The in-depth guide to the P-39N O Airacobra

this is a in-depth guide so pleses stick with it all the way

Historical overview

The P-39N O airacobra was designed as a high altitude bomber killer for the USAAF but its high altitude performance was so horrible, it was relegated to a mid-to-low altitude energy fighter. It was effective in the pacific but out-classed, Europe was out of the question because of the high altitude engagements, but in Russia it thrived.

In war thunder: the basics

In war thunder the P-39N O is a tier 7 aircraft and not widely used, especially in historical battles. The plane is armed with four 7.62mm (.30 cal), two 12.7mm (.50 cal) browning machine guns and one 37mm cannon. This is a deadly armament but the 37mm firers very slow much unlike the Yak 9T/K and will jam after 6 shots with the trigger held down. The cannon also has only 20 rounds, so select your shots carefully. This plane costs 91,000 lions the American line and 9,000 lions to put into service. The repair costs are 730, 2100 and 1760 lions.

How to fly it (in arcade)

In arcade this plane is a beast, since arcade matches tend to always be at low altitude were the P-39 is best. In arcade you want to fly to about 3/2 ½ km high (but no higher) then, BnZ (boom and zoom) your targets. It is also highly recommended that you go for bombers/heavy fighters at any opportunity. You will be playing against bomber such as the He 111, Il 4, Wellington, G4N1 and the B-25J which are all twin engine, thus one shot from you 37mm with AP-T rounds to the engines will ether sheer the wing off or set the plane on fire. The way that you fight fighters is to be manage you energy usage, which is key. The P-39 bleeds speed fast in a turning fight so cycle in and out of fights to stay alive. Be aware that the rudder on the P-39 makes you lose energy faster than if you use your ailerons and elevator. Only use you rudder for slight adjustments and as a last resort. If forced to turn fight, drop you flaps. The main advantage of the P-39 and the part that you want to exploit is its flight parameters in the vertical. It has high energy retention when climbing at high speed. Use this to get in and out of fights. Also try to force head-ons at any opportunity because of the 37mm and even more because it is nose mounted. The most important advice that I can give you is to never linger in the same place for too long, as you will be shot down. And finally when landing, the tricycle undercarriage, especially the front one, is very fragile and brakes easy.

The P-39 in historical battles

The Airacobra in HB (historical battles) is a hard thing to master, but once you do that, the thing is deadly! Firstly it flies similar as it does in arcade (use the same things that I talked about above.), but the high altitude performance is just so bad, (NEVER go above 6k) that you have to manage you energy very well. Your main compatriots in HB are: the Bf 109 F4/E-3, A6M3, and LaGG 3 66, Yak 1 and Yak 9T. You need to know all of these planes weaknesses and there advantages, so I highly recommend reading the War Thunder Wiki, Wikia page and the War Thunder fighter guides by Naceo (they are on the Steam community page and just Google the rest). You want to be very selective of you targets and when you shoot at them. Use the 12.7mm and 7.62mm to find your target and then use the 37mm once you have found it. A good pilot ever wastes his ammo. In historical hang around the ever increasing amount of bombing points or large clusters of ground units, thus you target bombers. I must also recommend flying with a buddy or a wingman, which makes defending you 6 o’clock much easier. You can also coordinate attacks with your team (it will help you and you team allot). I recommend you use the ommi purpose rounds in all of you guns for HB, accept if you are very use to leading the guns in HB and you have a smooth frame rate use stealth ammo. (My crap PC runs war thunder on the min graphics setting a 15fps benchmark, (dropping to 6.6 on one map) so aiming with stealth ammo and aiming in general is rather hard ). This plane is easily shot down by AAA and set on fire so be awe of it. And finally just think twice before making any move or dissection it will save your life in arcade and in HB.

In Full real battles

I have never played this but I must say that the P-39 has a very open cockpit and you can check you 6 really easily

How do you kill the P-39N O Airacobra

o Get him slow
o Get him in a turn fight
o Get him to go to high altitude (its hard)
o Get the fight to drag out (so he can lose all his energy)
o Be wary that the engine is BIHINED the pilot so aim there
o If you have no cannons, try to go underneath him and shoot at his belly, its fuel cell is there and easy to hit
o If the P-39 wing is critted then it will be easy from there (especially at low alt) in Historical battles
AND NEVER
o Go heads up/head on because of the 37mm
o Never make the fight go into the vertical, especially in arcade were its has a massive clime rate
o Over shoot or you will be an easy kill

Facts and figures (in game – for historical battles) - for all you info junkies out there!

o Talisman = 750 golden eagles
o Backup plane (for arcade) = 30 gold eagles
o Armament = 4 browning 7.62mm .30cal machine guns with 3000 rounds, 2 12.7mm browning M2 machine guns with 400 and one high velocity 37mm M4 cannon with 20 rounds, the jams after 6-7 consecutive shots
o Its rank 7 on the American tech tree
o It has a reward of 60%
o Its free repair is 6H 19min
o K
o Turn time 23.3
o Max altitude 11,00km
o Rate of climb is 16.6 feet per second
o Takeoff run 308m
o You can fire the guns for a max of 10.6 sec non-stop
o Its wings will break at 940kph in a dive in HB
o The landing gear will break at over 550kph

Joystick tips

With a joystick the P-39 has one bouncy rudder so take it easy on it. The 37mm gun has a lot of recoil so you have to be very experienced joystick flyer to keep is on target. The role rate on the thing is good so use the ailerons/elevator to full effect.

[CealLion]

ahh i remember the old days T 7 and HB instead of RB :( da memories when russia pwned anything

[Silverbane]

I fly this in Simulator mode. All I can say is the 37mm is your friend. Dive down get real close and one shot BOOM they are gone. But if you miss your a flying paper weight lol.

[Jared]

A P-39 can be fun if you fly low and dogfight only in arcade, any other mode and its useless

[Avatar Vader]

Airacobra's suck balls.

[Geandily]

Brings me back to the mammaries

[XAP7AS]

"A tier 7 aircraft" Oh god, that brings me back to the memories D:

[Comrade Stalin]

Suckie plane :P

[Dick Pound]

r u guys the same guy but on different accounts? xD

[Diknolbourg]

"A tier 7 aircraft" Oh god, that brings me back to the memories D:

[Spirikon]

In war thunder the P-39N O is a tier 7 Its tier 2 with a 3.7 BR