P-39D Turbo Airacobra "What If" 2024-10-16

[Allen]

Allen submitted a new resource:

P-39D Turbo Airacobra - P-39D Turbo Airacobra

A attempt to put the turbo charger back on the Airacobra doing minimal changes as possible. Powered by a 1,150HP V-1710-27 as the 1,325HP V-1710-49 wouldn't be available tell Feb 1942. Armament is configured the same as the P-400/P-39D-1 with 4 .30 cals 2 .50 cals and 1 20mm cannon.

Come with most of the bells and whistles like animated parts and breaking parts. Model is Multi LOD use damage texture logics as well. Comes with 3 textures (pre war olive drab, P-400 camo style and a white...

Read more about this resource...

 

[normb]

Allen
Thank you for this "What If" version. Now we can at least guess how it might have been!

Thanks Again
normb

 

[UncleTgt]

An interesting exercise Allen.

I think a few of the P-400 pilots defending Henderson & Port Moresby would've loved to have something like this to take the fight to the enemy...

 

[stuart277]

Hi Allen
Interesting project.
Great effort with the research and details.

Can't have enough p39's
Cheers
Stuart

 

[Allen]

It was interesting to put a hexagonal peg into round hole for sure.

Also I do think removing the turbo did save the P-39 as I think if the turbo had been kept the P-39 would have not been seen as viable combat aircraft as the in left wing radiator would be taking up much needed fuel space as from what I can tell the XP-39 has 90 gals of fuel. Self-sealing and fuel tank armor caused to P-39C to lose 30-ish% of fuel when it became the P-39D.

If the XP-39 lost the same 30-ish% of fuel that the P-39C to P-39D did because of self-sealing and fuel tank armor the XP-39 would only have 64 gals of fuel.

 

[skylane]

And the P-39 didn't really have great range to begin with...
A very interesting What If plane. Thanks!