{"product_id":"bell-p-39-airacobra-pilots-flight-operating-instructions","title":"Bell P-39 Airacobra Pilot's Flight Operating Instructions","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe P-39 Airacobra was designed by BellÕs brilliant engineer, Robert Woods.  The plane featured a mid-engine design, intended to allow\u003cbr\u003e\nit to carry a lethal 37mm cannon in the nose. An all-metal, low-wing design, the P-39 was the first fighter to feature tricycle landing gear.  The plane debuted in 1939, and proved impressive in tests. Yet the aircraft lacked a large fuel capacity that limited range, and pilots\u003cbr\u003e\nlearned that its performance dropped off markedly at altitudes above 17,000 feet.  Despite this, over 9,500 P-39s were built.  Almost half were\u003cbr\u003e\nsent to the USSR, where Soviet pilots, flying low-level attack missions, achieved devastating results.  Ace Alexander Pokryshkin flew the plane\u003cbr\u003e\nexclusively and scored nearly 60 kills. Originally printed by the USAAF and the RAF, this handbook provides a fascinating glimpse inside the cockpit \u003cbr\u003e\nof this warbird.  Originally classified ÒRestrictedÓ, the manual was de-classified and is here reprinted in book form.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"United States Army Airforc and Royal Air Force","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":44923365392545,"sku":"9781935327240","price":37.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0462\/1120\/3233\/files\/1gpmzjq-front-shortedge-384_745216b6-b262-4c36-8bd5-bba1a94f0fbb.jpg?v=1747590596","url":"https:\/\/bookswholesale.myshopify.com\/products\/bell-p-39-airacobra-pilots-flight-operating-instructions","provider":"BooksWholesale","version":"1.0","type":"link"}