about the P-39....why do they all go to static?

[Nathan]

Hi all,

Just a few thoughts I wanted to run by. The P-39 seems to be one of those warbirds that are in quantity. Ones that have been recovered from the Pacific and there seems to be a few pulled every year from Russia. But majority(most) of these have been restored to only static condition. And was wondering why, since the P-39 does survive in numbers, that there are not more flying? Is it because it got a bad rap during WWII? Or are there just not enough parts out there to get them flying?

I am really curious. The P-39 is a sexy plane and a favorite of mine.

Thanks,
Nathan

[RyanShort1]

Well, for starters, the ones currently flying need parts... right Mike? I think Mike needs some wheels ASAP in order to keep the bird flying. Also, I think there are a few special parts because of the engine configuration that you're not as likely to be able to just swap out.

Ryan

[Pat Carry]

How many are flying today and just where are they located at?

[Pat Carry]

I dont know if this has ever been mentioned on the WIX previously but the Ira G Ross Aerospace Museum in New York has a P-39 from Russia. www.wnyaerospace.org/collections/p-39.html

[Nathan]

There are two, AFAIN. Yanks says there's is flyable but as far as I know never seen pictures of it flying. Buffalo NY will soon have a third one on static display in that area.

[warbird1]

There are only 2 flying regularly right now - the CAF's example and Rod Lewis' newly acquired one from Stephen Grey. There are a few others that may be airworthy, but would probably require some work and are unlikely to ever fly again unless they change ownership. From what I've heard, P-39 parts are exceedingly rare and difficult to obtain. Steve Hinton has mentioned in interviews before that the restoration of Stephen Grey's P-39 at Chino was one of the most difficult restorations he has ever done, because they had to make and custom build an extensive collection of parts due to most not being available. I would guess that more aren't flying because owners/operators are unwilling to sink the amount of money required to them to get them flying. Because P-39's aren't exactly in demand (despite their rarity), the total worth of a newly restored flyable Airacobra probably would not equal the amount of the restoration costs involved.

[Pat Carry]

There are only 2 flying regularly right now - the CAF's example and Rod Lewis' newly acquired one from Stephen Grey. There are a few others that may be airworthy, but would probably require some work and are unlikely to ever fly again unless they change ownership. From what I've heard, P-39 parts are exceedingly rare and difficult to obtain. Steve Hinton has mentioned in interviews before that the restoration of Stephen Grey's P-39 at Chino was one of the most difficult restorations he has ever done, because they had to make and custom build an extensive collection of parts due to most not being available. I would guess that more aren't flying because owners/operators are unwilling to sink the amount of money required to them to get them flying. Because P-39's aren't exactly in demand (despite their rarity), the total worth of a newly restored flyable Airacobra probably would not equal the amount of the restoration costs involved.

Thanks for the info.

[Lightjug]

Rod Lewis' newly acquired one from Stephen Grey.

Brooklyn Bum 2nd? This one?

[warbird1]

Rod Lewis' newly acquired one from Stephen Grey.

Brooklyn Bum 2nd? This one?

Yes.

I also forgot to mention that there are several P-39's down under that are being restored to flying condition. I believe that Jerry Yagen's example should fly sometime this year. So, the East Coast of the U.S. will soon be graced with the Airacobra!

[bluehawk15]

Ryan is right, we REALLY need a set of wheels! We have been able to repair the wheel we have, so the CAF P-39 is in the air (and will be over Hondo, Texas, along with the B-25 "Yellow Rose" between 4pm and 5pm on Friday the 14th of May, 2010. On static display Saturday at Hondo.) once again.

Is the Yank's P-39 the one that once belonged to Ed Messick or Larry Irvine? At least that's who I think owned the one that once flew with the CAF, but was privately owned. Photos of it are around with a four-bladed prop, after Larry (I think it was) taxied into a fire bottle. Not his fault, as I hear it, someone not trained was parking him.

Anyway, as of right now, the only two flying P-39's in the world are within about 75 miles of each other IN TEXAS!!!!

Once we get the P-63F in the air, we are going to invite Rod Lewis to bring his P-39 up for a photo mission. Calling it the "Texas Cobra Flight", with the P-63F and the two P-39's, shooting the photo out of the Yellow Rose B-25. How about that?

[warbird1]

Is the Yank's P-39 the one that once belonged to Ed Messick or Larry Irvine? At least that's who I think owned the one that once flew with the CAF, but was privately owned. Photos of it are around with a four-bladed prop, after Larry (I think it was) taxied into a fire bottle. Not his fault, as I hear it, someone not trained was parking him.

No, Yanks' is one of the Tallichet recovered airframes from New Guinea in the 70's. I believe you are thinking of the Air Zoo's example up in Kalamazoo. It's the one that had the car run into it after crashing through the museum building.

Anyway, as of right now, the only two flying P-39's in the world are within about 75 miles of each other IN TEXAS!!!!

Once we get the P-63F in the air, we are going to invite Rod Lewis to bring his P-39 up for a photo mission. Calling it the "Texas Cobra Flight", with the P-63F and the two P-39's, shooting the photo out of the Yellow Rose B-25. How about that?

Awesome, I can hardly wait! Has Rod's P-39 flown yet since it was imported back here?

[Iclo]

From what I've heard, P-39 parts are exceedingly rare and difficult to obtain. Steve Hinton has mentioned in interviews before that the restoration of Stephen Grey's P-39 at Chino was one of the most difficult restorations he has ever done, because they had to make and custom build an extensive collection of parts due to most not being available.

I red exactly the same explanation coming from people in touch with Steve Hinton and Stephen Grey: the central engine is a pain to maintain with its long transmission.
According what I red too, the Fighter Collection lost a previous P-39 (or P-63 ? I just remember they owned the two type: one was lost due technical trouble, the other during an airshow, Brooklyn Bum is the third plane) in a crash, coming from an airshow in France after a failure in the transmissions.
The pilot stayed in its plane to the end, to avoid a city and died in the crash -:(

Last edited by Iclo on Wed May 12, 2010 3:29 am, edited 1 time in total.

[bdk]

No, the pilot spun in doing acro at an airshow.

[Iclo]

No, the pilot spun in doing acro at an airshow.

I just checked:
Yes, the Airacobra was lost at Biggin Hill airshow, but the King Cobra was lost during a ferry flight coming from the airshow of La Ferté-Alais in France.
The pilot was John Larcombe.

[warbird1]

Iclo is correct. TFC has actually had 2 P-63's in their inventory. The one Iclo is talking about is this one which happened in 1990, long before the infamous Biggin Hill crash.

http://www.linton.info/lintonnews/0707.pdf