This is a P-26, the first monoplane fighter flown by the United States. Until Boeing got the F-35 contract, it was also the last fighter designed and built by Boeing.
This is an F3F, the last biplane fighter. The F3F entered service after the P-26
And now, a fighter that needs no introduction:
2 comments:
The P-26 and F3F are from my favorite age of aviation. Fixed gear monoplanes festooned with wire bracing, retractable gear biplanes with closed cockpits... Neat! Neat! Neat!
I've got a model P-26 kit around the house here that I bought on a whim years ago. I should find it and put it together...
Tam,
Thanks for stopping by.
You really should build that Peashooter model. And you ought to look at the Polykarpov sometime.
The thing that amazes me is that the P-26 saw combat and had victories in the opening days of the war.
The other amazing thing is how fast aviation changed in the first 60 years of flying and how long front-line airplanes are in service now. The Spad ("Skyraider" for you Air Force pukes) was in service for 25 years and that was a very long time for a recip, but the F-15 is 30 years old and the B-52 is frigging ancient!
Post a Comment