P-63A-5 (USSR) - Revision history

U48664895: Updated description to new format

2023-10-06T19:06:08Z

Updated description to new format

U38088265: /* Details */

2023-05-27T11:34:11Z

‎Details

U38088265: /* In-game description */ Reformatted

2022-10-21T21:51:34Z

‎In-game description: Reformatted

U44629479: Edits

2022-09-12T17:43:10Z

Edits

U38088265: /* Offensive armament */ Updated

2021-09-10T21:17:53Z

‎Offensive armament: Updated

U44629479: Edits

2021-07-31T12:15:40Z

Edits

U38088265: /* Suspended armament */ Updated

2021-06-04T10:12:47Z

‎Suspended armament: Updated

U38088265: /* Manual Engine Controls */

2021-03-27T20:49:53Z

‎Manual Engine Controls

U3312106: /* Details */

2021-02-17T07:51:57Z

‎Details

U3312106: /* External links */

2021-01-24T17:13:20Z

‎External links

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 == Description ==
 <!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
-The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27.
+The P-63 was a vastly improved "version" of the P-39. Although they look quite similar, they are functionally completely different and no parts can be swapped into one another. The Kingcobra features a laminar flow wing, four-bladed propeller, and various other airframe changes. The Kingcobra saw massive use by the Soviet Union during World War 2. Although the P-63 was seen as a good aircraft in the US, it was ultimately rejected as it never passed the requirements set by the USAAF (United States Army Air Force). 3,303 Kingcobras were built and over 70% were sent to the Soviet Union by ferry pilots. The A-5 block was essentially an up-armoured XP-63A with provisions for more fuel. It also featured the 12 cylinder Allison V-1710-93 engine which could produce an impressive 1,500 hp at sea level. The Kingcobra, although played down by Soviet officials, was very successful in its use for air combat. It would also receive the NATO reporting name "Fred" after the war.
 == General info ==

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 ! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
 |-
-| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 378 || 359 || 262 || ~13 || ~6
+| 887 <!-- {{Specs|destruction|body}} --> || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 378 || 359 || 262 || ~12 || ~6
 |-
 |}

@@ Line 195: / Line 195: @@
 The Kingcobra remained in Soviet service for several years after WWII. Besides being a solid aircraft, the tricycle undercarriage was considered good practice for jet fighters. Two Soviet P-63s are known to exist today and are on display at two museums in Moscow, Russia.
-=== In-game description ===
+{{break}}
 Bell P-63A-1/A-5 (Model 33) Kingcobra Army Fighter
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 The Soviet version of the P-63A differed from the American in one important feature: the presence of a crank to start the engine. In addition, the Soviets equipped the plane with FAB-100 and FAB-250 bombs under the fuselage.
 == Media ==

