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In 1928, Boeing introduced the first in a series of fighters that would become one of the most successful designs of the interwar period. The Model 83 and 89 prototypes were significantly advanced compared to Boeing's previous fighter planes. Refined and improved versions were developed as the Army P-12, the Navy F4B, and the civil Model 100 series. The military variants were armed with two machine guns, one each of .30 and .50 caliber, and could also externally carry bombs. A total of 586 examples of this famous Boeing biplane were built. It was one of the premier frontline fighters for both the U.S. Army and Navy throughout the 1930s.
The P-12/F4B/100 series is a mixture of old and new design components. Although many monoplane designs were emerging in the late 1920s, the military still wanted proven, World War I-style biplanes. While the Boeing fighters were still primarily cloth-covered, the company incorporated corrugated aluminum aileron and tail surfaces. The wing structure was made of spruce and mahogany, but the fuselage was a combination of welded steel tubing and bolted aluminum tubing. Later versions incorporated aluminum skin throughout.
The Museum's Boeing Model 100 was one of four built as commercial export versions of the Navy F4B-1. This one was delivered to Pratt & Whitney and was used as a flying test bed. Over the course of its career, it flew with a variety of different engines, including the R-1340 Wasp, R-985 Wasp Jr., R-1535 Twin Wasp, and R-1690 Hornet.
In 1933, Pratt & Whitney sold the plane to stunt pilot Milo Burcham, who modified it for skywriting, extended inverted flight, and airshow stunts. Later, the aircraft was purchased by well-known movie stunt pilot Paul Mantz. The plane appeared (often in disguise) in many aviation films, such as Men With Wings (1938) and Task Force (1949). In 1977, it was acquired by a restoration group led by Lew Wallick and Bob Mucklestone, who restored the plane to flyable condition. Today, the Model 100 sports a P-12 scheme in the markings of the U.S. Army 95th Pursuit Squadron, circa 1929.
In 1928, Boeing introduced the first in a series of fighters that would become one of the most successful designs of the interwar period. The Model 83 and 89 prototypes were significantly advanced compared to Boeing's previous fighter planes. Refined and improved versions were developed as the Army P-12, the Navy F4B, and the civil Model 100 series. The military variants were armed with two machine guns, one each of .30 and .50 caliber, and could also externally carry bombs. A total of 586 examples of this famous Boeing biplane were built. It was one of the premier frontline fighters for both the U.S. Army and Navy throughout the 1930s.
The P-12/F4B/100 series is a mixture of old and new design components. Although many monoplane designs were emerging in the late 1920s, the military still wanted proven, World War I-style biplanes. While the Boeing fighters were still primarily cloth-covered, the company incorporated corrugated aluminum aileron and tail surfaces. The wing structure was made of spruce and mahogany, but the fuselage was a combination of welded steel tubing and bolted aluminum tubing. Later versions incorporated aluminum skin throughout.
The Museum's Boeing Model 100 was one of four built as commercial export versions of the Navy F4B-1. This one was delivered to Pratt & Whitney and was used as a flying test bed. Over the course of its career, it flew with a variety of different engines, including the R-1340 Wasp, R-985 Wasp Jr., R-1535 Twin Wasp, and R-1690 Hornet.
In 1933, Pratt & Whitney sold the plane to stunt pilot Milo Burcham, who modified it for skywriting, extended inverted flight, and airshow stunts. Later, the aircraft was purchased by well-known movie stunt pilot Paul Mantz. The plane appeared (often in disguise) in many aviation films, such as Men With Wings (1938) and Task Force (1949). In 1977, it was acquired by a restoration group led by Lew Wallick and Bob Mucklestone, who restored the plane to flyable condition. Today, the Model 100 sports a P-12 scheme in the markings of the U.S. Army 95th Pursuit Squadron, circa 1929.
