Pima's P-39 Finished

[jamesintucson]

After about 3 years of work we have finished the restoration of our Bell P-39N and have placed the plane on display.


Bell P-39N Airacobra by planecurator, on Flickr


Bell P-39N Airacobra by planecurator, on Flickr

Markings are for the 110th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Tadji, New Guinea in early 1944. We're still working on acquiring exhaust stacks for the right side although the left side's are installed.

James

[The Inspector]

Now that's one fine lookin' thirty nine nice work!

[DH82EH]

Yeah, looks good James. Congratulations to the team.

Will she be kept indoors?

Andy Scott

[hang the expense]

Wow, those guys work fast. I was just through there two days ago on the mad dash across the US.They have some very interesting projects coming up and it is really good stuff.

[Dan Jones]

Great work!!

[Pat Carry]

Very nice! James, how many people do you have restoring planes?

[Thomas_Mac]

That P-39 looks fantastic! Any insight on the exhaust stacks? Looks unique to most fighters with a V-12, always looking to learn more!

[jamesintucson]

Very nice! James, how many people do you have restoring planes?

Pat,

We have five paid staff and depending on the time of year somewhere around 15 to 20 volunteers in the Restoration department.

That P-39 looks fantastic! Any insight on the exhaust stacks? Looks unique to most fighters with a V-12, always looking to learn more!

Thomas,

There isn't anything particularly special about the P-39's stacks as far as I know. There were two different kinds used a round style and a more fish tailed type. I don't know if one had any real advantage over the other. I do know that for some reason the ones for the right hand side are harder to find than the lefts.

James

[daviemax]

Congratulations, beautiful job. I presume static only. What would it take to make her fly?

[Ken]

James, if you are able, please post a photo of the condition the airplane was in when it was retrieved from the jungle so everyone understands the immensity of even getting her to static standards ... you guys deserve a huge pat on the back for bringing this airplane back from the dead. Hear, hear!

Ken

[bilwor]

Below are photos of 2 P-39 Fuselages at Pima Air & Space Museum in 2004-2005. I don't know which one was the basis of the restored P-39. Maybe James can id the fuselage used. The photographs show the extent of the excellent restoration done by PASM. I also congratulate them on quality of the finished product.
bill word

Bell P-39 Fuselage B12 2004



Bell P-39 Fuselage B13 2004-2005

[jamesintucson]

Bill's photos show how these planes looked when they were pulled out of the jungle in the 70s. Neither of the ones he showed were the one we started with though. This one actually had quite a bit of very good work done on it a MAPS before it came here. So that gave us a head start. Since we used probably 75% original parts in it, few of which could probably be trusted in a flyer, it would take a very large amount of work to put it in the air. I'm afraid the only way it would ever fly is if you've got a really big slingshot.

James

[bilwor]

Thanks James for clarifying this. I will correct my records accordingly

bill word

[flightsimer]

What is the original serial number? Curious if this was our previous P-39 as I know we have lost other aircraft from MARC that went to MAPS.

[flightsimer]

Bill's photos show how these planes looked when they were pulled out of the jungle in the 70s. Neither of the ones he showed were the one we started with though. This one actually had quite a bit of very good work done on it a MAPS before it came here. So that gave us a head start. Since we used probably 75% original parts in it, few of which could probably be trusted in a flyer, it would take a very large amount of work to put it in the air. I'm afraid the only way it would ever fly is if you've got a really big slingshot.

James

Well, I found my answer at the pima site, it was indeed our P-39.

The aircraft was being restored to flight by Air Heritage Inc. until it was pulled out in 2007, I believe. So a lot of that work was done by us. You can see it here in 2002.

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/p39-p63r ... 18814.html

It looks great though. Always wondered where it ended up.