The P-39 "Airacobra" was a fighter and fighter-bomber of the aircraft manufacturer Bell Aircraft corporation. The special feature was the mid-engine with power transmission by a long shaft. The place made available through this, could be used by a nose gear and a large-caliber cannon, shooting by the propeller hub.
P-39 finished their first flight in 1939, however, it was not taken over first from the United States Army air corps (USAAC). As of the D version the "Airacobra" was used by the USAAF over New Guinea against the Japanese - unfortunately, the type there didn't prove himself since it had too little engine performance for his weight. The Airacobra was primarily used as school aeroplane in later years of war.
Use of the P-39 proceeded over the east front quite differently. Most airplanes (in 4924 piece) took over the Soviet Union within the scope of the Lend-Lease Act and used the type above all with aerial battles by low height. The successful Soviet fighter pilot Alexander Pokryschkin also flew this type and obtained 48 shootings with that.
The difference in the assessment of the pilots couldn't be greater: the Americans called the machine "iron dog" - the Soviet airmen appreciated the "Cobra" or "Bell" very much.
From 1943 the strongly improved versions of the N-and Q-series with which the manufacturer had mainly removed the weak points of the D to K rows used by the Americans in spring 1942, were built.
To the kit - it is the "P-39 Q/N Airacobra" (no 2177) of Academy; the Basis for my model was a variant of the RS Model-Kits "P-39Q-25 Airacobra" No. 92136
My model - P-39Q-15, yellow 341, SN 44-2355, "Zebra Training Aircraft", USAAF, 1944
The unity is valid as one of the first ones "aggressors" and predecessor for "Operation Pinball" (here it was used the P-63 "Kingcobra") - the training by bomber occupying against hostile fighters.
