Bell P-63 Kingcobra

two-seater was produced by the Bell company for internal use. Two P-63E-1s were modified by Bell with a separate observer seat in the rear fuselage, located behind the engine and mounted under a separate canopy. A probe was mounted which extended through the spinner, and to make space for the observer the radio equipment had to be moved forward into the armament bay. The aircraft carried the civilian registrations NX41963 and NX41964.

Neat!

Very nice John, never seen that one before

The next Navy research aircraft program resulted in two Bell P-63s modified with swept wings in early 1946. These were designated L-39-1 and L-39-2, with L being the Navy's letter for Bell and 39 in this case being the Bell design number for the proposal. (Design numbers were assigned by Bell engineering independently of model numbers, which were assigned by management). As it happened, Bell never assigned a model number to the Navy's L-39. However, at least one of Bell's L-39 flight test reports began with 33, which was the model number of the early P-63s.

Bell P-63D https://www.facebook.com/Model with many improvements model compared to the to previous models. It was equipped with a sliding "water teardrop" or "bubble" canopy as on the P-51D Mustang, increased wingspan (11.94 m), and a new engine Allison V-1710-109, developing 1425 hp. The gain in top speed was 50 km/h compared to the to the P-63A. The North American P-51D Mustang was already in mass production and remained higher than the Kingcobra, the P-63D thus remained at the prototype stage (the latter made its first flight in early 1945).
The P-63D was the next progressive development of the Kingcobra series. It featured an Allison V-1710-109 (E22) engine rated at 1425 hp for take off. The wing (later adopted for the P-63E) had a ten-inch increase in span to 39 feet 2 inches, gross area being increased to 255 square feet. The P-63D also differed from the late production blocks of the P-63C in not having the rear ventral fin extension. However, the most noticeable new feature of the P-63D was the use of a rearward-sliding bubble canopy in place of the familiar framed canopy with the two car-like side doors. The air scoop was revised and moved aft. The basic armament of the P-63D was essentially the same as that of earlier Kingcobras, but the cannon in the P-63D was the M9E1 with 48 rounds.
The first P-63D (serial number 43-11718) flew early in 1945. The P-63D was the "hottest" Cobra yet to appear, with a maximum speed of 437 mph at 30,000 feet. Although the P-63D had a good performance, it was no better than the North American P-51D Mustang which was already in service. Consequently, no thought was given to any production, and only one P-63D was built. The sole P-63D was lost in a flight test accident, killing Bell test pilot Robert Borcherdt.
Specification of Bell P-63D Kingcobra:
Powerplant: One Allison V-1710-109 (E22) liquid-cooled engine rated at 1425 hp for take off. Performance: Maximum speed was 437 mph at 30,000 feet, service ceiling was 39,000 feet, and an altitude of 28,000 feet could be reached in 11.2 minutes. Normal range was 950 miles, and maximum ferry range was 2000 miles. Dimensions: wingspan 39 feet 2 inches, length 32 feet 8 inches, height 11 feet 2 inches, and wing area 255 square feet. Weights: 7076 pounds empty, 8740 pounds gross, and 11,100 pounds maximum loaded. Armament: One 37-mm M9E1 cannon in the propeller hub with 48 rounds, a pair of 0.50-inch machine guns in the forward fuselage synchronized to fire through the propeller arc, plus a single 0.50-inch machine gun in each of two underwing gondolas

Nice shots!

The Bell P-63A Kingcobra was an attempt to correct issues with the P-39 Airacobra. Although not adopted by the US military, it was used by the Soviet Air Force.
Before the prototype ever flew in 1942, the US Air Force ordered production models of the P-63A, with deliveries on October 1943. The first prototype flew for the first time on 7 December 1942. It was destroyed on 28 January 1943 when its landing gear failed to extend. The second prototype followed on 5 February 1943. It too was destroyed, this time due to an engine failure.
Project #173 of the P-63A-1-BE with "V" tail in May 1943.