Boeing P-26 Peashooter

The Boeing P-26 “Peashooter” was the first American production all-metal fighter aircraft and the first pursuit monoplane to enter squadron service with the United States Army Air Corps.

Designed and built by Boeing, the prototype first flew in 1932, and the type was still in use with the U.S. Army Air Corps as late as 1941 in the Philippines. 

Variants

XP-936 / Model 266

Prototypes powered by a 525 hp (391 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340-21 Wasp radial engine.

P-26A

Single seat fighter aircraft, powered by a 600 hp (450 kW) R-1340-27.

P-26B

Single seat fighter, powered by a fuel-injected 600 hp (450 kW) R-1340-33.

P-26C

Single-seat fighter, with a carbureted

R-1340-33 and a modified fuel system.

Model 281

Export version of the P-26C, 11 built for China and 1 for Spain.

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

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)

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.