| XP-9 | |
|---|---|
 Boeing XP-9 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Monoplane fighter |
| Manufacturer | Boeing |
| Status | Cancelled |
| Primary user | United States Army (intended) |
| Number built | 1 |
| History | |
| First flight | 18 November 1930 |
TheBoeing XP-9 (companyModel 96) was the first monoplanefighter aircraft produced by theUnited States aircraft manufacturing companyBoeing. It incorporated sophisticated structural refinements that were influential in later Boeing designs. The sole prototype exhibited unsatisfactory characteristics with its lack of pilot visibility directly leading to its cancellation.[1]
The XP-9 was designed in 1928 to meet the requirements of aUS Army request for amonoplane fighter. Its primary contribution to aircraft design was its semi-monocoque construction, which would become a standard for future aircraft. Boeing employed the structural features of the XP-9 into their contemporary P-12biplane fighter when the P-12E variant incorporated a semi-monocoque metal fuselage structure similar to that of the XP-9. Theundercarriage arrangement of the P-12C had also been first tried out on the XP-9 and then transferred into the production model.[2]
The prototype XP-9, markedA 028-386, was first flown on 18 November 1930. It had impressive stats on the specification sheet, but it quickly became apparent that its large (6 ftchord) wing, which was placed atop the fuselage directly in front of the pilot, obstructed downward visibility so badly that simple landing maneuvers were hazardous.[2] Test pilots at the Army Test Centre at Wright Field found that the XP-9's inherent instability was so severe that immediate modifications were requested to increase the size of the vertical tail.[3] An enlarged vertical tail surface with smooth metal skinning was introduced, but failed to affect any significant improvement, and this revised XP-9 was grounded for instructional airframe use in August 1931, after only 15 hours of test flying, due to the impossibility of its being landed safely.[4]
Data fromThe Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft.[5]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
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