Bell P-39 Airacobra - Page 2 - Aircraft of World War II

evangilder · 01-21-2005, 01:34 PM

The problem is the way the door opens. The wind rushing by wants to close the door, so it is difficult to open when in the air. If it was positioned the other way, where it was hinged on the back, no problem, except the prop might create enough gust to rip the door off the plane.

cheddar cheese · 01-21-2005, 01:58 PM

Hmmmmm, I see your point. If there were catches inside that just removed the door altogether in emergencies though, that might just work.

evangilder · 01-21-2005, 02:05 PM

Yes, that would work, or explosive bolts. They originally tried the door on the P-47 and pretty quickly changed to the sliding canopy. I have a picture of the door on a P-47 at home.

the lancaster kicks ass · 01-21-2005, 02:46 PM

cool, wouldn't mind seeing that........

early tiffys had both doors and side hinged canopie tops.........

cheddar cheese · 01-23-2005, 10:39 AM

That begs the question: Why?

evangilder · 01-23-2005, 11:14 AM

From the Warren Bodie collection, the early P-47 "car door". I am surprised the engineers didn't think about it not being able to opened while in-flight.

cheddar cheese · 01-23-2005, 11:16 AM

Hmmmmm, strange.
Ive never seen the XP-47 before, looks cool...did all the "X" versions of planes have that bare metal finish because the XP-38 looks similar...

evangilder · 01-23-2005, 12:59 PM

I'm not real sure, to be honest. Bt alot of them had bare metal for testing. Funny though, because paint adds weight.

The Jug Rules! · 02-17-2005, 02:33 PM

I think all x planes are bare metal. IMO, I think it was to get good performane by saving weght.I have similar pictres of the Hellcat and the B-26. I have also noticed that some x planes have larger diameter propellors than production ships...

BountyHunter15 · 02-26-2005, 02:38 PM

Hope you like it. It's not much.

cheddar cheese · 02-26-2005, 04:20 PM

Naw thats a great shot!

I love the P-39

ollieholmes · 10-19-2005, 12:22 AM

here is one i took at flying legends this year:

Glider · 10-19-2005, 01:14 AM

Here are a couple taken some time ago.

Notice on the detail shot the wording on the ammunition container. If the ammunition is required ballast for flight, what happens if you use it?

Apologies to those who have seen these on a different thread.

Wildcat · 10-19-2005, 02:40 AM

Great pics guys! Love that white tailed p-39!!

Gnomey · 10-19-2005, 08:43 AM

Nice shots Glider.

01-21-2005, 01:34 PM	#16
evangilder "Shooter" Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moorpark, CA Posts: 14,809	The problem is the way the door opens. The wind rushing by wants to close the door, so it is difficult to open when in the air. If it was positioned the other way, where it was hinged on the back, no problem, except the prop might create enough gust to rip the door off the plane. __________________ http://www.vg-photo.com For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. Leonardo Da Vinci

01-21-2005, 02:05 PM	#18
evangilder "Shooter" Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moorpark, CA Posts: 14,809	Yes, that would work, or explosive bolts. They originally tried the door on the P-47 and pretty quickly changed to the sliding canopy. I have a picture of the door on a P-47 at home. __________________ http://www.vg-photo.com For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. Leonardo Da Vinci

01-21-2005, 02:46 PM	#19
the lancaster kicks ass Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 19,945	cool, wouldn't mind seeing that........ early tiffys had both doors and side hinged canopie tops......... __________________ "Reminds me of the time I sank the Tirpitz" comments a Spitfire pilot, "One pass of course, old boy."

01-23-2005, 12:59 PM	#23
evangilder "Shooter" Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moorpark, CA Posts: 14,809	I'm not real sure, to be honest. Bt alot of them had bare metal for testing. Funny though, because paint adds weight. __________________ http://www.vg-photo.com For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. Leonardo Da Vinci

02-17-2005, 02:33 PM	#24
The Jug Rules! Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hattiesburg,Ms Posts: 194	I think all x planes are bare metal. IMO, I think it was to get good performane by saving weght.I have similar pictres of the Hellcat and the B-26. I have also noticed that some x planes have larger diameter propellors than production ships... __________________ The Spits got nothing on this...

01-21-2005, 01:58 PM	#17
cheddar cheese Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: WSM, England Posts: 20,387	Hmmmmm, I see your point. If there were catches inside that just removed the door altogether in emergencies though, that might just work.

01-23-2005, 10:39 AM	#20
cheddar cheese Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: WSM, England Posts: 20,387	That begs the question: Why?

01-23-2005, 11:16 AM	#22
cheddar cheese Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: WSM, England Posts: 20,387	Hmmmmm, strange. Ive never seen the XP-47 before, looks cool...did all the "X" versions of planes have that bare metal finish because the XP-38 looks similar...

02-26-2005, 04:20 PM	#26
cheddar cheese Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: WSM, England Posts: 20,387	Naw thats a great shot! I love the P-39

10-19-2005, 12:22 AM	#27
ollieholmes Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bedfordshire, England Posts: 247	here is one i took at flying legends this year:

10-19-2005, 02:40 AM	#29
Wildcat Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Queensland Posts: 4,543	Great pics guys! Love that white tailed p-39!! __________________

10-19-2005, 08:43 AM	#30
Gnomey "World Traveller" Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Royal Deeside/St Andrews, Scotland, UK Posts: 15,224	Nice shots Glider. __________________ "Success is not Final, Failure is not Fatal, it is the Courage to Continue that Counts" Sir Winston Churchill "To him the People of the World Largely owe the Freedom and Liberties they Enjoy Today" Enscription on Hugh Dowding's (AOC Fighter Command 1936-40) statue in London WW2 Talk: A WW2 Discussion Forum My Photo Collections on Flickr

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