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Bell P-400 vs P-39 Instrument Panels - Differences????

Sun Feb 06, 2005 1:12 am

Can anyone help me with some ongoing research.
I have two different types of P-39 instrument panels, I believe one is for a P-400 and the other for a P-39D. Is there a difference? if so where can I find some reasonable reference material and images? I have been told that there could be as many as three different P-39 instrument panels?
can anyone confirm this for me?

I need pictures to make it totally clear for me!

Any assistance appreciated.

Digger

Sun Feb 06, 2005 4:30 pm

Hi Digger,

I've got the Airacobra I or P-400 manual at home. If you send me your email address, can give you scans of the instrument panel.

Laurent

p-39 /p-400

Sun Feb 06, 2005 5:02 pm

also try trade a plane magazine. they have 2 advertisers that specialize in flight manuals. they put their ads in the front section before the classifieds. also try historical archives usaf museum dayton ohio. anybody can have access with prior arrangements. good luck, tom

Mon Feb 07, 2005 11:10 am

To my knowledge the P-400 was to be the export verson and had extra ordiance under the wings. My Dads Squadron flew both in the Pacific, I don't think there were many changes to the insturment panel if any!!

Re: Bell P-400 vs P-39 Instrument Panels - Differences????

Fri Jul 08, 2011 5:07 pm

I have inst panels for the P-400, P-39D, P-39N, & P-39Q (x2). No two are the same, and none of them match the pictures in the British Airacobra 1/P-400 Air Publications (AP2064) or in the USAAF maintenance manual 01-110FB-2, so I too would be most intereste dto learn more of P-39-series panel layouts.

Mommut

Re: Bell P-400 vs P-39 Instrument Panels - Differences????

Fri Jul 08, 2011 11:11 pm

Hi Mommut

I have a couple of dash ones, so here are the panels for the K/L, N and Q for comparison (In order). Maybe someone else can help by posting up the 400 and D. They appear to very similar, if not the same. It's possible that variation arose from local modifications for whatever reason.

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

Re: Bell P-400 vs P-39 Instrument Panels - Differences????

Fri Jul 08, 2011 11:21 pm

If I remember right the 400 had a high pressure oxygen system and the 39's had a low pressure system. I remember reading the 67 PS had problems on the Canal because of this.

Scott

Re: Bell P-400 vs P-39 Instrument Panels - Differences????

Sat Jul 09, 2011 4:42 pm

Thank you. Most interesting. I won't be able to get at my inst panels or the Aircobra 1 Air Pub. until September, when I am back in NZ, but will take photos of them & post the scans at that time. Incidentally, each panel has a sequence number that should be usable to identify the aircraft it came from, like the numbers on P-40s.

Mommut

Re: Bell P-400 vs P-39 Instrument Panels - Differences????

Sun Jul 10, 2011 5:56 am

Howdy PR May

Thankyou for the interesting posting

Have sent PM to you

Lightning
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