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Author Topic: Bell mod for Navy use.  (Read 985 times)

Offline Ty Marcucci

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Bell mod for Navy use.
« on: June 30, 2011, 07:09:48 PM »
The Navy deisgnated it the XFL-1.  X for experimental, F for fighter, L for Bell Aircraft 1st version.

It was a TAIL dragger, surprise to me, never got to the arrested landing stage as its final landing speed was deemed at the time to be too high.
See photo below.
« Last Edit: October 05, 2018, 02:26:26 PM by Ty Marcucci »
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Ty Marcucci

Offline Balsa Butcher

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Re: Bell P39 mod for Navy use.
« Reply #1 on: July 01, 2011, 12:27:17 PM »
At the risk of getting flamed...the Airabonita was a separate project, 1st cousin of the Airacobra but not a converted P-39. It failed carrier trials, had a problem with tipping over on arrested landings among other things. The Brits carrier tested a P-39 even after it was determine to be unsuitable as a fighter (although the RAF did operate them for a short while). This is the test the qualifies the P-39 for carrier. Have never seen any pictures but have seen it noted in more than one source. 8)
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Pete Cunha
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Offline eric david conley

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Re: Bell P39 mod for Navy use.
« Reply #2 on: July 01, 2011, 01:11:29 PM »
     I think your right Pete. I once read a short article about the British testing the Airacobra for carrier operation and it had a picture with it showing and Airacobra in what appeared to be some type of storage yard along with numerous other planes. The article said that the British tested the tri-geared (original P-39) plane that had been beefed up for the arrested landing on a carrier. They had ongoing troubles with the plane being damaged on the landings (flimsy) so didn't go forward with it. It also said that they were interested in testing the tri-gear for carrier operation. I've always liked the looks of the "P-39 Airacobra" over the King Cobra and the Airabonita. I would sometime like to build a Airacobra with English colors for AMA Profile Carrier.  Eric
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Joe Just

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Re: Bell P39 mod for Navy use.
« Reply #3 on: July 01, 2011, 07:00:09 PM »
One of the Salter brothers entered an Airibonito in Sportsman at the 89 Tri-Cities Nats.  I have a slow motion video tape of the arrested landing. Neat looking plane, a modification of the Midwest kit.
Joe
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Offline Balsa Butcher

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Re: Bell P39 mod for Navy use.
« Reply #4 on: July 01, 2011, 11:22:23 PM »
It got into the discussion because the yellow and silver plane in the picture is an Airabonita, not a P-39.   8)
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Pete Cunha
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Offline Wayne J. Buran

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Re: Bell P39 mod for Navy use.
« Reply #5 on: July 02, 2011, 05:13:08 AM »
Petes correct, it's an Airbonita (XFL-1) built by Bell Aircraft in Buffalo New York and not a P-39. One of the more famous Airbonita control line carrier models was Dave Gierke's. Beautiful paint powered by Tigre 40 if I remember correctly.The plans are available thru AMA. Charles Reeves was the designer of this rocket. Best referance material is "Naval Fighters #85" by Tommy Thomason. Its a paper back with 56 pages with plenty of pictures. Definately not a P-39.
Wayne
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Wayne Buran
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Offline Douglas Ames

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Re: Bell P39 mod for Navy use.
« Reply #6 on: July 02, 2011, 03:24:33 PM »
One of our Tulsa Glue Dobbers Lee Thiel is building an Airabonita for Carrier. It's a Tortise race between Lee and I who gets done first as I'm currently plugging along on a .15 Corsair.
http://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php?topic=14705.0
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Offline bill bischoff

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Re: Bell P39 mod for Navy use.
« Reply #7 on: July 02, 2011, 09:55:29 PM »
Search Wikipedia for "AH574". There is a short account of Eric "Winkle" Brown of the RAF landing an Airacobra on a British ship. There is mention of an arresting hook, and also a take-off. The same account shows up in many other searches as well, but I couldn't find a picture.
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Offline bill bischoff

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Re: Bell P39 mod for Navy use.
« Reply #8 on: July 02, 2011, 09:57:41 PM »
Quote from: eric david conley on July 01, 2011, 01:11:29 PM
     I think your right Pete. I once read a short article about the British testing the Airacobra for carrier operation and it had a picture with it showing and Airacobra in what appeared to be some type of storage yard along with numerous other planes. The article said that the British tested the tri-geared (original P-39) plane that had been beefed up for the arrested landing on a carrier. They had ongoing troubles with the plane being damaged on the landings (flimsy) so didn't go forward with it. It also said that they were interested in testing the tri-gear for carrier operation. I've always liked the looks of the "P-39 Airacobra" over the King Cobra and the Airabonita. I would sometime like to build a Airacobra with English colors for AMA Profile Carrier.  Eric
Oh boy, 3 big orange wheels!
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Offline john e. holliday

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Re: Bell P39 mod for Navy use.
« Reply #9 on: July 03, 2011, 08:17:15 AM »
No nose wheel on the Aerobanita.   I have even thought of building one for the LA25. H^^
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John E. "DOC" Holliday
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Offline Thomas Wilk

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Re: Bell P39 mod for Navy use.
« Reply #10 on: July 04, 2011, 10:17:03 AM »
here is a 3 view.  i also have a few photos
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