F2B-1

The Boeing F2B‑1 was a single‑seat biplane fighter developed for the United States Navy in the mid‑1920s and designated the Navy’s first purpose‑built carrier‑capable fighter. Originating from Boeing’s Model 69 prototype, the aircraft made its maiden flight in 1925 and entered operational service the following year on the Navy’s first aircraft carrier, USS Langley. Constructed with a welded steel‑tube fuselage, fabric covering and wooden, staggered wings, the F2B‑1 was powered by a 420 hp Pratt & Whitney R‑1340 Wasp radial engine, delivering a top speed of roughly 152 mph and a service ceiling near 18 000 ft. Its armament consisted of two .30‑caliber machine guns mounted in the forward fuselage, and it could carry a modest payload of reconnaissance cameras or light bombs for secondary missions. Although only a few dozen were built, the F2B‑1 proved vital for early carrier operations, demonstrating reliable handling during deck landings and take‑offs and influencing subsequent naval fighter designs such as the Boeing F4B series. Its service highlighted the transition from wood‑and‑fabric biplanes to more robust, metal‑structured aircraft, marking an important step in the evolution of American naval aviation during the interwar period.

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