Boeing XP-7

XP-7

Role: Experimental Fighter
Manufacturer: Boeing
First flight: September 1928
Primary user: United States Army Air Corps
Number built: 1
Developed from: PW-9D

The Boeing XP-7 was a prototype United States biplane fighter of the 1920s.

Development and design

The XP-7 started life as the last Boeing Model 15 (PW-9D), serial 28-41. It was then adapted to mount the 600 hp Curtiss V-1570 Conqueror engine. Labelled by Boeing as their Model 93, the XP-7's nose was shorter and deeper than that of the standard PW-9, and the craft was 75 pounds lighter overall.

It first flew in September 1928 and did well, with a 17 mph speed increase over the PW-9. However, despite a proposal to build an additional four P-7s, the design was at the very limits of its capabilities and somewhat outdated even by the time of its first flight. At the end of testing, the Conqueror engine was removed and the aircraft converted back into a PW-9D.

Operators

United States

United States Army Air Corps

Specifications

Data from

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 24 ft 0 in (7.31 m)
Wingspan: 32 ft 0 in (9.75 m)
Height: 9 ft 0 in (2.74 m)
Wing area: 252 ft² (23.4 m²)
Empty weight: 2,358 lb (1,070 kg)
Gross weight: 3,260 lb (1,479 kg)
Powerplant: 1 x— Curtiss V-1570-1, 600 hp ( kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 167.5 mph (270 km/h)
Cruise speed: 134 mph (216 km/h)
Range: 250 miles (402 km)
Service ceiling: 22,300 ft (6,797 m)
Rate of climb: 1408 ft/min (7.2 m/s)

Armament

1x .50in machine gun
1x .30in machine gun
125lb (57kg) bombs

Bibliography

Angelucci, Enzo (1987). The American Fighter from 1917 to the present. New York: Orion Books.
Lloyd S. Jones, U.S. Fighters (Aero Publishers, Inc., 1975) pp. 32-33 ISBN 0-8168-9200-8

Boeing XP-7 Pictures

Living Warbirds: The best warbirds DVD series.

Source: WikiPedia