Bell XP-39 Airacobra: The Army's XP-39 Airacobra in flight over Langley Field, 1943. The pilot of the cobra sat on the front end of the gearbox with the engine behind him and the propeller shaft passing underneath his legs. The P-39 was one of the first military airplanes with tricycle landing gear.

Bell XP-39 Airacobra

Bell P-39D Airacobra: After initially seeing duty in the Pacific and European theaters of operation, P-39s were supplanted, then replaced by the P-38, P-47 and P-51. Many of the Bell Fighters made their way to the Soviet Union, while others, like this P-39D, were used in the Unites States. This Airacobra was flown by the NACA in early 1943. Note the engine located in the middle of the fuselage, and the cannon in the propeller spinner.

Bell P-39D Airacobra

Bell P-63A Kingcobra: The Bell P-63A Kingcobra did not gain much appreciation in American hands, but when operated by Soviet pilots on the Eastern Front against Axis forces, it was highly praised. This example was flown at Langley by the NACA in the latter months of 1943.