Berliner-Joyce P-16

Berliner-Joyce P-16

The Berliner Joyce P-16 was a 1930s two-seat fighter airplane produced for the United States Army Air Corps. It first flew 1930 and it entered service in 1932. It served until 1940, right when American military leaders sensed that the United States was on the verge of war. 26 were built during a short production. It was powered by a 600 hp engine, giving a maximum speed of 172 mph. It could go 650 miles without needing refueling. It was armed with 2 x fixed forward firing and 1 x flexibly mounted .30 inch machine guns. It could carry 224 lbs of bombs.

Boeing P-12

Boeing P-12 and F4B

The Boeing P-12 (known as the F4B in the Navy) was a single-engine biplane fighter aircraft produced for the United States Army Air Corps. Its first flight was made in 1928, but was not introduced into service until 1930. The production run lasted from 1929 to 1932. It served with the United States as a front-line fighter until replacement by the Boeing P-26 between 1934 and 1935. It was then converted to a trainer until 1941, when it was 'cannibalized' for mechanic's schools. It continued to be in service in other countries until retirement in 1949 by the Brazilian Air Force. In all, 586 examples were built. It was powered by a 500 hp engine, enough to take the 1.25 ton fighter to 189 mph, although cruise was often closer to 160 mph. It could operate within a range of 570 miles. It was armed with 2 x .30 inch machine guns, but sometimes one gun was replaced with a .50 inch machine gun. It could carry 244 lbs of bombs externally.

Curtiss P-6 Hawk

Curtiss P-6 Hawk

The Curtiss P-6 Hawk was a single-engine, single-seat biplane fighter operated by the United States Army Air Corps starting in 1927. It was operated until late in the 1930s when WWII broke out in Europe. It was powered by a 700 hp engine. It could go 204 mph, but cruise speed was about 167 mph. It could go 285 miles without needing refueling. Its service ceiling was 24,700 ft, and its 2,480 ft/min rate of climb could get it there in 9 minutes. It was armed with 2 x .30 inch machine guns.

Curtiss P-1 and F6C Hawk

Curtiss P-1 and F6C Hawk

The Curtiss P-1 Hawk was a 1920s open-cockpit biplane fighter aircraft (P stood for pursuit, but the designation of the class was eventually changed to F). It first flew in 1923 and entered service with the US Army Air Corp in the same year. It was also known in the US Navy and the US Marine Corp as the F6C Hawk. The airframe was the first of a long series of fighter planes produced by Curtiss named Hawk, mostly distinguished by different engines. In the production run from 1925 to 1929, Curtiss built 202 examples in all variants. The C model was powered by a 435 hp engine, which could take it to 155 mph, but it normally cruised around 120 mph. It could go 300 miles without refueling. Its service ceiling was 20,800 ft, limited mostly because of the open cockpit and lack of oxygen at extreme altitudes, resulting in engine and pilot fatigue. It could climb at 1,460 ft/min and it was armed with 2 x .30 inch fixed forward-firing Browning machine guns.

Boeing Model 15

Boeing Model 15 (PW-9 and FB)

The Boeing Model 15 was an open-cockpit, water-cooled, single-seat biplane fighter aircraft used by the US Army Air Service and US Navy. Introduced in 1923, 155 were built over the entire production run in all variants. It was powered by a 435 hp engine, which could push the aircraft to 159 mph, although cruise speed was around 142 mph. It could go 390 miles without refueling. It could fly at 18,925 ft and get there in 12 minutes. Its armament included 2 x fixed .30 inch machine guns and it could carry a 244 lb bomb.

Curtiss-Orenco D

Curtiss-Orenco D

The Curtiss-Orenco D was the first fighter aircraft designed and built entirely by an American company. 54 airplanes were made over the production run. It was powered by a 300 hp engine, which could pull it to 139 mph, although cruise speed was typically slightly less. It could go 340 miles nonstop and climb to 12,450 ft. Its 1,140 ft/min rate of climb could get it there in 11 minutes. It was armed with 2 x .30 inch machine guns.