Боинг Р-26

Боинг Р-26

СтраныСША
ТипСамолеты преследования
Первый полет20 марта 1932 года
Построен151

Teh Боинг Р-26 «Peashooter» был первым американским истребителем производства всех металлов и первым монопланом преследования, который поступить на вооружение эскадрильи с воздушным корпусом армии США. Разработанный и построенный Boeing, прототип впервые полетел в 1932 году, и тип по-прежнему используется с ввсй корпуса армии США еще в 1941 году на Филиппинах. Есть только два сохранившихся Peashooters, но Есть три репродукции на выставке с еще двумя в стадии строительства.

Источник: Боинг P-26 на Вики

Боинг Р-26
ФотографРоб Браун
ЛокализацииНеизвестная
Фотографии22
Подождите, поиск Боинг P-26 фотографии для вас ...
P-26 Peashooter Прогулка вокруг
ФотографГрант Мултон
ЛокализацииНеизвестная
Фотографии34
Боинг P-26A Peashooter
ФотографСес Хендрикс
ЛокализацииНеизвестная
Фотографии42

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The End of the Biplane Era

Teh Боинг Р-26, affectionately known as the “Peashooter” due to its blast tube for the guns, was a revolutionary aircraft for the U.S. Army Air Corps. Entering service in 1933, it was a “transitional” fighter: it ditched the traditional double wings for a modern, low-wing monoplane design and featured an all-metal semi-monocoque fuselage. However, it still clung to the past with its open cockpit, fixed landing gear, and external wire bracing. Though it was obsolete by the time WWII began, it was the fastest fighter in the world upon its debut and paved the way for the legendary fighters that followed.

Attribute Technical Specification (P-26A)
Роль Fighter / Pursuit Aircraft
Экипажа 1 (Pilot)
First Flight March 20, 1932
Силовая установка 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1340-27 “Wasp” radial
Horsepower 600 hp (450 kW)
Максимальная скорость 234 mph (377 km/h)
Вооружение 2 × .30 cal machine guns (or 1 × .50 and 1 × .30)
полезная нагрузка 2 × 100 lb bombs or 5 × 31 lb anti-personnel bombs

Design Engineering: Old World Meets New

  • External Wire Bracing: Unlike later “cantilever” monoplanes (like the Spitfire) where the wing’s strength was internal, the P-26 relied on external wires attached to the fuselage and landing gear for support. This allowed for a thinner, faster wing but created significant drag. [Image diagram of the Boeing P-26 wing bracing and rigging system]
  • The “Tuna Can” Cowling: The P-26 used a narrow Townend ring or NACA cowling around its radial engine. This was a cutting-edge aerodynamic feature at the time, designed to reduce drag while still allowing the air-cooled engine to breathe.
  • Wheel Spats (Fairings): To eke out every bit of speed, the fixed landing gear was enclosed in large, streamlined fairings. While aerodynamic, these were prone to clogging with mud on unpaved airfields. [Image detail of the P-26 landing gear fairings and fixed struts]
  • Flap Integration: Due to its high landing speed (for the time), the P-26 was eventually fitted with wing flaps to help pilots touch down safely on shorter runways—a relatively new concept for American pursuit pilots in the early 30s.

Combat History and the Pacific Sunset

  • First Blood in China: The P-26 saw its first real combat not with the U.S., but with the Chinese Nationalist Air Force. Flying exported “Model 281” variants, Chinese pilots successfully intercepted Japanese Mitsubishi G3M bombers in 1937, scoring the first monoplane fighter victories.
  • Defense of the Philippines: When Japan attacked in December 1941, the Philippine Army Air Corps was still flying the P-26. Against all odds, Captain Jesus Villamor and his squadron used the aging Peashooters to knock down modern Japanese A6M Zeros, proving that pilot skill could occasionally overcome technological gaps.
  • The Headrest Safety: The P-26 featured a very high, prominent headrest. This was designed to protect the pilot in the event of a “nose-over” landing, a common accident given the plane’s light weight and high center of gravity. [Image detail of the P-26 cockpit and large protective headrest fairing]
  • Guatemalan Service: Long after the U.S. retired them, the P-26 lived on in Central America. Guatemala used the Peashooter as its primary fighter until 1954, making it one of the longest-serving frontline fighters of the 1930s era.

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