Bell P-59 Airacomet
Appearance
P-59 Airacomet | |
---|---|
Bell P-59B Airacomet at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton, Ohio | |
Role | Fighter |
National origin | United States |
Manufacturer | Bell Aircraft |
First flight | 1 October 1942 |
Primary users | United States Army Air Forces United States Navy Royal Air Force |
Number built | 66 |
Variants | YF2L-1 |
The Bell P-59 Airacomet is an American military aircraft. It was the first fighter jet designed and built in the United States. It was used in World War II against Nazi Germany's Luftwaffe fighters, but it was far below the best enemy aircraft of the time. It was finally replaced in end of 1946 by the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star. The last one was retired in 1949.