P-26 Peashooter

[flypaper2222]

Must have been fun to fly.

May have been fun to fly, but it was a hand full to land. Landing speed was faster than earlier aircraft and add the narrow stance of the undercarriage led to landing accidents. The C model had landing flaps added to alleviate some of the problems.

 

[Elvis]

All these P-26 pics makes me wonder what a two-speed / two-stage supercharger, 3-bladed prop, one-piece wing and retractable landing gear would've done for performance (interesting note: Boeing originally designed the P-26 with retractable gear and a one piece wing, but they were such new ideas at the time, Army brass rejected them and ordered that the landing gear be fixed and a traditional two-piece wing braced by guy wires, be used.).

 

[wlewisiii]

Wait for the P-12s and B-10s.

Beautiful images of my second favorite airplane of that era - and you say you have pics to come of the #1 P-12? I am SO looking forward to seeing what you have to give us. Thanks!

 

[Wildr1]

 

[Wurger]

 

[Wildr1]

More of the same

 

[Wurger]

 

[Capt. Vick]

I remember reading in a book, perhaps Doomed at the Start, that an Air Corps pilot had a Japanese fighter in his sights while flying one of these, but couldn't find the gun arming or charging switch(?). Would have been a good story.

 

[Prop Duster]

Great shots of an icon of its era.

 

[Wildr1]

More P-26's

 

[Wurger]

 

[Elvis]

 

[Wildr1]

 

[buffnut453]

I remember reading in a book, perhaps Doomed at the Start, that an Air Corps pilot had a Japanese fighter in his sights while flying one of these, but couldn't find the gun arming or charging switch(?). Would have been a good story.

I think you'll find it was a Philippine pilot, Jesus Villamor.

 

[Wildr1]

I think you'll find it was a Philippine pilot, Jesus Villamor.

Doomed from the start a great book on the early WW2 disasters in Asia,"Bloody shambles" is another good one.

 

[Wurger]

 

[vikingBerserker]

Awesome!

 

[Wildr1]

 

[Elvis]

Last vestiges of the "airplane art" that was popular during The Great War.
These seem like especially nice examples...too bad those photos aren't in colour.

Elvis

 

[Capt. Vick]

I think you'll find it was a Philippine pilot, Jesus Villamor.

Nah. Jesus claimed a kill, this Air Corp pilot never even fired. The account could be wrong, I wasn't there.