P-39 Airacobra - One Of The Rarest WW2 Warbirds

For over 20 years, Pioneer Aero Limited, based at Armore Aerodrome in Auckland, have been one of New Zealand's (and the world's), foremost restorers of Second World War aircraft.

In this video Paul McSweeny, the director of the company, discusses the Bell P-39 Airacobra restoration that Pioneer is on the verge of completing for Jerry Yagen's Warbirds Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach USA . Once this aircraft flies it will be the third airworthy P-39 in the world, making it one of the more rare WW2 fighter aircraft types.

Paul also discusses some of the other restoration projects the company has underway at the moment, including another couple of P-40 Warhawks/Kittyhawks. These projects mean that Pioneer Aero will soon be responsible for restoring almost a third of the worlds population of 32-33 airworthy P-40 fighters -- a remarkable feat in itself.

In addition to the P-40's, Paul briefly talks about the de Havilland DH.103 Sea Hornet and Vought Kingfisher projects that the company is also soon to embark on.

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#aviationfilm #p39 #ww2warbirds #HAFU #airacobra

[bobkent]

My father flew the P-39 on Guadalcanal and other islands during the Solomon's Campaign. Some pilots called it a "flying coffin, " but my father loved the P-39. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross after shooting down 3 Japanese planes and assisting in downing a fourth. My father also enjoyed his R&R time in New Zealand. I still have his New Zealand driver's license, issued when he was in Auckland.

[ramimariewilson]

"Ace in a day" and famed Test Pilot, The first man to break the sound barrier and live, General Chuck Yeager loved the P-39;)

[lescobrandon]

We sent a lot of P-39s to the Soviet Union and they loved it. To me, it was one of the most beautiful planes ever made.

[phlodel]

The trait of the P-39 that scared pilots was the tumble. Many said it was unrecoverable. Bob Hoover toured the combat arenas where the P-39 was deployed. He demonstrated tumble recovery and taught pilots how. He said "If you get into trouble, put it into a tumble. No aircraft in the world can follow that."

[skswig]

the idea that the P 39 was hated by Allied pilots is a myth started by the WW11 aviation magazines in the 70's. Chuck Yeager loved it. Most did when it was used in role it intended. It was never meant as an high altitude air superiority fighter.

[Lex]

What an excellent restoration! That plane looks like it rolled off the assembly line at Buffalo just yesterday. Restoring these aircraft is of huge importance. It's preserving history, and WWII and the lessons learned should never be forgotten.

[brianseward]

My grandpa was a mechanic on P-39's in North Africa during the war. Wish he was still around to see this video- he'd love it!

[williamkrusejr]

My father worked at Bell Aircraft in Buffalo NY from 1939 to 1943 making the fuselage of P-39's, he joined the Navy and served on the Wasp CV-18 till the end of
WW-2. He did tell me that Larry Bell would walk around and talk to the workers, and was friendly. Dad passed in 1995 he was 75, he was an Iowa farm boy.

[johnashley-smith]

Thanks for this video! Always loved this much-maligned machine in spite of all the negative press it has received. This and the P-40 always get negative press. They were what was on hand and had to be used until the newer, more advanced machines were available and deserve way more respect than they are given in my opinion. Thanks again!

[nickbreen]

That looks 'factory fresh'. Excellent work guys.

[cyiabsalon]

Your work in restoring these beauties, is historic in of it's self. The true craftsmanship you all perform is evidently apparent in the detail.
Thank you for giving a damn.

[wrightflyer]

Chuck Yeager said the P-39 was the best handling aircraft he'd ever flown. Not a high altitude performer of course, but it served its purpose well on the Eastern Front. And contrary to popular belief it was not primarily used as a tank buster, but rather a general purpose ground attack aircraft and was very successful. A family friend of ours was an aeronautical engineer at Bell and gave me a tour of the Buffalo plant in the early 1960s--mostly helicopters then, but he really knew Bell history. The P-39 in this video is superb!

[RaduB.]

I don't know what others think but I find the P-39 simply beautiful.
And this seems to be a great restoration!
Well done and good luck further!

[murraykriner]

One of the first pursuit planes I ever built as a youth. Learned a heap about her inception, design, those who flew her, and loved her best. So unconventional in construction that early models had fits with the engine gearing and the prop pitch adjusters. Honey a bird to fly, but wouldn't accommodate a hefty framed pilot for the world. You had to straddle the driveshaft, and still fit in its narrow cockpit. The pilot had great visibility, but not much armor protection, afforded only 1" plate to protect his back. The cannon didn't like high-G maneuvers while firing, and would commonly jam when overheated from long burst. Adore the bird, and Yeagers' 1st "Glamorous Glennis", was a P-39, Airacobra, a plane he checked out on, and almost lost his wings flying, so he stated. Great presentation. Fabulous restoration. You fella's do the job perfectly. Wish I had some variable pitch prop blades to give you for its finish.

[jnpowell]

Congratulations to Pioneer Aero, fantastic restoration.

[victorvodkafish]

Excellent and interesting interview about a very interesting aircraft. The Kingfishers were a surprise.

[smokeybear]

The engine in the middle works like a mid engine sport's car. It makes it more maneuverable because of the cg location..It also makes it more touchy right at the edge of a turn but it turns better because of this.

[davidvaughn]

What an absolutely beautiful machine! I'm sure it was lethal for the role it was designed for. The epitome in 1940's style and a real work of industrial art! Thanks for the vid.

[ADRAPER]

My father served in the RAAF during WW2, he told me once that he saw a yank fly
an Airacobra under the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1944.

[markkover]

I am privileged to be a docent at the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach VA where this aircraft resides. She is a remarkable representative of American aircraft design and engineering and an important contributor to Allied victory in the war. Pioneer did an AMAZING job with this fighter. We cannot thank their craftsmen enough. BRAVO