Warbird Information Exchange

The 2 aircraft that Bell used as chase have been converted back to single seat. The sister ship to 43-11734 is at thAF Museum as a Pin Ball model. And 42-11734 is also a single seat now.

How would have that second cockpit affected the CG? I imagine they had to put some additional weight in the nose?

WB51:

Good day!

Tks for the info & data on 43-11734! Included is a pic of "NX41964" somewhere N.Y c. June, 1946 during a poss Airshow. The aft cabin seems to have some type of instruments & appears to be a clam-shell type canopy. No idea where the air scoop was moved. 43-11734 was at one time of the priced collections of Mr. Dan Chvatal of MN c. 1970s. Pic via Flypast Forum.



SMan: I'm sure the modification/conversion took into consideration the C.G factor.

p.s What is the current status of this bird? Do you have any idea if P-63E 43-11728 arrived/was delivered at the AF Museum as a dual canopy??

43-11734 was up for sale by Courtesy a year or so back for $650k as a part-restored project.

https://www.courtesyaircraft.com/Curren ... roject.htm

The last time I saw it, about 18 months ago, it was in storage at an airport in Northern California.

P-63 Folks:

Bell P-63E AAF 43-11734 in better times. Poss N.Y area c 1947-48. Photo via AEC.

As far as the CG, it looks like the normal distance from spinner tip to the cockpit has been shortened, and the rear fuselage extended, and the weight on either side of the cg would eliminate the need for any weight up front, that's my guess. cool photo

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"According to the map, we've only gone 4 inches."

P-63 Folks:

The dual cabin Bell 43-11734 while in storage at Jordan, MN c. 1970s. Photo Ed Furler.

The fuselage was of stock length. The oil tank was relocated from aft of the engine to the nose for balance.

Kinda wish they had restored it back to its two seat configuration - It's not as if we didn't have any single seat P-63's out there.

Just two at the moment (assuming John Bagley is still flying his, I've not seen photos of it for a few years now)

Any info on the F-6D? 44-13131 drops into a hole on Baugher; 13130 and many before it went to the RAAF; the next one after it, 13138, was another F-6D. What's behind the pilot?

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

That would make the aircraft severely tail-heavy. You'd want to extend the nose and shorten the tail (though apparently they took care of the CG probem by relocating the oil tank, according to one post above).

P-63 Folks:

Good day!

Another P-51 ( F6D) poss the same airshow in N.Y c. June 1946. AAF 44-84955. 3PD letters shown at the L/front side of nose.

According to the X-1 program folks, there were 2 high-speed chase camera P-51s (F6Ds) and 2 slow chase P-63s. Later on Bob Hoover joined in with a Lockheed P-80. You may see 'em in the background of the X-1 files & books. Photo via AEC.