NOTE: RADIO CONTROL AIRPLANES ARE ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE PAGE.
Boeing P-26 Peashooter aircraft were the first United States all-metal, low-wing fighters.
The aircraft were capable of speeds matching modern bombers of the time. They first took to the air on March 20, 1932 and had a top speed of 234 mph.
When the B-9 bomber was introduced, it had a 188 mph top speed. That was faster than most fighters at the time. The Boeing P-26 Peashooter had no problems escorting the bomber.
On January 22, 1933 the U.S. Army Air Corps contracted with Boeing for production of a total of 136 of the aircraft. Deliveries were scheduled from 1933 to 1936. This was the largest order ever placed for a U.S. military aircraft to date.
Boeing P-26 Peashooter aircraft were quick to respond to control inputs, maneuverable, and fast. They
didn't have any bad handling characteristics. They were known as a "pilots airplane."
The aircraft had a rather high landing speed for aircraft of the time. The speed limited operations of the aircraft to smoother runways. Boeing fitted flaps to the aircraft to help slow the landing speed.
That modification made the aircraft more appealing to U.S. friendly air forces where rougher runways were common. Eventually China, Guatemala, Panama, the Philippines and Spain acquired the aircraft.
In 1934, 1935 and 1936 the aircraft set numerous world speed and altitude records.
When more modern German and Soviet aircraft were introduced, they greatly outperformed the P-26 Peashooter in speed and maneuverability.
The fighters were flown by the Chinese at the start of World War II. In 1936 the aircraft intercepted six unescorted Japanese bombers attacking Chinese targets. All the Japanese planes were downed while the
Chinese aircraft returned unscathed.
During the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, in November of 1940, the aircraft were the first U. S. planes to encounter the Japanese invaders. They were easy prey for Japanese Zero fighters.
All Boeing P-26 Peashooter aircraft were withdrawn from the front lines by 1942.
The aircraft had a long service life. The Air Force of Guatemala was still flying them in 1957.
Pictured above is the rc P-26 Peashooter for sale by Nitro Planes. It is a scale
ARF. Wing span is 71". Length is 51". It has a fiberglass fuselage and sheeted foam wings. Power
can come from a .60 two stroke or .91 four stroke engine. All up weight is about 9 lbs.
The first picture below is of the rc P-26 Peashooter from Cleveland Model & Supply. The great
looking model was built by Luis Carlos Veiga. Cleveland has plans
for sale with wing spans of 28", 42", 56" and 84".
The next picture below is of the rc P-26 Peashooter built
from a Dare Hobbies Kit. It has a wing span of 32".
Fuselage length is 26". Dare doesn't provide any recommendations
regarding powering their scale rc airplane.
The third picture below is of the rc P-26 Peashooter scratch built
by Kuni of RC Groups. It has a wing span of 72". Kuni powers it with a brushless inrunner motor swinging either a 18 x 10 or
20 x 10 propeller. Power is obtained from a 10 series Lithium Polymer battery pack.
The last picture on this page is of the nice looking rc P-26 Peashooter radio control airplanes built by E-Challenged of Watt Flyer. It has a 40" wingspan and uses Scorpio 3008/31 electric power turning a 11 x 7 propeller. Weight is about 2 1/2 lbs.
Please email us if you know of another rc P-26 Peashooter radio control model airplane that should be included on this page.
Boeing P-26 Peashooter
