The Bell YFM-1 Airacuda was an American heavy fighter that Bell Aircraft developed for the United States Army Air Corps in the mid-1930s, and it was the first military aircraft Bell produced. Conceived as a bomber destroyer, it carried a forward-firing 37 mm cannon with its own gunner in a compartment on the front of each of its two engine nacelles. The first aircraft flew on 1 September 1937, and its first flights used single-stage supercharged engines that delivered less power than the intended turbo-supercharged ones. Bold design features were offset by serious flaws: the aircraft was heavy, slower than most bombers and not manoeuvrable enough to dogfight. Only one prototype and 12 production aircraft were built, and by early 1942 the survivors had been stricken from inventory.
Facts
Top Speed (km/h) Maximum Mass (kg) EngineTwo Allison V-1710-9 liquid-cooled turbosupercharged V-12 1 Comparison
Body StyleAircraft (no road body style) 1 Connections
Of Make
Source Bell YFM-1 Airacuda (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Bell YFM-1 Airacuda (Wikipedia)
Lead, first flight
Originally designated the Bell Model 1, the Airacuda first flew on 1 September 1937.
Specifications, empty weight
Empty weight: 13,376 lb (6,067 kg)
Specifications, maximum takeoff weight
Max takeoff weight: 21,625 lb (9,809 kg)
Specifications, maximum speed
Maximum speed: 277 mph (446 km/h, 241 kn)
Lead, production total
only one prototype and 12 production models were ultimately built
Specifications, powerplant
Powerplant: 2 × Allison V-1710-9 liquid-cooled turbosupercharged V-12, 1,090 hp (810 kW)
Lead, aircraft description
The Bell YFM-1 Airacuda was an American heavy fighter aircraft
Variants, YFM-1B
Three YFM-1Bs were produced in 1939 before production was finally terminated.
Lead, builder
The Bell YFM-1 Airacuda was an American heavy fighter aircraft, developed by the Bell Aircraft Corporation for the United States Army Air Corps during the mid-1930s.
Lead, country
The Bell YFM-1 Airacuda was an American heavy fighter aircraft, developed by the Bell Aircraft Corporation for the United States Army Air Corps during the mid-1930s.
In Group: Propeller-Driven Fighters, Lead, role of the aircraft
The Bell YFM-1 Airacuda was an American heavy fighter aircraft, developed by the Bell Aircraft Corporation for the United States Army Air Corps during the mid-1930s.
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