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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Bell 12/13/15/23/26/24/33/43 / P-39 Airacobra / P-63 Kingcobra
    Latest Model:P-63F-1-BE Kingcobra
    Last Military Serial:43-11719 USAAF
    Construction Number:296E-11
    Last Civil Registration:N6763
    Latest Owner or Location:American Airpower Heritage Flying Mu, Dallas, TX

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    Dates

    Event

    1943

    Constructed as a P-63F-1-BE.
    This was the only F model built with a much taller fin and rudder for better control.

    13 September 1943

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 43-11719.
    Only 24.1 hours total time in service.

    Circa 1946

    Certificate of airworthiness for NX1719 issued.

    From 1946 to 1947

    To H. L. Pemberton with new c/r N1719.

    From 30 August 1946 to 2 September 1946

    Raced as #21.
    Competed at the National Air Races Cleveland in the Thompson Trophy Reciprocating Division race. The primary pilot was H L Pemberton. Qualified in 9th place with an average speed of 346.043 mph. Raced in the B Feature race. Finished in 10th place with an average speed of 304.406 mph.

    1946

    Raced as #21.
    Flew in in the 1946 Thompson Trophy Race in Cleveland, Ohio.

    1946


    Photographer: Harold G. Martin
    Notes: Harold Pemberton flew this P-63F at the 1946 Cleveland Air Races. It would survive the racing era and recently took the air again.

    1946


    Photographer: Harold G. Martin

    30 August 1946


    Photographer: Charles A. Koch Collection
    Notes: Photographed at the National Air Races in Cleveland, OH.

    1954

    To Trans American Aviation Service, Chicago, IL keeping c/r N1719.

    From 1954 to 1964

    To Trans American Aviation Service, Chicago, IL with new c/r N443.

    14 April 1958

    Certificate of airworthiness for N443 (P-63F, 296E1-1R) issued.

    1959


    Photographer: Midway Airport Historians
    Notes: At Chicago Midway

    From 1966 to 1969

    To A. T. George, Atlanta, GA keeping c/r N443.

    Circa 1968


    Photographer: robert brown
    Notes: Photographed at Peachtree-Dekalb Airport in Chamblee, Georgia.

    From 1969 to 1 January 1970

    To A T George, Atlanta, GA with new c/r N447AG.

    1970

    To Doctor Smith, Sarasota, FL keeping c/r N447AG.

    By June 1971


    Photographer: Unknown Photographer

    By June 1971


    Photographer: Unknown Photographer

    21 February 1974

    To Spitfire Inc/Don Plumb, Windsor, ON with new c/r C-GBKC.
    The registration was allocated, but the aircraft was never actually imported into Canada.

    From 1974 to 1977

    To Flaherty Factors Inc/Jack W. Flaherty, Monterey, CA with new c/r N6763.

    By November 1974


    Photographer: Charlene Aro
    Notes: Photographed at Travis AFB, CA.

    Raced as #28.

    From 19 June 1976 to 20 June 1976

    Raced as #28.
    Competed at the California National Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Marvin *Lefty* Gardner from Mercedes, TX. Qualified in 10th place with an average speed of 299.618 mph. Raced in the Consolation race. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 314.696 mph.

    From 7 September 1976 to 12 September 1976

    Raced as #4.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Jack Flaherty from Hollister, CA. Qualified in 10th place with an average speed of 342.52 mph. Raced in the Reserve race. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 320.39 mph.

    Circa 7 September 1976


    Photographer: Tim OBrien

    Circa 19 September 1976


    Photographer: Charlene Aro
    Notes: Photographed at the National Air Races held in Mojave, CA.

    Raced as #6.

    From 1977 to 1981

    To Whittington Brothers, Fort Lauderdale, FL keeping c/r N6763.

    From 12 September 1978 to 17 September 1978

    Raced as #8.
    This race number was unofficial and was used only for this race. Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Don Whittington. Qualified in 19th place with an average speed of 315.25 mph. Raced in the First Trophy race. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 308.07 mph. Raced in the Heat 2A race. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 298.63 mph. Raced in the Reserve race. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 298.63 mph.

