Boeing
PW-9
The PW‑9 was not a Boeing product; it was a pioneering American fighter built by the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company in the early 1920s. Developed from the earlier PW‑8, the PW‑9 first flew in 1922 and quickly became one of the United States Army Air Service’s most successful post‑World‑War I aircraft. Its single‑bay, biplane wing configuration, coupled with a lightweight welded‑steel fuselage, gave the aircraft excellent maneuverability and a respectable top speed of roughly 150 mph (240 km/h). Powered by a 400‑horsepower Curtiss D‑12 liquid‑cooled V‑12 engine, the PW‑9 could climb to 10,000 feet in under ten minutes, a notable performance metric for its era. The fighter’s armament typically consisted of two synchronized .30‑caliber machine guns mounted on the upper fuselage. The PW‑9’s reliability and handling made it a favorite among pilots and helped establish the United States as a leader in fighter design during the interwar period. Although Boeing later produced its own iconic fighters, the legacy of the PW‑9 lies in demonstrating the value of streamlined aerodynamics and powerful engines—principles that would shape future American combat aircraft.