Boeing P-12
Boeing · United States · first flew 1929 · fighter
The Boeing P-12 was the US Army Air Corps' principal pursuit fighter of the early 1930s, a nimble open-cockpit biplane powered by the Pratt & Whitney Wasp radial. Its naval equivalent, the F4B, served simultaneously with the US Navy.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.04 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Classic 1930s USAAC biplane pursuit
- Single Pratt & Whitney Wasp radial with ring cowl
- Staggered equal-span biplane with spatted fixed undercarriage
Equal-span staggered biplane with a Townend ring around the radial engine, spatted fixed undercarriage, open cockpit, and the clean lines characteristic of late 1920s Boeing pursuit design.
Specifications
- The Boeing P-12 has a length of 6.04 m (20 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.14 m (30 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 303 km/h (188 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Boeing developed the P-12 from a private-venture proposal in 1928; the Army placed production orders the following year after competitive evaluation. Five production sub-variants (P-12B through P-12F) were delivered, incorporating progressive improvements to engine, cowling, and airframe. Over 360 were built across Army and Navy variants.
Variants
The P-12 series ran from the initial P-12A to the definitive P-12E and F with improved Wasp engines; the Navy's F4B-1 through F4B-4 were broadly equivalent aircraft.
Where you'll see it
Served with USAAC pursuit squadrons from 1929 to the mid-1930s, equipping numerous groups before replacement by more modern monoplane fighters.
Related aircraft
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