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Table of Contents [Hide/Show] 1. - Development 2. - Serial #'s 3. - Operational History 4. - Variants 5. - Technical Specifications        General characteristics        Performance        Armament 6. - Operators 7. - Survivors 8. - Links 9. - Markings 10. - References

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1. - Development

The all-metal, single-wing P-26, popularly known as the "Peashooter," was an entirely new design for Boeing, and its structure drew heavily on the Monomail. The Peashooter's wings were braced with wire, rather than with the rigid struts used on other airplanes, so the airplane was lighter and had less drag. Its initial high landing speeds were reduced by the addition of wing flaps in the production models.

Because the P-26 flew 27 mph faster and outclimbed biplane fighters, the Army ordered 136 production-model Peashooters. Acclaimed by pilots for its speed and maneuverability, the small but feisty P-26 formed the core of pursuit squadrons throughout the United States.
Twelve export versions, 11 for China and one for Spain, were built. One of a group of P-26s, turned over to the Philippine Army late in 1941, was among the first Allied fighters to down a Japanese airplane in World War II.
Funds to buy the export version of the Peashooter were partly raised by Chinese Americans. Contribution boxes were placed on the counters of Chinese restaurants.


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2. - Serial #'s

P-26 Peashooter - Serials

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3. - Operational History

U.S. Army Air Corps
Deliveries to USAAC pursuit squadrons began in December 1933 with the last production aircraft in the series coming off the assembly line in 1936, designated the P-26C. Ultimately 22 squadrons flew the Peashooter, with peak service being six squadrons in 1936. P-26s were the front-line fighters of the USAAC until 1938, when Seversky P-35s and Curtiss P-36s began to replace it. 20 P-26s were lost in accidents between 1934 and the start of

World War II, but only five before 1940.
Air Corps units using the P-26 were the:
1st Pursuit Group (17th, 27th, and 94th PS), Selfridge Field, Michigan;
8th Pursuit Group (33rd, 35th, and 36th PS), Langley Field, Virginia;
16th Pursuit Group (24th and 78th PS), Albrook Field, Panama Canal Zone;
17th Pursuit Group (34th, 73d, and 95th PS), March Field, California
18th Pursuit Group (6th and 19th PS), Wheeler Field, Hawaii;
20th Pursuit Group (55th, 77th, and 79th PS), Barksdale Field, Louisiana; and
3d Pursuit Squadron, Clark Field, Philippine Islands.


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4. - Variants

XP-936
P-26A Peashooter
P-26B Peashooter
P-26C Peashooter
Model 281


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5. - Technical Specifications

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General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 23 ft 7 in (7.18 m)
Wingspan: 28 ft (8.50 m)
Height: 10 ft 0 in (3.04 m)
Wing area: ft² (m²)
Empty weight: 2,196 lb (996 kg)
Loaded weight: 3,360 lb (1,524 kg)
Powerplant: 1× Pratt & Whitney R-1340-7 "Wasp" radial engine, 600 hp (440 kW)

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Performance

Maximum speed: 234 mph (203 knots, 377 km/h) at 6,000 ft (1,800 m)
Combat radius: 360 mi (310 nm, 580 km)
Ferry range: 635 mi (550 nm, 1,020 km)
Service ceiling: 27,400 (8,350 m)

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Armament

Guns: 2× .30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine guns
Bombs: 1× 200 lb (90 kg) bomb


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6. - Operators

• Republic of China
  • Chinese Nationalist Air Force - (Nationalist China, 1930s)
• Guatemala
  • Guatemalan Air Force - (Until 1957)
• Panama
• Philippines
  • Philippine AAC - (Until 1941)
• Republican Spain
• United States
  • United States Army Air Corps

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7. - Survivors

P-26A c/n 1899 33-123, Currently on display by the Planes of Fame Museum located in Chino, California. This aircraft was sold to the Guatemala AF in 11 May 1943 and flew as FAG 0672 until it was retired in 1957 when it was recovered by Ed Maloney. Once flown regularly with the registration N3378G, the museum's P-26 was placed on static display in the mid 1980s to protect it. In 2004, the decision was made to again fly the P-26, and a restoration was begun to return the plane to flying condition. This was completed in spring 2006, with the aircraft having made its first appearances at the museum's May 2006 air show.

P-26A c/n 1911 33-135, Is in the collection of the National Air and Space Museum,This aircraft was sold to the Guatemala AF in 11 May 1943 and flew as FAG 0816 until it was retired in 1957 when it was donated to the Smithsonian Institution. The aircraft was restored by the United States Air Force, and was on display at the US Air Force Museum until 1975 when it was returned for display at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum.

Replicas

P-26A, A replica is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio10 - it is painted as the commander's aircraft of the 19th PS / 18th PG, stationed at Wheeler Field, Hawaii in 1938. The San Diego Air and Space Museum is making a replica of an early model to Boeing plans with the original design "streamlined tailwheel" and without flaps and the crossover exhaust that were later additions. In addition, Mayocraft Inc., completed final assembly in September 2006 and has now begun taxi-testing a near-100 percent scale tribute to the Boeing P-26.
P-26C, Two aircraft are being built by Golden Age Aeroplanes, Seymoure, Indiana.


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8. - Links

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9. - Markings

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10. - References

http://www.boeing.com/history/boeing/p26.html
http://peashooter.net/