MAQUETTE À MONTER - P-400 Airacobra Hasegawa | No. 09092 | 1:48
Prix régulier 50,00 € TTC 6%
Characteristics
| Scale | 1:48 |
| Manufacturer | Hasegawa |
| Size of the box | 34 x 19 x 5 cm |
Description
The Bell Airacobra was originally designed and built for the United States Army Air Corps (later United States Army Air Force). The aircraft had the unusual design feature of having the engine installed behind the cockpit, near the airframe's center of gravity, with the intended effect of lowering inertial moment and increasing maneuverability. It was hoped, improving maneuverability and, very long shaft to reach the propeller in the nose.
This design also utilized this shaft to house a barrel of either a 20mm cannon, or 37mm cannon to fire through the propeller hub -- a feature unusual in American designs (but common in German, Soviet and Japanese aircraft). Space made available in the nose area of the airframe by the aft placement of the engine was put to use housing the third landing gear strut that gave the design its distinctive "tricycle" landing gear arrangement. Despite the great promise of the Bell P-400 design, this unconventional layout brought demands by Army Air Corps planners for additional negative effects on performance. Compared to these competing inline V-1710 series engine that powered the Airacobra proved to be a poor performer at high altitude. All in all, the Airacobra ended up not living up to expectations.
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