F3B-1

The Boeing F3B‑1 was the Navy’s first successful carrier‑based fighter built by the Boeing Company, entering service in 1928. Developed from the earlier XF3B prototype, the aircraft featured a sturdy wooden fuselage covered with fabric, a single‑bay biplane wing arrangement, and a powerful 425 hp Pratt & Whitney R‑1340 Wasp radial engine that gave it a top speed of roughly 140 mph. Its armament comprised two .30‑caliber machine guns mounted in the forward cockpit, and the design incorporated an innovative split‑axle landing gear that could absorb the shock of deck landings. The F3B‑1’s reliable handling and robust construction made it a favorite among pilots, allowing it to serve on the USS Lexington, USS Saratoga, and other early carriers throughout the late 1920s and early 1930s. Although quickly eclipsed by more advanced monoplane designs, the F3B‑1 demonstrated the feasibility of operating fighter aircraft from moving warships and helped establish the tactical doctrines that later guided naval aviation. Its legacy endures as a bridge between World War I biplanes and the modern carrier‑based fighters that dominate today’s seas. Preserved examples can be seen at several aviation museums, reminding enthusiasts of this pioneering era.

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