Boeing XP-936

Boeing · United States · first flew 1932 · fighter

The Boeing XP-936 was the company-funded prototype that led directly to the production P-26 Peashooter, serving as the USAAC's first all-metal monoplane fighter. Three XP-936 aircraft were built and evaluated in 1932.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	7.19 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Direct prototype for the P-26 Peashooter
Open cockpit with fixed spatted undercarriage
External wing bracing wires retained from biplane era

Almost identical in appearance to the P-26 Peashooter — low-wing monoplane with round radial engine, spatted fixed undercarriage, open cockpit, and distinctive bracing wires between wing and fuselage.

Specifications

The Boeing XP-936 has a length of 7.19 m (24 ft).
It has a wingspan of 8.52 m (28 ft).
Its maximum speed is 393 km/h (244 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Boeing developed the XP-936 at its own expense in 1931–32 to demonstrate the viability of a low-wing monoplane fighter to the US Army Air Corps. The design incorporated an open cockpit, fixed undercarriage with wheel fairings, and external wing bracing wires — a transitional design bridging biplane and modern monoplane practice. Evaluation led directly to the P-26 production contract.

Variants

The XP-936 evaluation led to the XP-936A and then the production P-26A, P-26B, and P-26C Peashooter variants with progressive improvements.

Where you'll see it

The three XP-936 prototypes were evaluated by the USAAC at Wright Field in 1932 and subsequently modified; they did not serve operationally in prototype form.

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