P-63 Kingcobra restoration project UK

Bell P-63c Kingcobra Restoration Project - UK

P-63 Kingcobra Restoration Archive 2011/12

Cockpit of P-63c Kingcobra 43- 11137 on display at "Cockpitfest" 2011 Newark Air Museum UK.

Quite a bit of work has already been completed on the cabin section, in fact we can begin to see the classic shapes of the P-63 emerging from the jigs once again. New parts have also been re manufactured to original drawings, including such items as the seat frame, emergency door release handle, and working drawings have been produced on CAD system ready to have the main instrument panel reproduced.

Some photos of work in progress....

Making the new frame for the pilots roll-over was by far the most complex frame I have ever made! with curves in 3 dimensions working "on the bench" was very difficult. Here can be seen the formers with the corroded frame seen at the top.

Cockpit roll over frame before restoration, the rear frame was restored & used again, the front frame had to be remade (see below)

The completed frame fitted, the next stage will be to fit the various brackets for the canopy tubes.

The all important Bell Aircraft Factory Data Tag

Where possible every original detail is reused, here the "Emergency Door Release" plate has been renovated See left and right.

Cockpit roll over cage, trial fitting of repaired original side skin.

The all important Bell Aircraft Factory Data Tag

An original pilots seat was sourced from the US, here a set of new seat brackets have been remade.

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