Slitherine

A special version of the P-63 fighter was used as a manned flying target. After all, according to the Americans, only the maintenance of real fire from real machine guns on an armored plane can ensure proper combat training of personnel.




The appearance of the target aircraft was virtually unchanged relative to the serial "Kingcobra". However, it was a new car. KR-63 "Pinball" (this name was given to "flying tank") was all covered with armor based on specially tempered aluminum alloys. The thickness of the skin has increased five to ten times, compared with the standard P-63. It reached its maximum thickness in the area of ​​the pilot's cabin, power plant and fuel tanks. The total weight of armor protection was about half a ton. To ensure acceptable flight characteristics, all the weapons and equipment had to be removed from the aircraft. In addition to the general booking, they mounted thick bulletproof glass in the lantern and the cockpit doors. At the same time, the rear glazing was dismantled and tightly sewn up with metal sheets. The radiators of the cooling system of the power plant were protected with steel grilles in the air intakes, and the air intake of the supercharger was replaced with a small-sized one so that bullets could not get into it.

Sensitive sensors were installed on the aircraft trim, which picked up pulses from bullets entering the car. These signals were recorded by the instruments, and in addition were transmitted to a simulator placed in the screw hub, it gave a bright flash, which informed the “attacker” that his fire had reached the target.

They were fired with special fragile lead-plastic bullets, they had ballistic characteristics similar to conventional bullets, but they could not penetrate the aircraft's skin. The Bell company produced about 300 KR-63 airplanes of various modifications that were in service with the US Air Force for some time.

The total number of P-63 fighters that left Bell's production plants is 3304 machines. Of these, 2400 came to the Soviet Union (831 in 1944 and 1569 in 1945). The 300 aircraft was designed by the French Air Force and two by the United Kingdom. In addition, the 272 aircraft was sent to various US departments.