P-59 Airacomet

From Warlike

Q278162




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. Because the British were more advanced in jet engine development, they donated an engine for the United States to copy in 1941 that became the basis of the General Electric J31 jet engine used by the P-59 a year later. Bell produced a combined 18 prototype and test aircraft; 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 50 completed production 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.

WikimediaWikidata
Airacomet; Bell Airacomet; Bell P-59 Airacomet; P-59 aircraft; P59 Airacomet; P59 aircraft
66 produced, 
single-seat fighter, first-generation jet fighter, land-based fighter monoplaneBell Aircraft Corporation, United States Air ForceUnited States

land-based fighter monoplaneP-59A AiracometP-59B Airacometsingle-seat fighterYP-59A Airacomet

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Location: KML, Cluster Map, Maps,

  • P-59A Airacomet
    1944 fighter aircraft model by Bell
  • P-59B Airacomet
    fighter aircraft model by Bell Aircraft
  • YP-59A Airacomet
    fighter aircraft prototype model by Bell Aircraft
    TypeSubtypeDateDescriptionNotesSource
    classaircraftP-59A AiracometP-59 AiracometWikidata
    classaircraftP-59B AiracometP-59 AiracometWikidata
    classaircraftYP-59A AiracometP-59 AiracometWikidata

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