Taken into service with the USAAF in 1944 and converted to RP-39Q then TP-39Q. Sold as N4829N in 1956 and rebuilt following year as a single-seater for air racing. Reregistered N40A in 1955. To Confederate Air Force in 1975, painted in camouflage and to Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum in 1981. Sold in 2015 as NX4829N

Built as P-39Q 42-19597 and converted into a two-seat TP-39Q trainer for the USAAF during the war. It made an emergency landing in New Mexico in 1945 and was subsequently abandoned. Later acquired donated to the Confederate Air Force, who undertook a restoration that eventually returned it to airworthy, single-seat configuration by 1974. Two landing accidents, in 2005 and 2010, both in Texas. First post-rebuild flight in 2015, remaining in Soviet AF colours

The P-39 Airacobra was sent to the Soviet Union through the US Lend-Lease program in huge numbers, with roughly 5,000 aircraft delivered via a trans-Siberian air route or shipped in crates via Iran. The Soviets found it effective as a low-to-mid altitude fighter and ground-attack aircraft. Over 2,500 of them were flown from the US to Alaska, then across the Bering Strait to Siberia as part of the ALSIB route, a dangerous but fast delivery method. This one, which must have been recently restored at the time, still stands as a monument on that supply route

On a ferry flight to Port Moresby on 1st May 1942 the aircraft, part of a six-aircraft formation, ran into a storm and the pilot force landed near Weipa, QLD., but one of the wheels ran into a ditch causing an undercarriage collapse. The pilot walked for two days to the coast and rescue. The wreck was discovered in 1963 and in 1972 was recovered by Sid Beck and after restoration displayed at his Beck Aviation and Military Museum at Mareeba, QLD. The museum closed down in 2016 and the aircraft was acquired by Fagen Fighters and is now displayed at their WWII Museum in Granite Falls, Minnesota.

Door art representing an Airacobra flown by Lt J.T. Evans of 110th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (TRS), 71st TRG. The unit was based at Gusap Airfield, New Guinea from Feb-Jun 1944 before moving to Tadji Airfield from where this aircraft was recovered. This model was fitted with the 1,200 hp Allison V-1710-85 engine and a slightly larger Aeroproducts propeller, but it made little difference to the low top speed, rate of climb and poor performance at higher altitudes. "Girlie" has twelve P-400 type exhaust stubs per side. Baling out of the side car door was considered a risky proposition.

This is actually P-39Q 44-3887, converted to an RP-39Q two-seat operational training version with armament removed and redesignated TP-39Q in 1945. Disposed of as surplus in 1946, it was restored to single-seat P-39Q status in 1966 and flown to the UASFM. By 1977 it was marked as P-39D 41-7073 flown by the 57th FS, Adak Island, during the harsh conditions of the Aleutians Island campaign of autumn 1942. They attacked the Japanese forces which had invaded Attu and Kiska islands, the weather claiming more casualties than combat

Reported as both 42-4949 and 42-19027 both of which were recovered by David Tallichet in the early 70s. Under restoration at Planes of Fame Air Museum. The long length of the rear-retracting, non-steering nosewheel can be seen. The gaps in the wing root are for the oil cooler and radiator intakes. The automobile type door frame is visible. This model was fitted with the V-1710-85 engine and a slightly larger Aeroproducts propeller, but it made little difference to the low top speed, rate of climb and poor performance at higher altitudes.

One of three ex USAAF P-39Cs shipped to the UK for trials of its 37mm cannon. The RAF had specified the 20mm Hispano-Suiza cannon for the P-39s it had received earlier but had quickly rejected. Those aircraft were shipped to the Soviet Union and there were no Airacobras in RAF service when the trials aircraft arrived. The 37mm cannon was being assessed as a ground attack weapon. The test trio were apparently scrapped at the end of the trial. Photo from: Imperial War Museums

The P-39 was an unusual design when it appeared in 1937. Among its many unorthodox design features are the mounting of the engine behind the pilot, the use of automobile type doors on the sides of the cockpit, and tricycle landing gear. Although performance was good at low altitudes, it was poor higher up but a large nose-mounted cannon made it effective for ground attack. Pima's example is in the marks of 110th TRS, New Guinea, 1944

This was the aircraft flown by the famous test pilot, Eric 'Winkle' Brown. It was the first tricycle undercarriage aircraft to land on an aircraft carrier. Seen in an advanced state of decay at Farnborough

Reported as both 42-4949 and 42-19027 both of which were recovered by David Tallichet in the early 70s. Owned by David C Tallichet - Military Aircraft Restoration Corp and painted in Soviet Air Force markings. W/o on 05 May 1944 at Alaska Highway 141 miles, AK. Recovered from its crash site to Fort Nelson, BC, Canada in Nov 1971. Displayed at the Air Museum Chino later marked as USAAF 42-19027.

Raced by Charles Bing in 1946. Sold to Betty Hass who raced it as Galloping Gertie. Now part of the Smithsonian Collection. Photo by: Herbert J Nash / Smithsonian Institution

Not a part of the MOTAT collection but a WW2 relic rescued during the 70s. It was displayed at MOTAT for a few years and then disappeared............perhaps over the ditch to Australia where there were several restoration projects.

Built for the USAAF as P-39F 41-7215, some 9,588 of the unconventional Airacobra series were manufactured and entered service from 1941. The unique car-style cockpit entry doors are visible here. Just arrived from the US for the weekend's air show.

P-39 42-19597 was converted to a TP-39Q two-seat trainer during World War II. The aircraft was abandoned after emergency landing July 20, 1945 at Hobbs, New Mexico . Eventually used by Capitan High School, Lincoln, New Mexico, it was acquired by Joe Brown of Hobbs, New Mexico and donated to Confederate Air Force in the 60s. Registered N6968, it was restored to airworthy in single-seat configuration 1968-1974. Flown regularly in USSR markings at airshows, the fighter is still with the renamed Commemorative Air Force at the time of uploading.