Bell P-59 Airacomet

"P-59" redirects here. For other uses, see P-59 (disambiguation).

P-59 Airacomet

Bell P-59B Airacomet at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton, Ohio.
Role	Fighter
Manufacturer	Bell Aircraft
First flight	1 October 1942
Primary users	United States Army Air Forces United States Navy Royal Air Force
Number built	66

The Bell P-59 Airacomet was a twin jet engined fighter aircraft, the first for the USA, designed and built by Bell Aircraft during World War II. The United States Army Air Force was not impressed by its performance and cancelled the contract when fewer than half of the aircraft ordered had been produced. Although no P-59s went into combat, it paved the way for another design generation of U.S. turbojet-powered aircraft and was the first turbojet fighter to have its turbojet engine and air inlet nacelles integrated within the main fuselage.

Design and development

The Power Jets W.1 engine that was later to be produced by GE as the General Electric J31

Major General Henry H. "Hap" Arnold became aware of the United Kingdom's jet program when he attended a demonstration of the Gloster E.28/39 in April 1941. The subject had been mentioned, but not in depth, as part of the Tizard Mission the previous year. He requested, and was given, the plans for the aircraft's powerplant, the Power Jets W.1, which he took back to the U.S. On 4 September, he offered the U.S. company General Electric a contract to produce an American version of the engine. On the following day, he approached Lawrence Dale Bell, head of Bell Aircraft Corporation, to build a fighter to utilize it. Bell agreed and set to work on producing three prototypes. As a disinformation tactic, the USAAF gave the project the designation "P-59A", to suggest it was a development of a completely unrelated Bell "XP-59" fighter project that had been canceled. The design was finalized on 9 January 1942, and construction began. In March, long before the prototypes were completed, an order for 13 "YP-59A" pre-production machines was added to the contract.

Bell XP-59 wind tunnel model. Original pusher-propeller design.

On 12 September 1942, the first XP-59A was sent to Muroc Army Air Field (today, Edwards Air Force Base) in California by train for testing, taking seven days to reach Muroc.^[1] While being handled on the ground, the aircraft was fitted with a dummy propeller to disguise its true nature.^[2] The aircraft first became airborne during high-speed taxiing tests on 1 October with Bell test pilot Robert Stanley at the controls, although the first official flight was made by Col Laurence Craigie the next day.^[1] A handful of the first Airacomets had open-air flight observer stations (similar to those of biplanes) later cut into the nose; over the following months, tests on the three XP-59As revealed a multitude of problems including poor engine response and reliability (common shortcomings of all early turbojets), insufficient lateral stability, i.e., in the roll axis,^[3] and performance that was far below expectations. Chuck Yeager flew the aircraft and was dissatisfied with its speed, but was amazed at its smooth flying characteristics. Nevertheless, even before delivery of the YP-59As in June 1943, the USAAF ordered 80 production machines, designated "P-59A Airacomet".

Operational service

First production P-59A with a P-63 behind.

The 13 service test YP-59As had a more powerful engine than its predecessor, but the improvement in performance was negligible with top speed increased by only 5 mph and a reduction in the time they could be used before an overhaul was needed. One of these aircraft, the third YP-59A (S/n: 42-22611) was supplied to the Royal Air Force (receiving British serial RG362/G), in exchange for the first production Gloster Meteor I, EE210/G.^[4] British pilots found that the aircraft compared very unfavorably with the jets that they were already flying. (The YP-59A also compared unfavorably to the propeller-driven North American P-51 Mustang.) Two YP-59A Airacomets (42-108778 and 42-100779) were also delivered to the U.S. Navy where they were evaluated as the "YF2L-1" but quickly found completely unsuitable for carrier operations.

Faced with their own ongoing difficulties, Bell eventually completed 50 production Airacomets, 20 P-59As and 30 P-59Bs. Each was armed with one 37 mm M4 cannon and 44 rounds of ammunition and three .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns with 200 rounds per gun. The P-59Bs were assigned to the 412th Fighter Group to familiarize AAF pilots with the handling and performance characteristics of jet aircraft.^[5] By 1950, all examples of the Airacomet were no longer airworthy. Over time, disposal of the aircraft included use as static displays, instructional aids in military training and use as static targets. While the P-59 was not a great success, the type did give the USAAF experience with the operation of jet aircraft in preparation for the more advanced types that would shortly become available.^[6]

Variants

P-59A Airacomet with the short-lived red outlined National markings (June 1943 to September 1943).

XP-59: Unrelated piston engine powered pusher propeller design developed from the Bell XP-52. Not built.
XP-59A: Prototype of the jet engine powered version, three built, serial numbers 42-108784/108786.
YP-59A: Series of test aircraft, 13 built, serial numbers 42-108771/108783.
YP-59A recon prototype: YP-59A with armaments replaced by an observer seat.
YF2L-1: Two YP-59A (42-108778/108779) delivered to the US Navy for carrier evaluation as Bu63960/63961.
P-59A: First production version, 20 built, serial numbers 44-22609/22628. Redesignated ZF-59A in June 1948.
P-59B: Improved P-59A. 80 aircraft ordered but only 30 built, serial numbers 44-22629/22658, further 50 (44-2659/22708) canceled. Redesignated ZF-59B in June 1948.

