The Bell YFM-1 Airacuda was a fighter jet developed by the Bell Aircraft Corp. in the mid of 1930.Fue the first military aircraft produced by Bell.Originalmente called "Bell Model 1", first he flew on 1 September 1937. The Airacuda was characterized by a bold design and the significant flaws that could not be resolved and that eventually made it to this strange land plane.
The Airacuda was the response of the Bell Aircraft to design and build a "destroyer of bombers" artillado.A strongly despite being produced in a limited way, and that a fully operational squadron was formed finally only a prototype was built and 12 units Serial in three slightly different versions.
It was created with a unique concept and promoted as "a mobile antiaircraft platform" .Pensado to intercept enemy bombers at distances beyond the reach of conventional fighter interceptors, the YFM-1 (Y, experimental, F, combat, M, multiplaza) was an innovative design that incorporated many features never seen before in a military aircraft, as well as several that have never seen después.-
M4 37mm cannon artillery model with a front compartment of each of the two shelves of motores.Aunque could point the guns, moved the Gunners main goal was simply load them with the ammunition stored in each gondola.
The provision was five crew including the pilot, co-pilot / navigator and gunners; plus a fire control officer who used a Sperry system which was originally developed for anti-aircraft guns, combined with a gyro-stabilized optical sight to aim the weapons. In addition he was armed with a pair of machine guns located in bubbles in the middle of the fuselage for defense against an attack from the rear.
But Airacuda was heavy and was slower than many of the bombers of its time and it was not maneuverable enough for air combat.
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