Bell Airacobra/Kingcobra (P-39/P-63)

Recently read an online article about the Airacobra and that it was unloved by the USAAC due to its very poor performance at medium to high altitudes. As it was designed as an interceptor this seemed to be valid. The RAF had a similar opinion, again due to its intended role, and the result was all the aircraft were shipped to Russia.

It seems the Russians loved it, once they had solved or mastered it flying characteristics. It seems the Russian front was fought at low level where both sides were almost entirely using air power as ground support . The article went on to say that the Airacobra has the highest kill scores of any American fighter, just not in American hands.

It did strike me as a similar story to the P-51 in its earlier, Alison engine form which was a poor high altitude performer but excellent at low altitude. The difference was the P-51 succeeded, probably more to due to its speed and range rather than its lack of high altitude performance. Makes you wonder if US inline engine fighters were allowed superchargers would they have been developed like the P-51 and the Spitfire?