Boeing P-26

Boeing P-26
Land	Usa
Typ	Jaktflygplan
Första flygningen	Den 20 mars 1932
Byggd	151

Den Boeing P-26 "Peashooter" var det första amerikanska stridsflygplanet i allmetall och det första monoplanet som gick in i skvadrontjänst med USA:s arméflygvapen. Prototypen designades och byggdes av Boeing och flög första gången 1932, och typen användes fortfarande med den amerikanska arméns flygvapen så sent som 1941 i Filippinerna. Det finns bara två överlevande Peashooters, men det finns tre reproduktioner på utställning med ytterligare två under uppbyggnad.

Källkod: Boeing P-26 på Wiki

Boeing P-26
Fotograf	Råna brun
Lokalisering	Unknow
Bilder	22

Boeing P-26 01

Boeing P-26 02

Boeing P-26 03

Boeing P-26 04

Boeing P-26 05

Boeing P-26 06

Boeing P-26 07

Boeing P-26 08

Boeing P-26 09

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P-26 Peashooter går runt
Fotograf	Bevilja Moulton
Lokalisering	Unknow
Bilder	34

Boeing P-26A Peashooter
Fotograf	Cees Hendriks
Lokalisering	Unknow
Bilder	42

Boeing P-26A Peashooter 01

Boeing P-26A Peashooter 02

Boeing P-26A Peashooter 03

Boeing P-26A Peashooter 04

Boeing P-26A Peashooter 05

Boeing P-26A Peashooter 06

Boeing P-26A Peashooter 07

Boeing P-26A Peashooter 08

Boeing P-26A Peashooter 09

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Se även:

The End of the Biplane Era

Den Boeing P-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)
Roll	Fighter / Pursuit Aircraft
besättning	1 (Pilot)
First Flight	March 20, 1932
Kraftverk	1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1340-27 “Wasp” radial
Horsepower	600 hp (450 kW)
Maximum Speed	234 mph (377 km/h)
Beväpning	2 × .30 cal machine guns (or 1 × .50 and 1 × .30)
Nyttolast	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.