Bell XFM / YFM Airacuda Bomber Destroyer: Air Force Legends #225 softcover
Bell XFM / YFM Airacuda Bomber Destroyer: Air Force Legends AFL#225 softcover
Number 225 in Steve Ginter's Air Force Legends series bring you the history of the Bell XFM/YFM Airacuda Bomber Destroyer.
The Bell XFM-1/YFM-1 Airacuda was the first airplane designed and built by Larry Bell's new Bell Aircraft Corp. (founded in July 1935). This was to be a futuristic and innovative Allison V-1710 powered twin pusher bomber destroyer armed with 37mm canons mounted in the forward engine nacelles. The aircraft carried a crew of five and had both .30cal and .50cal defensive armament. It was also the first fighter to have an Auxillary Power Unit (APU). Fourteen aircraft were built: one XFM-1, nine YFM-1s, three YFM-1A (with tricycle landing gear) and two YFM-1Bs. The Airacuda's first flight was on September 28, 1939 with all aircraft being withdrawn from service in 1941.
Published July 2022, 48 pages, 131 black & white photos, 7 illustrations, line and section drawings, kit reviews, softcover, 8 1/2" x 11"
The Air Force Legends series are dedicated to preserving America's aviation history. Each monograph's size is dictated by the individual aircraft's own history, and in some cases can encompass several volumes. In addition to the aircraft's development and testing, each book covers squadron histories, insignias, flight and maintenance manual excerpts, sea stories, if applicable, and model reviews. Take a look inside the aircraft to see how they were put together. See the prototypes of the aircraft, some of which never made it off the drawing boards.
Ginter Books are for both the aviation enthusiast and the aviation modeler. Each publication seeks to present full information about the history of the aircraft, drawings and photographs of the interiors as well as exteriors, and many of the many color schemes used by the squadrons. This offers both the modeler and the historical customer a general reference guide to each aircraft. The collection of books includes many prototype models that never reached actual production, but were valuable stepping stones in advancing the technology necessary to achieve the modern naval fighters we have today.
These books are a "must" for any serious model builder as they give panel lines, wing-folds, bomb loads, cockpit detail and much more information via line drawings and photographs. They are also a "must" for the aviation history buff, as they detail the conception of these aircraft.
Photos used have come from a great variety of sources that are credited in their captions. Many photos have not been used in any other publications before.
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