<hi style=afpcap>The Bell P-63 Kingcobra was one of the most successful fighter designs of the Pacific War despite the two prototypes being lost to accidents at an early stage in their trials. The P-63 succeeded the P-39, with 1,725 P-63A models being built, with the vast majority being transferred to Russia on Lend-Lease. There were several more variants, which differed from the P-63A principally due to a revised armament layout or the fitment of upgraded equipment. A total of 1,227 of the P-63C model were produced including 300 supplied to France early in 1945 with most of the remainder also going to Russia. A single P-63D and 13 P-63Es were funded in 1943, as were the two P-63F models. Bell developed a unique version of the Kingcobra as a manned target aircraft which could actually be shot at ! The first five were designated as RP-63A-11s with the armour and armament removed. In its place was a toughened skin weighing a hefty 1,488 lbs fitted to the wings, fuselage, tail and rear canopy, designed to withstand the impact of frangible bullets. Hits were indicated by the activation of a red light on the wingtip. Addition versions were produced as the RP-63A-12 , RP-63C and RP-63G, these becoming the QF-63A, QF-63C and QF-63G later in their career. </hi>
