University of Utah RP-63 Kingcobra

[L. Thompson]

Just browsed at a local store the January 2011 AIR & SPACE Smithsonian magazine where in the Letters section Joe Hudder of Westfield, MA writes in telling about the humorous 1950's unveiling of a polka-dot RP-63 the Air Force ROTC department at the University of Utah displayed upon a "granite and concrete pedestal".

I first read about this one in Frederick A. Johnsen's 2nd issue November 1987 WARBIRDS column in the Western FLYER newspaper page 23. A scan of that article below...





In Johnsen's later published book, Bell P-39 / P-63 Airacobra & Kingcobra - Warbird Tech Vol. 17, on page 90 he theorizes that the RP-63 displayed on a concrete pedestal at the Fresno, California Air Terminal in the 60's may have been the same airframe. He says there that researcher Milo Peltzer noted that about the same time the Salt Lake City Pinball Cobra disappeared the Fresno Kingcobra was put on display. That RP-63C, (usually identified as being used in the confusing timeline conglomerate rebuild of 43-11117 by Yankee Air Corps, Chino, "using parts and assuming ID of 44-4181/N9009") is now with Kermit Weeks/Fantasy Of Flight Museum and airworthy as N91448.

Does anyone that was hands-on with the Fresno or Utah Kingcobra have any conclusive proof that they were the same airframe?

Any old photos of the ship while in Utah on display?

Also, does anyone have a photo of the composite 43-11117/etc. when it was displayed at Malstrom AFB, Montana 1989-92? I don't recall ever seeing a published photo of it in Montana.

[P51Mstg]

I wouldn't use the term "airworthy" when refering to Kermit's P-63. Its in one piece and my Honda Accord is closer to flying than it is........

Mark H

[wendovertom]

Humm. . . I know a few people I can ask about this one. My guess is that it became the Fresno plane. I graduated from the U of U and say I have never seen anything but helicopters anywhere near the campus. The Fort Douglas Museum has really grown in the past 10 years but this is waaaay before the Cobra's time.

Tom P.

[ZRX61]

I wouldn't use the term "airworthy" when refering to Kermit's P-63. Its in one piece and my Honda Accord is closer to flying than it is........

Mark H

genuine LOL moment

[L. Thompson]

When Kermit had the Kingcobra (Russian markings "100" on fuselage and tail number "29004") at Sun N' Fun - I can't remember how many years back-was it trucked over there from FoF?

Now I guess I understand why he just chuckled when I asked him at a book-signing table at Reno in 2009, to maybe bring it to the races and at least get it in the Bronze race for us old time Cobra racing fans.

[T J Johansen]

Also, does anyone have a photo of the composite 43-11117/etc. when it was displayed at Malstrom AFB, Montana 1989-92? I don't recall ever seeing a published photo of it in Montana.

Was it ever even displayed..? I was in touch with the Malmstrom people back in 2005, and this is the info I got in a couple of e-mail exchanges.

Mr. Johansen,

Where did you get your information on 43-11117? Infact, we did have 43-11117 here but it was returned to the Air Force Museum at Dayton , Ohio , in 1999. Actually what we had was the remains of two crashed P-63s one of which was supposed to be 43-11117.



Be wary of displayed aircraft serial numbers in museums and air parks. Many have tail numbers that relate to an aircraft that may have been stationed at that location or flown by someone from that area. The Museum regulations allow that as long as the proper A/C serial number is displayed in small digits under the elevator pivot area and signage reflects that actual tail number.

I checked http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/1943_2.html and found the following:



43-10933/11132
Bell RP-63C-2-BE Kingcobra "flying target" version 11117 noted 1997 on display at Fantasy of
Flight
Museum ,
Polk City ,
FL as N91448



So, this is interesting since I didn’t send 43-11117 back to Dayton until 1999, and this was noted in 1997. You may want to contact the other museums direct to see if their display tail number is the correct one.

Looks like Baugher made an error on the date here. But then again the Warbird Directory says Weeks had the 63 from as early as March 24, 1994. If the photo in the WIX registry is correctly dated that might not be 100% accurate though, unless Weeks didn't pick it up until May/ June!

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/p39-p63r ... 44181.html

Mr. Johansen,

Thank you for the information. I’ll attach it to the record file I have on 43-11117. I believe you are correct that what we had was from the photo you sent. I have included a photo of the rudder we had prior to shipment to Dayton.



Most military aircraft on display belong to the USAF Museum and are on loan to the various organizations and museums. What we are calling 43-11117 was nothing more than a pile of aluminum pieces all lumped in one spot. The supporting organization for our Museum had planned to restore the aircraft but did not have the funds or manpower required so the pile of parts (visible behind the rudder) sat for around 10 and started to collect other refuse. In 1999, the USAF Museum was looking for parts for another museum to complete a P-39/63 restoration. I had the parts, the Wing Commander wanted the pile gone, and back to Dayton they went. Did not think it was fair to retain the parts based on “someday” being able to restore it. I have asked Dayton , now they are called the National Museum of the Air Force, where 43-11117 is now. When I get a response I’ll forward it on to you.

The photo of the rudder he sent corresponds to the colors on the 63 located at Fresno in the 60s. The question of course is what did Nichols get. What did Anklin have? And was the Fresno 63 actually 43-11117?

T J