Boeing
PW-9C
The Boeing PW‑9C was a single‑seat, biplane fighter developed in the mid‑1920s for the United States Navy. Emerging from the successful PW‑9 design, the “C” model incorporated structural refinements and a more powerful 425‑hp Pratt & Whitney R‑1340‑D Wasp radial engine, boosting top speed to roughly 156 mph and improving climb rate. First flown in 1926, the PW‑9C entered service aboard the carrier **USS Saratoga** and a handful of other ships, where its sturdy wooden frame, fabric‑covered wings, and robust landing gear proved well suited to carrier operations. The aircraft featured interchangeable upper and lower wings, generous control surfaces for agile maneuvering, and a simple but reliable fixed‑pitch wooden propeller. Although only a limited production run of 30 units was built, the PW‑9C played a pivotal role in transitioning naval aviation from experimental biplanes to more capable combat platforms. Its operational record demonstrated the practicality of carrier‑based fighter tactics, influencing subsequent designs such as the Boeing F4B series. In aviation history, the PW‑9C is remembered as a bridge between early experimental aircraft and the more advanced, all‑metal fighters that would dominate the 1930s.