P-59 Airacomet

RE: P-59 Airacomet

Still trying to sort out this scanner file/image size problem, but here goes.
The P-59B as preserved at Edwards AFB, taken on 22/10/93, I guess its still there. The aircraft is not with the museum but preserved on a pole out a rather grand admin building some way inside the base.

Regards Doughnut.
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RE: P-59 Airacomet

Seems like there was quite a bit of plagiarism going on in the US aircraft industry around about that time, and in some ways it’s good to see those nice chaps at Bell on the receiving end.

Take a look at the picturein this link…

http://www.miles-aircraft.com/Projects_m52_supersonic_project.html

It’s the Miles M52, which was designed by Miles Aircraft in 1942, to test the theory of supersonic flight. The US government took a great deal of interest in the project, and toward the end of the war, a technology-sharing agreement was struck whereby engineers from both Miles and Bell (who were also working on early jets) would trade technology and information.

The US engineers did indeed visit Miles, however, when the Miles engineers were due to visit Bell, for some reason the US blocked the move and cancelled the agreement. Eventually, the Miles project was cancelled.

As we all now know, in 1947 the Bell X1 broke the sound barrier, and propelled the United States into pole position in the post-war technology and arms race. The rest is history.

But doesn’t the M52 look similar to the X1? Funny, that…

RE: P-59 Airacomet

I think it is neat that the P-59 will be put into the air again after all these years. The aircraft itself may not have seem combat, but the scientific value it provided was enormous and got the U.S. jet industry on the boards starting with the F-80.

Did you guys know that Bell proposed a radically redesigned P-59 that had a single engine fed by two cheek mounted in takes, straight wings, and a tail with a low to mid-mounted horizontal stabilizer……look familiar when you picture that in your head? These plans were later sent to Lockheed where they formed the basis of none other than the P-80. 🙂 Interesting stuff huh?

RE: P-59 Airacomet

Roger, I can see your point on this. However, I think the PoF have a pretty phenomenal safety record considering the type of hardware they operate. As far as I can remember, the only airplane they have destroyed in many years is the Super Corsair racer. I doubt the P-59 will be pushed quite so hard as that! The only other airplane I can recall them doing substantial damage to was the O-46 back in the early eighties. As for the ME-262, I will very surprised if the decision is made to fly that airplane. Even Mr. Allen must have some common sense. Not to mention some sense of historical value.

RE: P-59 Airacomet

The fact that they are bringing back to the air the sole surviving dual seater is a disturbing thought to me. I have no doubt that , given the unrelieable character of the first generation jets, it will crash (one day) and than another “last one” is gone. In my opinion, flying with sole survivors should be forbidden. I think it is also insane that the former Chino ME-262 will be put back in the air. It can never fly with its original engines, so it must be modified, and then it is not an original airframe anymore. Instead of destroying an original piece it is much wiser and safer to buy and operate one of the “new” ones.