P-63C-5 (France)

▄P-63C-5

M.B.157

▄F6F-5N

▄P-63C-5

M.B.157

▄F6F-5N

France

III Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
4.0	4.0	4.7

Class:

Fighter

Research:26 000

Purchase:76 000

Show in game

This page is about the French fighter P-63C-5 (France). For other uses, see P-63 (Family).

Description

The ▄P-63C-5 Kingcobra is a rank III French fighter with a battle rating of 4.0 (AB/RB) and 4.7 (SB). It was introduced in Update 1.73 "Vive la France".

The aircraft is a high altitude interceptor/ energy fighter, with it's turn radius slightly better than before. The quick dive speed and high energy retention allows the player, with the correct altitude, to engage opponents below numerous times using the high yo-yo method. This aircraft should not be used for ground attacking due to it's average ammo count.

The 37 mm M10 cannon is ridiculously powerful. Aim carefully when firing, and do not fire too quickly, lest your gun jam and you lose your main weapon. A single shot to a wing or fuselage of an enemy plane will be all that it takes to bring it down.

The M2 Brownings are similar to the guns on the Bf-109 spotters. Use them to judge the range for your cannon shot. They are almost useless (except for those lucky pilot snipes) offensively.

General info

Flight Performance

It's a good ground attack or air defense aircraft, its 37mm gun is an advantage for ground attack and his engine are good for fetching bomber or boom and zoom on the fighters with this 4 machine guns 12.7, he is really effective.

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at ?,000 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
626	609	12500	24.2	25.1	16.8	16.8	289
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at ?,000 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
710	663	12500	22.3	23.0	29	21.7	289

Details

Features
Combat flap	Take-off flap	Landing flap	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
✓	✓	✓	X	X

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flap (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
???	???	???	~??	~?

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< ???	< ???	< ???	> ???

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
?,??? m	??? hp	?,??? hp

Survivability and armour

• 38 mm Bulletproof glass in front of pilot.
• 12.7 mm Steel plate behind pilot's top body.
• 6.35 mm Steel plates on cockpit doors.
• 19.05 mm Steel plate behind 37 mm autocannon.
• 15.87 mm Steel plates in front of pilot's feet.
• 12.7 mm Steel plate behind engine.

Armaments

Offensive armament

The P-63C-5 (France) is armed with:

• 1 x 37 mm M4 cannon, nose-mounted (58 RPG)
• 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, nose-mounted (250 RPG = 500 total)
• 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, nose-mounted (200 RPG = 400 total)

The four machine guns are arranged in bundles of two mounted, all mounted in the nose of the aircraft. The 37 mm M4 cannon is mounted inside the propeller shaft and fires through the propeller hub.

Suspended armament

The P-63C-5 (France) can be outfitted with the following ordinance:

• Without load
• 3 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (1,500 lb total)

Usage in battles

It is recommended to use the P-63 against large fighters and bombers. It is far easier to hit a bomber with the cannon then a small fighter with it.

Head-on attacks are not advisable- the large cannon combined with the relatively weak M2s make for poor head on accuracy. Only engage in head-ons if you are absolutely confident in your aim.

Boom and Zooming is also an effective tactic with this plane. It's large cannon makes getting shots while diving relatively easy, and its high climb rate and energy retention can get it to safety.

Bomber hunting is also extremely effective with the P-63, a large bomber is far easier to hit with a massive cannon. A single shot can take off a bomber's wing. However, don't spam the cannon. Keep the delay between shots at a 1-1.5 seconds. Firing too quickly will result in a jam, which makes your plane almost useless offensively.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Not controllable	Not controllable	Not controllable	Separate	Not ontrollable	Not controllable

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage repair	Radiator		Offensive 12.7 mm
II		Compressor	Airframe	New 12 mm MGs
III	Wings repair	Engine		Offensive 37 mm	FMBC mk.1
IV		Engine injection	Cover	New 37 mm cannons

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Excellent dive speed
• Excellent energy retention
• Better-than-average climb rate
• Good flat out speed
• Good cannon damage

Cons:

• Average turn time
• Worse-than-average performance at low speeds
• Ineffective armament against higher rank aircraft
• Prone to engine damage when being chased

History

The french Air Force received approximately 112 P-63 C "Kingcobra" aircraft, and a few groups were fitted with them. The Kingcobra were not delivered until after the end of the second war and therefore did not participate in the fighting, but subsequently they were used in Indochina where they were often transferred from one unit to another, being often left behind by units returning to mainland France.

When the Indochina War broke out, plans were made to use the Kingcobra, but the planes had been delivered for their use in France and it was necessary to obtain the American's agreement to send them to Indochina. This is why the Kingcobra did not arrive in Indochina until 1949.

The Kingcobra will be operational in Indochina at the end of August 1949 where 48 aircraft will be delivered.

The transferred units were:

- The GC I / 5 Vendée which will become the GM III / 6 Roussillon,

- The GC II / 5 Ile-de-France,

- GC II / 6 Normandie-Niemen.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• encyclopedia page on the aircraft;
• other literature.