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Bell X/YFM-1 Airacuda and SAT A2
- Thread starter oose
- Start date
Re: Bell FM-1 and SAT A2
The FM-1 was the first Eastern built Wildcat.
That's a X/YFM-1 Airacuda.
Yeah, I'm picking nits, but the F4F is my favorite aircraft.
The AAF didn't have the same naming convention as BuAer and the Navy. YFM-1 = Experimental (X or Y) Fighter Multiplace.
Without the X or Y it's easy to confuse with a plane where over a thousand were made—FM-1 Wildcats).
Cool pic!
The FM-1 was the first Eastern built Wildcat.
That's a X/YFM-1 Airacuda.
Yeah, I'm picking nits, but the F4F is my favorite aircraft.
The AAF didn't have the same naming convention as BuAer and the Navy. YFM-1 = Experimental (X or Y) Fighter Multiplace.Without the X or Y it's easy to confuse with a plane where over a thousand were made—FM-1 Wildcats).
Cool pic!
zoomer
Well-Known Member
Re: Bell FM-1 and SAT A2
Anyway, the AAC then used P for Pursuit and PB for Pursuit, Bi-place (two-seater). So the 'Cuda would have been a Pursuit, Multiplace, or PM-1, if they were minding their P's and Q's.
But the victors write history. Or in this case, the veterans. Unlike all those 'Cats, the 'Cuda was a warplane that never went to war. So you're right to nitpick.tater said:The FM-1 was the first Eastern built Wildcat.
That's a X/YFM-1 Airacuda.
Yeah, I'm picking nits, but the F4F is my favorite aircraft.
Without the X or Y it's easy to confuse with a plane where over a thousand were made—FM-1 Wildcats).
Cool pic!
Anyway, the AAC then used P for Pursuit and PB for Pursuit, Bi-place (two-seater). So the 'Cuda would have been a Pursuit, Multiplace, or PM-1, if they were minding their P's and Q's.
Not sure about USAAF contracts, but the naming might well have been up to the manufacturer at some level for them, I honestly don't know. BuAer (USN), OTOH, was very specific, and both "X" and production contracts were named with the same convention:
X-prefix on prototypes
Type (F=fighter, SB=Scout Bomber, TB=Torpedo Bomber, PB=Patrol Bomber, etc)
Serial of type submitted to BuAer by manufacturer (1 (number omitted) is first by mfg, 2 is 2d of "type" from mfg, etc)
Manufacturer code letter (F=Grumman, M=Eastern, U=Vought, D=Douglas, Y=Consolidated, etc)
Trailing subtype number (-1, -2, -3, etc)
F4F-3 (Fighter, 4th type submitted by, Grumman, 3d revision)
FM-1 (Fighter, first submitted by, Eastern, rev 1) (note the "1" is omitted as the first fighter type submitted by Eastern)
PBY-5 (Patrol Bomber, Consolidated, rev 5)
There was the PB2Y Coronado, an XPB3Y (only a prototype contract issued), then the PB4Y (navalized B-24)
Interestingly, the IJN used the same naming scheme. Zero was the Type 0 Fighter (year was trailing "0" in japanese calendar), but was also the A6M (A=fighter, 6th type from, M=Mitsubishi) then trailing marks (-2, -3, -5).
X-prefix on prototypes
Type (F=fighter, SB=Scout Bomber, TB=Torpedo Bomber, PB=Patrol Bomber, etc)
Serial of type submitted to BuAer by manufacturer (1 (number omitted) is first by mfg, 2 is 2d of "type" from mfg, etc)
Manufacturer code letter (F=Grumman, M=Eastern, U=Vought, D=Douglas, Y=Consolidated, etc)
Trailing subtype number (-1, -2, -3, etc)
F4F-3 (Fighter, 4th type submitted by, Grumman, 3d revision)
FM-1 (Fighter, first submitted by, Eastern, rev 1) (note the "1" is omitted as the first fighter type submitted by Eastern)
PBY-5 (Patrol Bomber, Consolidated, rev 5)
There was the PB2Y Coronado, an XPB3Y (only a prototype contract issued), then the PB4Y (navalized B-24)
Interestingly, the IJN used the same naming scheme. Zero was the Type 0 Fighter (year was trailing "0" in japanese calendar), but was also the A6M (A=fighter, 6th type from, M=Mitsubishi) then trailing marks (-2, -3, -5).
Andrew
Well-Known Member
What an amazing looking aircraft. So the gunners in the wings were locked into these positions during flight? :shock: I wonder if they had a crawl space through the wings? What a wierd place to be sitting in those nacelles with a big gun in front of you and a huge engine behind.
http://www.airportjournals.com/Photos/0 ... 6006_2.jpg
http://www.airportjournals.com/Photos/0 ... 6006_2.jpg