    Circa 12 September 1978


    Photographer: Charlene Jo Aro

    8 October 1978


    Photographer: Peter Nicholson
    Notes: Kingcobra P-63F 43-11719 as NL6763 of the Confederate Air Force on display at their 1978 Airshow at Harlingen, Texas.

    14 January 1979


    Photographer: Larry Johnson
    Notes: At Ft.Lauderdale Exec in Florida

    Flown in Soviet Air Force markings.

    Circa February 1979


    Photographer: Larry Johnson

    From 26 February 1979 to 4 March 1979

    Raced as #8.
    Competed at the Homestead Florida in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Jimmy Leeward from Fort Lauderdale, FL. Qualified in 21st place with an average speed of 281.879 mph. Raced in Round 2. Finished in 7th place with an average speed of 287.277 mph. Raced in the Make-Up race. Finished in 1st place.

    From 10 August 1981 to 2015

    To Confederate Air Force, Harlingen/Midland, TX keeping c/r N6763.

    9 October 1982


    Photographer: Paul Thallon
    Notes: 1982 photo at Harlingen, TX - of Bell P-63F Kingcobra

    6 September 1991

    To American Airpower Heritage Flying Mu, Midland, TX keeping c/r N6763.

    Markings Applied: 11719
    Flown in USAAF markings.

    22 July 1995


    Photographer: Mike Henniger
    Notes: Photographed at the Dayton International Air and Trade Show at Dayton, Ohio.

    In the inventory of Commemorative Air Force Airpower Museum, Midland International Airport (MAF), Midland, TX.
    View the Location Dossier

    Operated by Commemorative Air Force-Houston Wing, West Houston Lakesite Airport, Houston, TX.
    View the Location Dossier

    Operated by Commemorative Air Force-Central Texas Wing Museum, San Marcos Airport, San Marcos, TX.
    View the Location Dossier

    Markings Applied: 4117
    Flown in USAF markings.

    From 1 January 2002 to 2021

    To Commemorative Air Force, Midland, TX keeping c/r N6763.

    12 September 2010


    Photographer: Andrew Breeden
    Notes: On maintenance 2010

    15 October 2013

    Gear-up emergency landing, Midland-Sky West, TX.

    Repaired Pearland TX.

    1 January 2014

    Certificate of airworthiness for NL6763 (P63E, 296E1-1R) issued.

    24 August 2015

    To American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum, Dallas, TX keeping c/r N6763.

    14 April 2016

    Markings Applied: 4117
    Finished in silver USAAF markings.

    29 October 2016


    Photographer: Tom Tessier
    Notes: At CAF Wings Over Dallas Airshow, Dallas Executive Airport, TX.

    29 October 2016


    Photographer: Tom Tessier
    Notes: At CAF Wings Over Dallas Airshow, Dallas Executive Airport, TX.

    29 October 2016


    Photographer: Tom Tessier
    Notes: At CAF Wings Over Dallas Airshow, Dallas Executive Airport, TX.

    From 2017 to 2018

    Markings Applied: 311719, X
    Finished in silver USAAF markings.

    12 January 2017

    Certificate of airworthiness for NX6763 (P-63F, 296E1-1R) issued.

    8 November 2017

    To American Airpower Heritage Flying Mu, Dallas, TX keeping c/r N6763.

    12 November 2022


    Photographer: Ryan Short
    Notes: Taken as she taxied out for her final flight.

    12 November 2022

    Destroyed in a crash.
    Involved in a mid-air collision with B-17G USAAF s/n 44-83872 USN BuNo 77235 c/r N7227C. The pilot of the P-63 perished in the crash.
    For more information about this other airframe see this Airframe Dossier


    Credits
    Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...

    Print Sources
    Air Racing Results by Gary Williams
    Racing Planes and Air Races A Complete History, Series 1, Volume 13, 1977-1978 Biennial by Dusty Carter
    U.S. Military Out of Service 2010 by Andy Marden
    Unlimited Air Racers (1992 Motorbooks International) by Don Berliner

    Internet Sources
    Aerial Visuals - The Locator by Mike Henniger, Senior Editor
    Federal Aviation Administration in the United States of America
    Reno Air Racing Association (National Championship Air Races)
    Warbirds Directory, 6th Edition (2013) by Geoff Goodall

    Individual Contributors
    Terry Fletcher
    Mike Henniger

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