A Kingcobra returns to the air

Thanks to the dedication of the mechanics and volunteers of the Yanks Air Museum of Chino (CA), USA, their Bell P-63A Kingcobra 42-69080 (N94501) returned to the air on 1 December 2023. The fighter, named ‘Fatal Fang’ made its first post restoration flight in FORTY years!

The P-63 was an improved version of the wartime Bell P-39 Airacobra, but was outclassed by the contemporary P-47 and P-51 fighters. So most Kingcobras were shipped to French and Soviet Air Forces while some were used in secondary roles by the USAAF.

This particular P-63 was acquired by the Cal Aero Technical Institute of Glendale (CA) as NX32750 in 1950. It was bought by Ed Maloney in 1953 and displayed in several Air Museums. In 1977 the Yankee Air Corps acquired it and started a restoration to airworthy status in 1979. A gigantic task that was finally completed on 1 December.

The return to the air of a rare type like the Kingcobra has even more importance considering the fact that a warbird of similar type was lost just more than a year ago. As most people will remember, on 12 November 2022, Bell P-63F N6763 collided in midair with Boeing B-17G N7227C at Dallas Executive Airport (TX) causing the death of six people.

See N94501 take off: https://www.facebook.com/YanksAirMuseum/videos/262365433487481/

Photo: Yanks Air Museum