Operators

United Kingdom

Royal Air Force received one aircraft, becoming RG362/G, in exchange for a Gloster Meteor I EE210/G.

United States

Survivors

Six P-59s are known to survive today.

On display XP-59A

42-108784 – National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.^[7]

P-59A

44-22614 – March Field Air Museum in Riverside, California.^[8]

P-59B

44-22633 – Edwards AFB.^[9]

44-22656 – Pioneer Village (Nebraska) in Minden, Nebraska.^[10]

44-22650 – National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio.^[11]

Under restoration YP-59A

42-108777 – being restored to flying condition w/ GE J31s by Planes of Fame Museum in Chino, California.^[12]

Specifications (P-59B)

Bell YP-59A in flight. X and Y aircraft had rounded vertical stabilizers and wingtips while the production A and B models had squared surfaces. The YP-59A can be distinguished from the XP-59A because Ys had nose armament.

Data from The American Fighter^[13]

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 38 ft 10 in (11.84 m)
Wingspan: 45 ft 6 in (13.87 m)
Height: 12 ft 4 in (3.76 m)
Wing area: 386 sq ft (35.86 m²)
Empty weight: 8,165 lb (3,704 kg)
Loaded weight: 11,040 lb (5,008 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 13,700 lb (6,214 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × General Electric J31-GE-5 turbojets, 2,000 lbf (8.9 kN) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 413 mph (359 knots, 665 km/h) at 30,000 ft (9,140 m)
Cruise speed: 375 mph (326 knots, 604 km/h)
Range: 375 mi (326 nm, 604 km)
Service ceiling: 46,200 ft (14,080 m)
Climb to 30,000 ft (9,140 m): 15 min 30 s

Armament

Guns:
- 1x 37 mm cannon
- 3x .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns
Rockets: 8× 60 lb (30 kg) rockets
Bombs: 2,000 lb (910 kg) bombs

References

Notes

1 2 Air International March 1980, p. 133.
↑ Donald 1995, p. 13.
↑ Green 1961, p. 19.
↑ "Gloster Meteor." Flight, 27 May 1955, p. 727.
↑ "Bell XP-59A Airacomet." Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Retrieved: 15 December 2011.
↑ Baugher 2006
↑ "XP-59A Airacomet/42-108784" National Air and Space Museum Retrieved: 14 December 2010.
↑ "P-59A Airacomet/44-22614" March Field Air Museum Retrieved: 10 April 2012.
↑ "P-59B Airacomet/44-22633" John Weeks Retrieved: 14 December 2010.
↑ "P-59B Airacomet/44-22656" John Weeks Retrieved: 14 December 2010.
↑ "P-59B Airacomet/44-22650" National Museum of the United States Air Force Retrieved: 10 April 2012.
↑ "YP-59A Airacomet/42-108777" Planes of Fame Museum Retrieved: 10 April 2012.
↑ Angelucci and Bowers 1987, p. 50.

Bibliography

"Airacomet... a jet pioneer by Bell". Air International, Vol. 18 No. 3, March 1980, pp. 132, 139. Bromley, UK: Fine Scroll. ISSN 0306-5634. .
Andrade, John M. U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Earl Shilton, Leicester, UK; Midland Counties Publications, 1979. ISBN 0-904597-21-0.
Angelucci, Enzo and Peter Bowers. The American Fighter. Yeovil, UK: Haynes, 1987. ISBN 0-85429-635-2.
Baugher, Joe. "Bell P-59 Airacomet". USAAC/USAAF/USAF Fighter and Pursuit Aircraft: Original Fighter Series-1922 to 1962, 27 June 2002. Retrieved: 15 December 2010.
Carpenter, David M. Flame Powered: The Bell XP-59A Airacomet and the General Electric I-A Engine. Boston: Jet Pioneers of America, 1992. ISBN 0-9633387-0-6.
Donald, David, ed. American Warplanes of World War II. London: Aerospace Publishing, 1995. ISBN 1-874023-72-7.
Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War, Volume Four: Fighters. London: MacDonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd., Sixth edition 1969, First edition 1961. ISBN 0-356-01448-7.
Green, William and Gordon Swanborough. WW2 Aircraft Fact Files: US Army Air Force Fighters, Part 2. London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 1978. ISBN 0-354-01072-7.
Jenkins, Dennis R. and Tony R. Landis. Experimental & Prototype U.S. Air Force Jet Fighters. North Branch, Minnesota, USA: Specialty Press, 2008. ISBN 978-1-58007-111-6.
Pace, Steve. "Bell P-59 Airacomet." AIR FORCE LEGENDS NUMBER 208. Ginter Books, Simi Valley, California. ISBN 0-942612-93-0. 2000.
Pelletier, Alan J. (1992). Bell Aircraft Since 1935. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. pp. 50–54. ISBN 978-1-55750-056-4.
United States Air Force Museum booklet. Dayton, Ohio: Air Force Museum Foundation, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, 1975.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bell P-59 Airacomet.

