Data Quality88%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the air superiority fighters category.
01 / Overview
Bell P-39 Airacobra
Category
Country
Prime contractor
Production
1941–1944
Quantity
9,588
Operators
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
AIR SUPERIORITY FIGHTERS · WORLD WAR II
53
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
80
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the air superiority fighters category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General6MOD.6
- First Flight1938
- Service Entry Year1941
- Crew1
- Primary RoleFighter/ground‑attack
- GenerationSecond
- In ServiceNo
◈Powerplant6MOD.6
- Engine TypeLiquid‑cooled V‑12
- Engine ModelAllison V-1710
- Number of Engines1
- AfterburnerNo
- SupercruiseNo
- Thrust VectoringNo
▣Performance9MOD.9
- Top Speed625.979 km/h
- Top Speed (Mach)0.8 Mach
- Stall Speed152.874 km/h
- Service Ceiling10,668 m
- Ferry Range1,200 km
- Combat Radius500 km
- Rate of Climb19.329 m/s
- G-Limit7
- Takeoff Run500 m
◇Dimensions & Weights7MOD.7
- Length9.78 m
- Wingspan10.36 m
- Height3.81 m
- Wing Area19.788
- Empty Weight3,400 kg
- Loaded Weight3,433.752 kg
- Max Takeoff Weight3,810.24 kg
◆Armament8MOD.8
- Hardpoints2
- Weapons Payload500 kg
- Internal Gun; :* 1 × 37 mm M4 cannon firing through the propeller hub (compare engine gun) :* 2 × .50 caliber synchronized Browning
- Internal Weapons BayNo
- Air-to-Air MissilesYes
- Air-to-Ground MissilesNo
- Anti-Ship MissilesNo
- Nuclear CapableNo
▤Avionics & Stealth8MOD.8
- RadarNone (no radar)
- AESA RadarNo
- Stealth / Low ObservableNo
- IRSTNo
- Electronic Warfare SuiteNo
- Helmet-Mounted SightNo
- Tactical DatalinkNo
- Targeting PodNo
⬢Production3MOD.3
- Total Built9,588
- Operators7
- Variants76
▲Service History4MOD.4
- Retirement Year1945
- Production Start1940
- Production End1944
- Operational StatusRetired
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 1939First deployment: World War II
- 1941Production started
- 1944Production ended
85
years in service
3
years in production
9,588
units produced
6
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it. 2 countries retired it.
05 / MASS Score
AIR SUPERIORITY FIGHTERS RANKING Air Superiority Fighters · World War II
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
198AIR SUPERIORITY FIGHTERS53WORLD WAR II · AIR SUPERIORITY FIGHTERS2057UNITED STATES · ALL WEAPONS195PERFORMANCE/PRICE · AIR SUPERIORITY FIGHTERS
ⓘ Rankings are within theAir Superiority Fighterscategory.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE1terms
Air-to-air missiles are guided missiles fired from aircraft to engage other aircraft. They are used for self-defense and to gain air superiority.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources