Boeing XPW-9
Boeing · United States · first flew 1923 · fighter
The Boeing XPW-9 was a single-seat biplane fighter prototype developed for the US Army Air Service in 1923, representing Boeing's entry into the pursuit aircraft market. It led directly to the production PW-9 series.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.11 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-bay biplane with tapered upper wing
- Curtiss D-12 water-cooled inline engine
- Early 1920s US Army pursuit prototype
Recognized as a 1920s single-bay sesquiplane biplane with a large frontal water-cooled inline engine radiator and tapered upper wing, typical of US Army pursuit designs of the era.
Specifications
- The Boeing XPW-9 has a length of 7.11 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.75 m (32 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 280 km/h (174 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Boeing designed the XPW-9 as a single-bay biplane with a Curtiss D-12 engine to compete against offerings from other manufacturers. The prototype impressed Army evaluators and led to production contracts for the PW-9, marking an important early success for Boeing in military aviation.
Variants
The XPW-9 prototype led to the PW-9 production series including the PW-9A, B, C, and D variants with progressive improvements to engine cooling and airframe details.
Where you'll see it
The XPW-9 itself was a prototype only; the production PW-9 variants served with the US Army Air Service and Air Corps through the mid-1920s to early 1930s.
Related aircraft
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