Bell YFM-1 Airacuda

YFM-1 Airacuda
General information
Type	Interceptor
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Bell Aircraft
Primary user	United States Army Air Corps
Number built	13
History
Manufactured	1937–1939
Introduction date	23 February 1940
First flight	1 September 1937[1]
Retired	1942

The Bell YFM-1 Airacuda was an American heavy fighter aircraft, developed by the Bell Aircraft Corporation for the United States Army Air Corps during the mid-1930s. It was the first military aircraft produced by Bell. Originally designated the Bell Model 1, the Airacuda first flew on 1 September 1937. The Airacuda was marked by bold design advances and considerable flaws that eventually grounded the aircraft.

The Airacuda was Bell Aircraft's answer for a "bomber destroyer" aircraft. Although it did see limited production, and one fully operational squadron was eventually formed, only one prototype and 12 production models were ultimately built, in three slightly different versions.