Time Period: World War II
Country of Origin: United States
Type: Fighter Aircraft, Monoplane
Manufacturer: Boeing
Boeing P-26 Peashooter Aircraft Overview
The Boeing P-26 Peashooter was a single-seat, all-metal monoplane fighter aircraft developed by Boeing in the late 1920s and early 1930s. It was the first all-metal monoplane fighter produced for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC).
The P-26 was powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1340 radial engine with a top speed of about 234 mph (377 km/h). It was armed with two .30 caliber machine guns and could carry up to 200 pounds of bombs or other stores.
The P-26 was also notable for its advanced design features, including a fully enclosed cockpit and retractable landing gear, which were both relatively rare at the time.
The P-26 first entered service with the USAAC in 1934 and remained in service until the mid-1930s. It was gradually replaced by newer, more advanced aircraft, such as the Curtiss P-36 Hawk and the Republic P-43 Lancer.
Despite its relatively short service life, the P-26 played an important role in the development of American fighter aircraft, and its design influenced many subsequent aircraft designs. Today, several P-26s are preserved in museums and private collections around the world.
Boeing P-26 Peashooter Specifications
- Crew: One
- Length: 23 ft 7 in (7.19 m)
- Wingspan: 28 ft (8.5 m)
- Height: 10 ft (3.0 m)
- Wing area: 250 sq ft (23 m2)
- Airfoil: Boeing 109
- Empty weight: 2,196 lb (996 kg)
- Gross weight: 3,360 lb (1,524 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1340-27 Wasp 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 600 hp (450 kW)
- Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller
Boeing P-26 Peashooter Performance
- Maximum speed: 234 mph (377 km/h, 203 kn)
- Combat range: 360 mi (580 km, 310 nmi)
- Ferry range: 635 mi (1,022 km, 552 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 27,400 ft (8,400 m)
- Rate of climb: 719 ft/min (3.65 m/s)
Boeing P-26 Peashooter Armament
- Guns: 2 × .30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine guns or 1 x .30 in (7.62 mm) and 1 x .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns.
- Bombs: 2 × 100 lb (45 kg) GP bombs or 5 x 31 lb (14 kg) anti-personnel bombs.
Boeing P-26 Peashooter Image Gallery
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