Soviet P-39 Mods

I once read that the Soviets had reinforced the tail on the P-39 but never saw any explanation until this video.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vdFP4YPbgM

Good one!

MIflyer said:

I once read that the Soviets had reinforced the tail on the P-39 but never saw any explanation until this video.

Click to expand...

This is only an early variant on Cobras up to the Q-20 mod. The side plates on the skin were insufficient, and then after-fuselage structure elements and stabilizer spars were additionally reinforced on some Cobras. On the Q-25, the after-fuselage was reinforced already at the factory.

PS. Tail deformation was observed during any excessively sharp maneuvers, not only during dive recovery. There was even an idea to prohibit them on the Cobra, but then it couldn't be used as a fighter.