{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}} {{italic title}}
{{Notability|date=March 2023}}{{refimprove|date=January 2010}} {{Infobox aircraft |name = ''AH574'' |image = File:AH574 Aircobra 1 RN Landing on HMS Pretoria Castle 04-04-1945 (cropped).jpg |caption = AH574 onboard HMS Pretoria Castle |alt = <!-- Alt text for main image --> |other_names = <!--Other names (nicknames, nose art names) this aircraft is known by--> |type = Bell Airacobra I |manufacturer = <!-- may differ from the main/original manufacturer of this aircraft's type --> |construction_number = <!-- manufacturer's construction number --> |construction_date = <!-- either roll-out date or span of time for lengthy projects, whichever seems more appropriate --> |civil_registration = <!-- any civil registrations carried by this aircraft --> |military_serial = AH574 |radio_code = <!-- military radio codes where this is a commonly-used way of identifying this aircraft (eg. US, British, and German military aircraft of WWII --> |first_flight = <!-- date of first flight --> |owners = <!-- owners or operators, whether private individuals, companies, or military services --> |in_service = <!-- time in military or revenue service, as a range of dates --> |last_flight = <!-- date of last flight --> |flights = <!-- number of flights made by this aircraft, usually only relevant for an aircraft no longer flying --> |total_hours = <!-- total number of hours flown by this aircraft, usually only relevant for an aircraft no longer flying --> |total_distance = <!-- total distance flown by this aircraft, usually only relevant for an aircraft no longer flying --> |status = <!-- status for an aircraft still in service --> |aircraft_carried = <!-- type of aircraft carried, usually only for mothership aircraft --> |fate = Scrapped, 1946 |preservation = <!-- where this aircraft is currently preserved (if it is) --> }} '''''AH574''''' was a Bell Airacobra I used by the Royal Navy for test work during and after the Second World War
== Initial history == ''AH574'' was initially ordered in 1940 for the Royal Air Force (RAF) as part of the Airacobra I serial number block ''AH570''–''AH739'' (No. 601 Squadron RAF).<ref>
[http://www.ukserials.com "UK Military Aircraft Serial Allocations."] ''UK Serial Resource Centre'' (Compiled by Wolverhampton Aviation Group). Retrieved: 4 December 2011.</ref> When the Airacobra type was rejected by the RAF, ''AH574'' was transferred to the Royal Navy for test work.<ref name=page93>Brown 2006, p. 93.</ref><ref>Droog, Bart F.M. [http://www.epibreren.com/ww2/raf/601_squadron.html "RAF - No. 601 Squadron."] ''Traces of World War 2,'' 17 January 2008. Retrieved: 4 December 2011.</ref>
== Test work == On 4 April 1945, ''AH574'' became part of aviation history when test pilot Captain Eric "Winkle" Brown landed it on the flight deck of HMS ''Pretoria Castle''—the first carrier landing made by an aircraft with retractable tricycle gear—due to a declared emergency during initial trials for landings on rubber decks planned for future carriers.
In his autobiography, Captain Brown described the circumstances thus:<blockquote> I had already collected a few 'firsts' in aviation, and I rather wanted to be the first pilot to put a tricycle aircraft down on a flight deck. The Airacobra was not officially cleared for such a landing, but the boffins had told me privately that it would probably take the strain.<br />This was not on the official programme at all, but I hoped that I could persuade Captain Caspar John of the ''Pretoria Castle'' to turn a blind eye to what I had in mind. I wrote to him beforehand and asked him if he would be prepared to take me aboard in the event of sudden engine trouble. He at once saw what I was after, of course, and was good sport enough to go along with it. He suggested that it might be a good idea if my engine trouble occurred on my last approach.<br/>Strangely enough it did. I began my approach, then, just for the record, called up the ship and complained that my engine was running rough. Would they accept me? Back came Captain John's instant 'affirmative'. I put the hook down, and caught the wire with no trouble at all.</blockquote> The trouble started when the time came to take off, as the Airacobra had a long take-off run—which was one of the reasons behind the type's rejection by the RAF—and 'Winkle' only managed to get airborne because ''Pretoria Castle'' was steaming full speed ahead at the time.<ref name=page93/>
==Fate== In March 1946, a visiting Bell test pilot oversaw laminar flow experiments being conducted with Bell P-63 Kingcobras.<blockquote> Just for a laugh I asked him to test my old Bell Airacobra, which I had been using for so many hops around the country. He took off, did one very quick circuit, and came back ashed-faced. 'I have never,' he said, 'flown in an aeroplane in such an advanced state of decay. This machine should be scrapped forthwith.' So, on 28th March, I went up for a last aerobatic session in her, then bade a sentimental farewell. The last laugh was on me. </blockquote> AH574 was duly scrapped shortly afterward,<ref>Brown 2006, p. 145.</ref> and Brown was later given a Fieseler Storch as a replacement.<ref>Brown 2006, p. 149.</ref>
==References== {{Commons category}} ;Notes {{reflist}} ;Bibliography {{refbegin}} * Brown, Eric. ''Wings On My Sleeve: The World's Greatest Test Pilot tells his Story''. London: Orion Books. 2006. {{ISBN|978-0-297-84565-2}}. {{refend}}
{{P-39 Airacobra family}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ah574}} Category:Individual aircraft Category:1940s British experimental aircraft Category:Low-wing aircraft