Boeing FB-5
Boeing · United States · first flew 1926 · fighter
The Boeing FB-5 was a single-seat biplane fighter developed for the United States Navy in the mid-1920s, representing the final and most refined variant of the FB series. It served aboard early US Navy carriers as a standard fighter type.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.08 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-seat Navy biplane fighter of the mid-1920s
- Packard 2A-1500 water-cooled engine
- Flotation gear provisions for carrier or floatplane use
A classic mid-1920s single-bay biplane with a large nose-mounted water-cooled engine radiator bath, straight wings, and tailwheel undercarriage; similar to the Army PW-9 but with Navy equipment.
Specifications
- The Boeing FB-5 has a length of 7.08 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.75 m (32 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 271 km/h (168 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The FB series evolved from Boeing's Army PW-9 design adapted for Navy carrier use. The FB-5 introduced the Packard 2A-1500 engine and was ordered in quantity, with 27 examples entering service in 1926–1927 aboard USS Langley and later carriers.
Variants
The FB series ran from FB-1 through FB-6, each with different engines; the FB-5 was the most numerous Navy variant and differed from the FB-3 in its Packard powerplant.
Where you'll see it
Served with US Navy fighter squadrons aboard early carriers, being phased out as Boeing's F2B and F3B designs entered service in the late 1920s.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.