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 The P-63A-5 has good all-round characteristics and lends itself to several possible strategies. However, try to make use of its strengths compared to other Soviet aircraft. The excellent climb rate allows the Kingcobra to reach high altitudes quickly and it has better performance at 4,000-5,000 m than the Yaks or Lavochkins. If using Manual Engine Control, open up the radiators fully when climbing to prevent overheating while using WEP. Once at high altitude, they can be closed more. From this vantage point, the pilot can examine the situation and act accordingly.
-Going after bombers is a valid option provided that they are not at extreme altitudes; attack from underneath or the side and try not to sit on their tails. Open up with the machine guns early on, and once the distance is short enough for consistent hits to be scored, start using the cannon in short bursts. Optimally, the machine guns can knock out defensive gunners and start fires, while the cannon can rip off tails or wings. It is very gratifying to dismember a bomber with a well-placed cannon hit. Going head-on is a good strategy with some aircraft, such as the A6M2. The powerful 37mm can knock the enemy pilot out or destroy the wings, and a battery of 4 M2 Brownings will destroy the engine and light them on fire, while the sturdy plane's fuselage will survive a few hits. Even a fuel tank fire is not a death sentence, since most enemies when lighting you up will pull away, and if you take a minimum amount of fuel in battle, you will most likely survive the burning out of the whole tank and return to the airfield, or even kill the enemy that can come back to finish you off.
+Going after bombers is a valid option provided that they are not at extreme altitudes; attack from underneath or the side and try not to sit on their tails. Open up with the machine guns early on, and once the distance is short enough for consistent hits to be scored, start using the cannon in short bursts. Optimally, the machine guns can knock out defensive gunners and start fires, while the cannon can rip off tails or wings. It is very gratifying to dismember a bomber with a well-placed cannon hit. Going head-on is a good strategy with some aircraft, such as the A6M2. The powerful 37 mm can knock the enemy pilot out or destroy the wings, and a battery of 4 x M2 Brownings will destroy the engine and light them on fire, while the sturdy plane's fuselage will survive a few hits. Even a fuel tank fire is not a death sentence, since most enemies when lighting you up will pull away, and if you take a minimum amount of fuel in battle, you will most likely survive the burning out of the whole tank and return to the airfield, or even kill the enemy that can come back to finish you off.
 The P-63 also excels at diving attacks on attackers and fighters. The mild control compression and durable wings means that steep or extended dives that would be fatal for typical Soviet aircraft can be safely attempted. If the target evades, simply zoom climb back up and look for an opening to engage again. When committing to a dogfight, avoid turning for more than short periods of time. Although the P-63 turns well at high speed, such manoeuvres tend to bleed its energy and put a lot of stress on the pilot. If an engagement has cost a lot of speed, altitude, and ammunition, consider disengaging. The P-63 relies on being able to enter engagements with an energy advantage and using that to win; unlike the La-5FN and its monstrously powerful engine, it is not stellar at regaining that energy in the middle of fight. And during heated combat, avoid letting the P-63's speed drop below 300 km/h. If this happens, use combat flaps and try to regain speed as quickly as possible.
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 Evasive manoeuvres and defensive flying are important skills to master in the P-63 since it cannot always rely on outrunning enemies, outturning them, or having teammates nearby. If the pursuer has a lower top speed than the P-63 and does not have ludicrously powerful cannons, extend away in a shallow dive and continuously make slight dodges upwards and downwards. Rolling scissors are effective to force overshoots against opponents with poor roll rates. As a last resort, combining roll, elevator, and rudder results in an unpredictable and rapid spiral while bleeding speed quickly. Avoid climbing spirals or stall climbs unless the pursuer has much less energy. As mentioned before, the P-63's power-to-weight ratio is not great, and the poor low speed handling does it no favours either.
-As a whole, the P-63 is a great plane that can destroy pillboxes and light ground targets with it's 4 high caliber machine guns and a 500 lb bomb, destroy bombers with it's good climb rate and a 37mm cannon, outturn interceptors and energy fighters and outrun or outgun other fighters
+As a whole, the P-63 is a great plane that can destroy pillboxes and light ground targets with its 4 x high-calibre machine guns and a 500 lb bomb, destroy bombers with its good climb rate and a 37 mm cannon, outturn interceptors and energy fighters and outrun or outgun other fighters
 '''Ground RB'''
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 * Decently manoeuvrable, especially at high speeds
-* Hard hitting 37 mm cannon
+* Hard-hitting 37 mm cannon
 * Four M2 Brownings with mid-war belts
 * Good climb rate and energy retention
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 The general layout of the P-39 Kingcobra was preserved, but the P-63 featured new, streamlined wings. In order to remedy the P-39's main weakness, a propensity to falling into a flat spin, the area of the vertical tail fin was increased and the aft section of the fuselage was lengthened.
-The first production models were equipped with a V-12 liquid-cooled Allison V-1710-93 engine (1325 hp). The aircraft was armed with a Colt-Browning M4 37mm machine gun with 30 rounds and 2 synchronous Colt-Browning M2.5 12.7mm machine guns with 270 rounds per gun. An additional two M2.5s with 250 rounds each were placed in the wing compartments.
+The first production models were equipped with a V-12 liquid-cooled Allison V-1710-93 engine (1,325 hp). The aircraft was armed with a Colt-Browning M4 37 mm cannon with 30 rounds and 2 synchronous Colt-Browning M2 .50 cal 12.7 mm machine guns with 270 rounds per gun. An additional two M2 0.50 cals with 250 rounds each were placed in the wing compartments.
 Aircraft of both series (except some A-1 planes) were fitted with a ventral pylon which could hold a fuel tank of 75 gallons (284 litres) or one 500 lb (227 kg) bomb.
-The aircraft was continually tweaked from one production run to the next, improving its ability to support troops on the field. However, the differences between the A-1 and the A-5 were only slight. The most significant difference, though not a visible one, was the increase in armour from 40 kilograms to 81. 50 P-63A-1 and 20 P-63A-5 planes were produced.
+The aircraft was continually tweaked from one production run to the next, improving its ability to support troops on the field. However, the differences between the A-1 and the A-5 were only slight. The most significant difference, though not a visible one, was the increase in armour from 40 kg to 81. 50 P-63A-1 and 20 P-63A-5 planes were produced.
 The Red Army became the main consumers of the P-63A. Deliveries to the Soviet Union began in the summer of 1944, via Alaska and the Northwest Staging Route. The P-63A began to support Soviet anti-aircraft operations in the spring of 1945.

