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    | Stuff
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          Bell
            P-59 Airacomet
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          The
            P-59 Airacomet was the first U.S. jet aircraft developed to
            test the first U.S. jet engine-- the General Electric I-A.  The
            prototype XP-59A flew on October 1, 1942.
             Although much was learned from this aircraft, it's
            performance was not significantly better than contemporary piston-engined
            fighters.  After a limited production run, the Airacomet
            was taken out of service in 1946.  | 
         
        
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          |  Specifications
            (YP-59A) | 
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           Designations | 
         
        
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                | Model 27: Bell model number |  
                | P-59: U.S. Army Air Forces pursuit
                (fighter) designation |  
             
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          |  Related
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          page
            updated 11 February 2008
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