Walkaround #631

Bell P-39Q Airacobra  Pt. 1 

Reference photos by Stewart Bailey

Left front quarter view

 

      

This particular aircraft is on display at the Air Zoo in Kalamazoo, Michigan  (where I am the education director), and was photographed prior to the opening of our new museum in April, 2004.  Although it carries the markings of a Bell P-400 Airacobra assigned to the 67th Fighter Squadron on Guadalcanal in 1942, this aircraft is actually a P-39Q.  At one point in its life it was owned by Mira Slovak who configured it as a racer named Mr. Mennen, before passing into the hands of the Confederate Air Force.  It was acquired by the Air Zoo in 1981 and has been maintained in airworthy condition, although it has not been flown since the mid-1980s.  It carries the civil registration NX40A.  For more on the Airacobra and the Air Zoo, visit www.airzoo.org

Stewart Bailey

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Left rear quarter view

Right rear quarter view

Right front quarter view
Nose-on view

 

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Prop spinner

Upper nose gear leg with forward gear door

Nose wheel assembly
Nose gear torque link (left side)

 

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Nose gear forward door (left side)

Nose gear braces (left side)
Interior nose gear well looking aft
Nose gear well from below

 

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Nose gear well looking forward

Left side cowling .50 cal. machine gun

Nose lifting / jacking point (left side)
Nose gear door (left side)

 

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Oil cooler intakes (left wing root)

Left wing .50 cal. machine gun barrels

Pitot tube (looking towards wing tip)
Pitot tube (looking inboard)

 

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Left side entry door

Windscreen (left side)

Left hand window and door detail
Left hand door handle

 

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Left wing fuel filler cap

Left wing navigation light (upper surface)
Left wing navigation light (lower surface)
Vent scoop, left wing underside

 

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Left main gear viewed from outboard

Left main gear leg viewed from front

Left main gear leg viewed from front quarter
Left gear leg wheel and brake assembly

 

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Left gear leg viewed from rear quarter

Left gear leg viewed from directly aft

Upper end of left gear viewed from rear
Left gear door viewed from front

 

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Left gear door viewed from rear

Left aileron upper side
Left aileron underside
Left aileron hinges

 

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Trim tabs on left aileron

Left wing walkway

Belly between gear doors looking aft
Oil cooler exhaust viewed from left rear

 

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Oil cooler exhaust viewed from direct rear

Underside warning beacon (note small vent pipe)
Small vent tube under rear fuselage
National insignia - left side fuselage

 

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Radio aerial attachment point - rear fuselage

Rear lifting / jacking point (left side)
Data plate location (left side beneath horizontal stabilizer)
Data plate close up

 

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Tail assembly (left side)

Elevator hinge point (left side)

Elevator hinge- mid-span
Left elevator trim tab (underside)

 

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Left elevator trim tab (upper surface)

Left elevator
Rudder control pulley (left side)

 

Photos and text © by Stewart Bailey