Boeing P-12

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_P-12

The Boeing P-12/F4B was an American pursuit aircraft that was operated by the
United States Army Air Corps and United States Navy.

Boeing developed the aircraft as a private venture to replace the Boeing F2B and
F3B with the United States Navy, the first flight of the P-12 took place on 25
June 1928. The new aircraft was smaller, lighter and more agile than the ones it
replaced but still used the Wasp engine of the F3B. This resulted in a higher
top speed and overall better performance. As result of Navy evaluation 27 were
ordered as the F4B-1, later evaluation by the United States Army Air Corps
resulted in orders with the designation P-12. Boeing supplied the USAAC with 366
P-12s between 1929 and 1932. Production of all variants totalled 586.


Role
Fighter aircraft

Manufacturer
Boeing Aircraft Company

First flight
25 June 1928

Introduction
1930

Retired
1949 Brazilian Air Force [1]

Primary users
United States Army Air Corps
United States Navy
Philippine Army Air Corps
Royal Thai Air Force

Produced
1929–1932

Number built
586[2] 366 P-12
187 F4B
33 demonstrators and exports

P-12s were flown by the 17th Pursuit Group (34th, 73rd, and 95th Pursuit
Squadrons) at March Field, California, and the 20th Pursuit Group (55th, 77th
and 79th Pursuit Squadrons) at Barksdale Field, Louisiana. Older P-12s were used
by groups overseas: the 4th Composite Group (3rd Pursuit Squadron) in the
Philippines, the 16th Pursuit Group (24th, 29th, 74th, and 79th Pursuit
Squadrons) in the Canal Zone, and the 18th Pursuit Group (6th and 19th Pursuit
Squadrons) in Hawaii.

The P-12 remained in service with first-line pursuit groups until replaced by
Boeing P-26s in 1934–1935. Survivors were relegated to training duties until
1941, when most were grounded and assigned to mechanic's schools.


Specifications (P-12E)

General characteristics
Crew: one
Length: 20 ft 4 in (6.19 m)
Wingspan: 30 ft (9.14 m)
Height: 9 ft (2.74 m)
Loaded weight: 2,690 lb (1,220 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1340-17 Radial engine, 500 hp (373 kW)

Performance
Maximum speed: 189 mph (304 km/h)
Cruise speed: 160 mph (257 km/h)
Range: 570 miles (917 km)
Service ceiling: 8,020 m[18] (26,300 ft)

Armament

Guns: 2 x .30 inch (7.62 mm) Browning machine guns with 600 rounds per gun or 1
x .30 inch (7.62 mm) machine gun with 600 rounds and 1 x .50 inch (12.7 mm)
machine gun with 200 rounds [19]
Bombs: 244 lb (111 kg) of bombs carried externally.




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