The Flying Brick That Changed Aviation Forever

The Bell P-59 Airacomet was developed as a secret project during WWII and was the United States’ first-ever jet fighter bringing a new era of aerial combat and aeronautical innovation.

The Airacomet

The P-59 stood 12 feet 4 inches and measured approximately 38 ft. 2 inches in length. To give enough lift for its heavy jet engines, it had large wings with a wingspan of 45 ft. 6 inches and a total wing area of 386 square feet.

It featured an oval-shaped cross-section and an all-metal stressed skin semi-monocoque fuselage to maximize strength and durability while minimizing weight. It also has a single, pressurized cockpit providing the pilot with essential protection and comfort during high altitudes.

Issues

During testing, it was found that older planes outperformed the P-59. There were also other issues during dive tests. One YP-59A had to make a belly landing while the other crashed when its entire tail assembly broke off.

The USAAF ultimately concluded that the P-59 would be more ideal for training pilots to handle jet-engine aircraft. The USAAF ultimately picked the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star as its inaugural operational jet fighter.

Still a Massive Milestone in History

By 1950, the USAAF and the Navy phased out the Bell P-59 as a training aircraft, marking the end of its service career. Most planes were scrapped, but it’s believed that six P-59s remain today.

While not a major success in itself, the aircraft represented a massive milestone in the story of aeronautical design in the US, giving pilots valuable experience in operating jet aircraft and more advanced models.