Bell XP-83      44-84990

                                 

                                    Early jet fighters consumed fuel at a tremendous burn rate.  In an effort to improve the range over
                                    its earlier P-59 Airacomet design, Bell developed the XP-83.  Seen above is the first protoype
                                    which took to the air on  25 February 1945.   Since the aircraft proved inferior to the Lockheed
                                    P-80 already about to go into production, work on the XP-83's two protoypes was terminated
                                    in 1947.