Boeing XF4B-1
Boeing · United States · first flew 1928 · fighter
The Boeing XF4B-1 was the prototype for what would become the highly successful F4B series of carrier-based biplane fighters for the US Navy. First flown in 1928, it demonstrated excellent performance and led directly to large production orders.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.12 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-seat biplane prototype for US Navy
- Pratt & Whitney Wasp radial engine in neat cowling
- Mixed wood-and-metal construction
A compact single-bay biplane with a round radial engine cowling, slightly staggered wings, and a distinctive smooth fuselage compared to earlier corrugated-skin Boeing designs.
Specifications
- The Boeing XF4B-1 has a length of 6.12 m (20 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.14 m (30 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 302 km/h (188 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Boeing privately developed the Model 83 and 89 prototypes (evaluated as XF4B-1) in 1928, combining a welded steel tube fuselage with fabric-covered wooden wings and powered by a Pratt & Whitney Wasp. Navy trials were very successful and production F4B-1s entered service in 1929.
Variants
The XF4B-1 prototype led to the F4B-1 through F4B-4 production series; the Army received essentially the same aircraft as the P-12.
Where you'll see it
The prototype itself did not serve operationally; its descendants, the F4B-1 through F4B-4, were the primary US Navy fighter from 1929 to the mid-1930s.
Related aircraft
- Boeing 80
- Boeing P-12/F4B
- Boeing P-12
- Boeing PW-9C
- Curtiss F8C-1 Falcon
- Curtiss F8C-3 Falcon
- Curtiss XP-10
- Dewoitine D.27
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.