The Bell P-39 Airacobra was constructed by R J Woods and O L Woodson and the prototype (XP-39) first flew in April 1939. There were two unique features with the construction of the aircraft; the undercarriage with its nose-wheel and the engine which was fitted behind the pilot. The prop was driven by a long axis under the pilot's seat. In the nose there were also one 37 mm cannon firing through the spinner. The first production-aircrafts P-39C in 1941 was equipped with two 7.62 mm machineguns and two 12.7 mm machine guns all synchronised to fire through the propeller. England ordered the unconventional fighter in 1940 and the first Airacobra Mk.I was delivered in June 1941 with the 37 mm cannon replaced by two 20 mm Hispano cannons, two Browning 7.70 mm machineguns and a further four fitted in the wings. They were not so succesful in Britain and they were not able to keep them going, but the Airacobra was used in larged numbers in the USAAF. The total production number was 9588 aircraft built. About 5000 aircraft were delivered to Russia and used in the ground-attack role. The most numerous version was P-39Q with 4900 aircraft built. The production of the P-39 was replaced in 1944 by the P-63 Kingcobra. The operators were France, Italy, Portugal, Russia, England and the USA.

Specifications for Bell P-39L