Boeing P-26 Peashooter
Boeing · United States · first flew 1932 · fighter
The Boeing P-26 Peashooter was the first American all-metal monoplane fighter to enter service, bridging the gap between the fabric biplane era and the fully modern monoplane fighters of the late 1930s. Despite its modern metal structure it retained open cockpit, fixed undercarriage, and wire bracing.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Distinctive short-fuselage low-wing design with exposed engine cylinders |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- First American all-metal monoplane fighter with an open cockpit
- Fixed undercarriage with streamlined wheel fairings and wing bracing wires
- Distinctive short-fuselage low-wing design with exposed engine cylinders
Low-wing all-metal monoplane with wire-braced wings, fixed undercarriage with large streamlined fairings, open cockpit, and a Pratt & Whitney Wasp radial engine.
Specifications
- The Boeing P-26 Peashooter has a length of 7.19 m (24 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.52 m (28 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 377 km/h (234 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The P-26 first flew in March 1932 and entered USAAC service in 1934 as a revolutionary departure from biplane fighters. Despite its modern metal construction, its fixed undercarriage and wire-braced wings were already becoming obsolete. P-26s served in the Philippines at the outbreak of the Pacific War; Filipino pilots flew them against Japanese attackers in December 1941, scoring victories against more modern opponents. Exported models served in China and Guatemala.
Variants
The P-26A was the primary US version; the P-26B and P-26C introduced fuel injection and revised carburettors; export models served in China and Guatemala.
Where you'll see it
Served with the USAAC from 1934 to the early 1940s; Philippine Army Air Corps P-26s flew combat against Japanese forces in December 1941; Guatemala operated the type until 1956, making it the last P-26 in active service.
Related aircraft
- Boeing P-26A Peashooter
- Boeing XP-936
- Boeing 247
- Boeing 247D
- ANF Les Mureaux 170
- Avia B-34
- Consolidated Y1P-25
- Curtiss BF2C-1 Goshawk
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