Texas Wing of The Commemorative Air Force 

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