The Bell YFM-1 Airacuda was a prototype fighter aircraft developed by Bell Aircraft Corporation in the late 1930s. It was a unique aircraft with a number of advanced features for its time, but ultimately proved to be unsuccessful and only two prototypes were built.

The Airacuda was a twin-engine, two-seat aircraft with a pusher configuration. It was armed with two 37mm cannon in a dorsal turret and four .30 caliber machine guns in the nose. The aircraft also featured a tricycle landing gear and was powered by two Allison V-1710 liquid-cooled engines.

One of the unique features of the Airacuda was its laminar flow wing design, which was intended to reduce drag and improve performance. The aircraft also featured a complex cooling system, with coolant flowing through the wings and tail surfaces to help dissipate engine heat.

Despite its advanced features, the Airacuda had a number of problems during testing and never entered production. The aircraft was heavy and underpowered, with a relatively low top speed, and its complex systems proved difficult to maintain. In addition, the Airacuda’s complex turret system was difficult to use in combat, and the aircraft’s performance suffered when firing the heavy 37mm cannon.

After the Airacuda project was canceled, the two prototypes were used for a variety of purposes, including as engine testbeds and for aerial photography. One of the aircraft is preserved at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.