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American Combat Planes of the 20th Century is an incredible reference for anyone who is interested in any American Combat Plane History.   There are 758 pages and 1700 b/w photos in this substantial labor of love by Ray Wagner, who has been passionately researching and writing about aircraft for over 50 years.   Whether you are already familiar with his past works, or just discovering this accomplished author for the first time... This is the book that you've been waiting for!

If you'd like to see the book's   Table of Contents ... Click here.   You can also browse the entire   Index Section   to get an idea of the extensive amount of information that is covered within this book.

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A- 1 Eaton     A- 4 Skyhawk     A- 6 & A- 7     Air Weapons     AV- 8 to A- 10     A- 20 Havoc     A- 22 Martin Maryland     A- 23 Martin Baltimore     A- 24 Douglas     A- 26 Douglas Invader     Attack Planes     B- 2A, F-111, F-117 Stealth    B- 17 Flying Fortress     B- 24 Liberator     B- 25 North American     B- 26 Marauder     B- 29 Superfortress     B- 32 Dominator     B- 35 Flying Wing     B- 36     B- 47 Stratojet     B- 50 Boeing     B- 52 Stratofortress     B- 57 Canberra     B- 58 Hustler     Biplanes     Biplanes, Army Pursuits     Bombers, B- 70 to Stealth     Bombers, First Big     Curtiss Falcon     CO- 1     DH- 4 De Havilland     F3D- Douglas Skyknight    F3H- McDonnell Demon    F4D- 1 Skyray    F4F Grumman Wildcats    F- 4U Corsair    F6F Grumman    F7F Grumman    F7U Vought    F9F G. Cougar    F9F G. Panther    F- 16 Fighting Falcon    F- 84     F- 86 Sabre    F- 89 to F-94    F- 100 to F-108    First Fighters    Flying Boats    GAX    Iraq to Afghanistan    Martin Bombers    Missile Era Fighters    Navy Fighers    Navy Flying Boats    O- 2 Douglas     P- 35 Seversky     P- 36 to 42 Curtiss     P- 38 Lightning    P- 39 Airacobra    P- 40 Line    P- 47 Thunderbolt    P- 51 Mustang Fighter    P- 61 Black Widow    P- 63 Kingcobra    P- 79 to P-81    P- 82 Twin Mustang    SB2C Helldiver    TBF-TBM Avenger    Thomas-Morse    Torpedo Planes    V- 11 Vultee    XB -28    XP -48 / 77   

Bell P-63 Kingcobra


Page 2

Other P-63 Models
BELL P-63D
But the most unique versions were those built as manned aerial targets. Beginning with the first RP-63A-11 flown on September 1, 1944, combat equipment was removed, and a 1,488-pound extra-thick skin applied to shatter frangible dummy bullets fired by student gunners. A red nose light blinked like a pinball machine when hits were felt. One hundred RP-63A and 200 RP-63C target planes were built during the war to train bomber gunners, followed by 32 RP-63Gs after the war.

Efforts to improve the Kingcobra began with an XP-63B proposal to use the Packard V-1650-5 offering 1,300 hp at 24,000 feet, but when efforts to perfect the extension shaft and gears faltered, an Allison V-1710-109 was chosen for the single P-63D, or Bell Model 37. Featuring a bubble canopy and modified wing tips, the P-63D was followed in May 1945 by 13 P-63Es (Model 41) with the standard cockpit doors. Contracts for 2,930 more were canceled by the war’s end. A tall tail and the 1,500-hp

After the war, P-63As were reworked for numerous tests, including those of a V-shaped “butterfly” tail, swept-back wings, and a second cockpit for instrument training. A P-63E became an XP-63H when testing a V-1710-127 engine. Five P-39Es found their way to Honduras in 1948.

BELL P-63E


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