Editing Bell XP-83 (section)

==Design and development==
The early [[jet aircraft|jet]] [[fighter aircraft|fighter]]s consumed [[Jet fuel|fuel]] at a prodigious rate which severely limited their [[Range (aircraft)|range]] and [[Combat endurance|endurance]]. In March 1944, the [[United States Army Air Forces]] requested Bell to design a fighter with increased endurance and formally awarded a contract for two prototypes on 31 July 1944.

Bell had been working on its "Model 40" interceptor design since 1943. It was redesigned as a long-range escort fighter while retaining the general layout of the [[Bell P-59 Airacomet|P-59 Airacomet]]. The two [[Allison J33|General Electric J33]]-GE-5 [[turbojet]] engines were located in each wing root which left the large and bulky [[fuselage]] free for fuel tanks and armament. The fuselage was an all-metal [[semimonocoque]] capable of carrying 1,150&nbsp;gal (4,350&nbsp;L) of fuel. In addition, two 250&nbsp;gal (950&nbsp;L) [[drop tank]]s could be carried. The cabin was [[Cabin pressurization|pressurized]] and used a small and low bubble style canopy. The armament was to be six [[.50 BMG|0.5&nbsp;in]] (12.7&nbsp;mm) [[machine gun]]s in the nose.