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 |-
 | < 410 || < 380 || < 410 || > 320
 |-
 |}
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 * 1 x 37 mm M4 cannon, nose-mounted (30 rpg)
-* 2 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, nose-mounted (270 rpg = 540 total)
+* 2 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, nose-mounted (200 rpg = 400 total)
 * 2 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (250 rpg = 500 total)

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 {{About
-| about = premium Russian fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
+| about = Soviet fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
 | usage = other variants
 | link = P-63 (Family)
@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 == Description ==
 <!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
-The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27. It costs 1,600 Golden Eagles.
+The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27.
 The P-63A-5 Kingcobra is an evolved version of the P-39 Airacobra series cherished by Soviet pilots in WWII. Larger in all dimensions, the P-63 features a laminar-flow wing, 4-bladed propeller, stretched rear fuselage, and taller vertical stabilizer with a flat trailing edge. While it loses some of the Airacobra's elegant looks and low-speed manoeuvrability, it has superior performance overall. The Kingcobra offers a different playstyle from contemporary Soviet fighters and can be a major threat to all sorts of enemy aircraft in skilled hands.
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 * Decent performance at 4,000-5,000 m, not as constrained as other Soviet fighters
 * Can carry a 500 lb bomb
 '''Cons:'''
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 The first production models were equipped with a V-12 liquid-cooled Allison V-1710-93 engine (1325 hp). The aircraft was armed with a Colt-Browning M4 37mm machine gun with 30 rounds and 2 synchronous Colt-Browning M2.5 12.7mm machine guns with 270 rounds per gun. An additional two M2.5s with 250 rounds each were placed in the wing compartments.
-Aircraft of both series (except some A-1 planes) were fitted with a ventral pylon which could hold a fuel tank of 75 gallons (284 liters) or one 500-lb (227-kg) bomb.
+Aircraft of both series (except some A-1 planes) were fitted with a ventral pylon which could hold a fuel tank of 75 gallons (284 litres) or one 500 lb (227 kg) bomb.
-The aircraft was continually tweaked from one production run to the next, improving its ability to support troops on the field. However, the differences between the A-1 and the A-5 were only slight. The most significant difference, though not a visible one, was the increase in armor from 40 kilograms to 81. 50 P-63A-1 and 20 P-63A-5 planes were produced.
+The aircraft was continually tweaked from one production run to the next, improving its ability to support troops on the field. However, the differences between the A-1 and the A-5 were only slight. The most significant difference, though not a visible one, was the increase in armour from 40 kilograms to 81. 50 P-63A-1 and 20 P-63A-5 planes were produced.
 The Red Army became the main consumers of the P-63A. Deliveries to the Soviet Union began in the summer of 1944, via Alaska and the Northwest Staging Route. The P-63A began to support Soviet anti-aircraft operations in the spring of 1945.
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 == Media ==
 <!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
 {{Youtube-gallery|vXxfEpltseI|'''The Shooting Range #44''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:30 discusses the P-63A-5.}}
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 <!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 * ''topic on the official game forum;''
 * ''other literature.'' -->

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 {{Specs-Avia-Suspended}}
 <!-- ''Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.'' -->
-{{main|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)}}
+{{main|FAB-250sv (250 kg)}}
 The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
 * Without load
-* 1 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bomb (500 lb total)
+* 1 x 250 kg FAB-250sv bomb (250 kg total)
-Unlike the later Kingcobras, the P-63A-5 only has one hardpoint for bombs. The lone 500 lb bomb is not particularly destructive and is suitable for dealing with medium or light tanks. More heavily armoured vehicles may require almost a direct hit. That said, the bomb has relatively little effect on the P-63's flight performance and can be delivered accurately.
+Unlike the later Kingcobras, the P-63A-5 only has one hardpoint for bombs. The lone 250 kg bomb is not particularly destructive and is suitable for dealing with medium or light tanks. More heavily armoured vehicles may require almost a direct hit. That said, the bomb has relatively little effect on the P-63's flight performance and can be delivered accurately.
 == Usage in battles ==

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 ! Oil !! Water !! Type
 |-
-| Controllable || Not controllable<br>Auto control available || Controllable<br>Auto control available || Controllable<br>Auto control available || Separate || Not controllable<br>1 gear || Not controllable
+| Controllable || Not controllable<br>Not auto controlled || Controllable<br>Auto control available || Controllable<br>Auto control available || Separate || Not controllable<br>1 gear || Not controllable
 |-
 |}
@@ Line 240: / Line 240: @@
 == External links ==
-<!--''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
+<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 * ''topic on the official game forum;''
 * ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''
-* ''other literature.''-->
+* ''other literature.'' -->
 * [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/340954-p-63a-5/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]