Bell P-63A-7 King Cobra

It soon became clear a larger and more powerful aircraft was needed for a close support fighter bomber. Experimental XP-63’s used the P-39 fuselage and added aerodynamic improvements.

The P-63 King Cobra was produced and supplied in great numbers to the USSR and France. Outperformed at high altitude by the P-51 Mustang and P-47 Thunderbolt, the P-63 King Cobra was relegated to training duty by the AAF.

Over 300 P-63s were used by the AAF as manned targets. All armament was removed and duralumin alloy was added to the fuselage and tail for protection. Bulletproof glass, steel plate and a special hollow blade prop allowed the plane to withstand impact from the training programs infrangible bullets.

The P-63 seen here “Fatal Fang” was acquired from the Bob Bean Collection in 1978 and restored.