When most aviation enthusiasts think of military aircraft bearing the name “cobra,” chances are the first warbird that comes to their minds is the AH-1W Whiskey Cobra helicopter gunship.

In order to trace the roots of the P-63, one must examine its direct predecessor, the Bell P-39 Airacobra. The Airacobra had been intended to be a high-altitude interceptor, complete with an M4 ...