Boeing XP-9
Boeing · United States · first flew 1930 · fighter
The Boeing XP-9 (company Model 96) was the first monoplane fighter produced by Boeing. Its sophisticated structural refinements influenced later Boeing designs.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Large six-foot-chord wing placed on top of the fuselage directly in front of the pilot |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Large six-foot-chord wing placed on top of the fuselage directly in front of the pilot
- Semi-monocoque fuselage structure
- Enlarged, smooth metal-skinned vertical tail added after testing
Look for a single-engined fighter monoplane with a high wing set directly ahead of the open cockpit. Its structure fed into the later P-12 biplane.
Specifications
- The Boeing XP-9 has a length of 7.66 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.13 m (37 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 343 km/h (213 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The XP-9 was designed in 1928 to meet a US Army request for a monoplane fighter, and the prototype first flew on 18 November 1930. Its semi-monocoque construction later became standard.
Variants
The XP-9 was a single prototype powered by a 600 hp Curtiss Conqueror engine. An option for five Y1P-9 service test aircraft was not taken up.
Where you'll see it
The wing sat directly in front of the pilot and badly obstructed downward visibility, and the aircraft was very unstable. It was grounded after only 15 hours of test flying, in August 1931.
Related aircraft
- Boeing Monomail
- Boeing XP-15
- Boeing F4B-2
- Boeing F4B-4
- Arado Ar 64
- Arado SSD I
- Armstrong Whitworth A.W.16
- Curtiss F6C-6 Hawk
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 8,606 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.