P-63C-5

P-63C-5

P-63A-10

P-38J-15

P-63C-5

P-63A-10

P-38J-15

USA

III Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
4.0	4.0	4.7

Class:

Fighter

Research:20 000

Purchase:135 000

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

Description

The P-63C-5 Kingcobra is a Rank III American fighter with a battle rating of 4.0 (AB/RB) and 4.7 (SB).

General info

Flight Performance

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at 4,572 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
640	626	12500	24.2	24.5	16.7	18.8	289
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 4,572 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
708	663	12500	22.3	23.0	32.9	21.7	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
7,000 m	1,100 hp	1,705 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-63C-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-63C-5 can be configured with the following ordinance:

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

Usage in the battles

This aircraft is an improved version of the previous Kingcobra carrying the same armament and main gun. The aircraft is still a high altitude interceptor/ Energy fighter, with it's turn radius slightly better than before. The quick dive speed and high energy retention allows the player, with the correct altitude, to engage opponents below numerous times using the high yo-yo method. This aircraft should not be used for ground attacking due to it's average ammo count.

The 37mm M10 cannon is ridiculously powerful. Aim carefully when firing, and do not fire too quickly, lest your gun jam and you lose your main weapon. A single shot to a wing or fuselage of an enemy plane will be all that it takes to bring it down.

The M2 Brownings are similar to the guns on the Bf-109- spotters. Use them to judge the range for your cannon shot. They are almost useless (except for those lucky pilot kills) offensively.

Unfortunately, the C-5 is relatively superior to its predecessors. It has far more cannon ammo , and a slightly lower climb rate than the A-10. However, this is relatively trivial as both planes are generally evenly matched. Keep this in mind, though, when selecting your load out of planes.

It is recommended to use the P-63 against large fighters and bombers. It is far easier to hit a bomber with the cannon then a small fighter with it.

Head-on attacks are not advisable- the large cannon combined with the relatively weak M2s make for poor head on accuracy. Only engage in head-ons if you are absolutely confident in your aim.

BnZing is also an effective tactic with this plane. It's large cannon makes getting shots while diving relatively easy, and its high climb rate and energy retention can get it to safety.

Bomber hunting is also extremely effective with the P-63- a large bomber is far easier to hit with a massive cannon. A single shot can take off a bomber's wing. However, don't spam the cannon. Keep the delay between shots at a 1-1.5 seconds. Firing too quickly will result in a jam, which makes your plane almost useless offensively.

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

Initially, the aircraft's flat speed is not fast enough to outrun Fw 190 A and F 8s that it may face, so it's recommended to upgrade engine performance first. Armament, although it won't improve greatly, is the next recommendation considering how underwhelming it may be on some occasions- do this by researching ammo belts, then improvements to the cannon.

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:

• Excellent dive speed
• Excellent energy retention
• Better-than-average climb rate
• Good flat out speed
• Good cannon damage

Cons:

• Average turn time
• Worse-than-average performance at low speeds
• Ineffective armament against higher tier aircraft
• Prone to engine damage when being chased
• Default paint scheme makes the aircraft visible at longer distance
• Rudder locks at high speed making it hard to get guns on target in BnZ

History

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Media

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Read also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

Sources

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• topic on the official game forum;
• page on aircraft encyclopedia;
• other literature.