P-63A-5

P-63A-5

P-39Q-5

P-63A-10

P-63A-5

P-39Q-5

P-63A-10

USA

III Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
3.7	3.3	3.7

Class:

Fighter

Research:18 000

Purchase:47 000

This page is about the American fighter P-63A-5. For other uses, see P-63 (Family).

Description

The P-63A-5 Kingcobra is a Rank III American fighter with a battle rating of 3.7 (AB/SB) and 3.3 (RB).

General info

Flight Performance

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at 6,850 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
618	598	12200	22.0	22.7	16.1	16.1	289
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 6,850 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
671	640	12200	20.3	21.0	24.1	19.6	289

Details

Features
Combat flap	Take-off flap	Landing flap	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
✓	✓	✓	X	X

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flap (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
0	304	480	~15	~7

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 430	< 430	< 419	> 250

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
6,600 m	1,170 hp	1,486 hp

Survivability and armour

• 15.87 mm Steel - Plates x 2, lower fore cockpit
• 19.05 mm Steel - Plate, upper fore cockpit
• 12.7 mm Steel - Plate behind pilot's seat
• 12.7 mm Steel - Plate protecting oil cooling system
• 38 mm Bulletproof glass - Windscreen

Armaments

Offensive armament

The P-63A-5 is armed with:

• 1 x 37 mm M10 cannon, nose-mounted (58 rpg)
• 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, nose-mounted (250 rpg = 500 total)
• 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, wing-mounted (200 rpg = 400 total)

Suspended armament

The P-63A-5 can be configured with the following ordinance:

• Without load
• 1 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (1,500 lb total)

Usage in the battles

This aircraft is a good all-altitude fighter. The A-10 can out-climb most of its opponents, un-upgraded, although "sideclimbing" is recommended when the higher altitudes are reached. Its straight line speed, especially at higher altitudes, is respectable, competing with 109s of the tier. This aircraft has a poor turn-time at slower speeds, but as with most US aircraft, its high speed performance is significantly better than the aircraft it faces, making it a good "boom and zoom" aircraft. The improved 37mm gun improves damage to aircraft, since the 4 x 12.7mm Brownings are not greatly powerful at the higher tiers- the 37mm gun compliments the 12.7mms as a good bomber hunter, combined with the sleek profile of the aircraft. The aircraft is not intended, nor should be used, as a ground attack vehicle, since it can only carry one, 500lbs bomb and the ammunition count for the 12.7 mm guns is not great, 250 rpg- the 37mm gun can be used as ground attack, although this tactic isn't preferred by some as it reduces the ammo count as a whole for the aircraft, which is one of its limiting factors in combat. Tactically, the aircraft is good for small dives against turn-fighting opponents on the tail of your allies, from around 1000m or less above the target. Keeping any "side-climbers" down is normally good, since the speed and rate of climb allow the P-63 to catch these planes and send them back down.

An interceptor in any respect. Unlike most american designs the Kingcobra lacks heavy payload for ground attack duties. While the 37mm can load anti-tank rounds, the plane will lose it's excellent anti-air HE shells. Of course the 12.7 heavy machine guns can be used against planes, in a ground attack role they are rather used on soft targets, as the AP shell lacks high-exlposive damage radius to deal with AAA & SPAA quickly. The AP shells also require more accuary while shooting and thus are inferior to the .50cal Brownings on range e.g. with the HMG efective fire against light targets is possible from 600m, but with the 37mm AP shells this needs to be reduced to 400m.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Not controllable	Not controllable	Controllable	Combined	Not ontrollable	Not controllable

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage Repair	Radiator		Offensive 12 mm
II		Compressor	Airframe	New 12 mm MGs	FMBC mk.1
III	Wings Repair	Engine		Offensive 37 mm
IV		Engine Injection	Cover	New 37 mm cannons

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Powerful 37mm cannon with 4 12.7mm machine guns as backup.
• Slightly more powerful engine and better manoeuvrability than the already well performing P-39Q Airacobra
• Can WEP for a long time without overheating
• Jack of all trades

Cons:

• ...Master of none
• Limited 37mm ammo
• Bigger target than the P-39Q
• Still stuck with the same M4 cannon as the P-39's
• Slow fire rate for the 37mm cannon
• 37mm projectiles are still too slow and inaccurate to be reliably effective in a dog fight
• 37mm projectiles can still not penetrate tank armour even at optimal angles
• Centre mounted engine has a higher tendency to take damage in pursuits and from diving planes.

History

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Media

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Read also

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Sources

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