Original XP-59A prototype at National Air and Space Museum
The P-59A at March Field Air Museum
The P-59B at the National Museum of the USAF
1st flight video
"How The First U.S. Jet Was Born" Popular Science, October 1962, illustrated article on the secret project behind the Bell XP-59 project

Aircraft produced by Bell Aircraft and Bell Helicopter

Manufacturer designations	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 32 33 34 35 36 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 47 48 49 50 52 54 58 59 60 61 65 66 67 68 200 201 204 205 206 207 208 210 211 209 212 214/214ST 222 230 249 301 309 400 407 409 412 417 427 429 430 440 445 449 505 525 533 D-188 D-255 D-292

Fighter aircraft	YFM-1 P-39 XFL P-59 P-63 XP-77 XP-83

Target drones	PQM-56

Attack helicopters	207 AH-1 (singles) AH-1 (twins) 309 YAH-63

Observation and utility helicopters	H-13 UH-1 UH-1N UH-1Y TH-57 OH-58 TH-67 ARH-70

Commercial helicopters	47 204 205 206 210 212 214 214ST 222 230 407 412 427 429 430 505 525

Tiltrotors	V-22 BA609 TR918 QTR

UAVs	MQ-8C

Non-production helicopters	400 417 440

Experimental aircraft	ATV 201 533 D-188 D-255 D-292 L-39 LLRV/LLTV X-1 X-2 X-5 X-14 X-22 XF-109 XP-52 XV-3 XV-15

USAAS/USAAC/USAAF/USAF fighter designations 1924–1962

Pursuit (pre-1948) Fighter (post-1948)	P-1 P-2 P-3 XP-4 P-5 P-6 XP-7 XP-8 XP-9 XP-10 P-11 P-12 XP-13 XP-14 XP-15 P-16 P-17 YP-18 YP-19 YP-20 P-21 XP-22 P-23 YP-24 P-25 P-26 P-27 P-28 P-29 P-30 XP-31 P-32 P-33 XP-34 P-35 P-36 P-37 P-38 P-39 P-40 XP-41 P-42 P-43 P-44 P-45 XP-46 P-47 XP-48 XP-49 XP-50 P-51 XP-52 P-53 XP-54 XP-55 XP-56 XP-57 XP-58 P-59 P-60 P-61/C XP-62 P-63 P-64 P-65 P-66 XP-67 XP-68 P-69 P-70 XP-71 XP-72 P-73 P-74¹ P-75 XP-76 XP-77 P-78 XP-79 P-80 XP-81 P-82 XP-83 P-84 XP-85 P-86/D XP-87 P-88 P-89 XF-90 XF-91 XF-92 YF-93 F-94 F-95 F-96 F-97 F-98 F-99 F-100 F-101 F-102 XF-103 F-104 F-105 F-106 F-107 XF-108 XF-109 F-110 F-111/B

Pursuit, Biplace	PB-1 PB-2 PB-3

Fighter, Multiplace	FM-1 FM-2

¹ Not assigned See also: F-24 • F-117 • P-400 • post-1962 sequence

United States Navy fighter designations pre-1962

General Aviation Brewster	FA FA² F2A F3A

Boeing	FB F2B F3B F4B F5B F6B F7B F8B

Curtiss	CF F2C F3C F4C F5C¹ F6C F7C F8C F9C F10C F11C F12C F13C F14C F15C

Douglas McDonnell	XFD F2D² F3D F4D F5D F6D FD F2D to "H"

Grumman	FF F2F F3F F4F F5F F6F F7F F8F F9F-1 to -5 F9F-6 to -8 F10F F11F F12F

Eberhart Goodyear	FG F2G FG F2G

Hall McDonnell	FH FH F2H F3H F4H

Berliner-Joyce North American	FJ F2J F3J FJ-1 FJ-2/3 FJ-4

Loening Bell	FL FL YF2L-1 F2L-1K F3L

General Motors	FM F2M F3M

Naval Aircraft Factory	FN

Lockheed	FO (I) FO (II)

Ryan	FR F2R F3R

Supermarine	FS

Northrop	FT F2T

Vought	FU F2U F3U F4U F5U F6U F7U F8U F8U-3

Lockheed	FV

Wright CC&F	WP F2W F3W FW² F2W² F3W² F4W

Convair	FY F2Y

¹ Not assigned • ² Assigned to a different manufacturer's type See also: Aeromarine AS • Vought VE-7

Authority control	GND: 7623181-1

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