Air Power Series>1:48 die-cast display model>F4B>HA7910

General Background

In the early 1930s Boeing developed a series of biplanes designated the F4B for the US Navy and US Marine Corps but was a P-12 for the US Army Air Corps. The aircraft were first accepted in 1929 and served as the primary fighter. The P-12 was built in 6 successful variants while the F4B had 4. The P-12 was replaced by the Boeing P-26 in 1934-35 but the F4B carried on with operational duties until the Grumman F2F/F3F series completely replaced them in 1938.

The Aircraft

The 308th Observation Squadron was assigned to the 5th Corps Area Reserve base at Port Columbus Airport, Columbus, Ohio. The 5th Corps Area States of responsibility consisted of Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia with headquarters Columbus. These Organized Reserve units were usually only “paper” units for officers waiting for assignments. The aircraft of choice in the 1939 period was the Boeing P-12 which first flew in 1931 with the _P-12E being the best known variant.

Specifications :

Total Produced All Variants:	586
First Flight:	June 25, 1928
Role:	Fighter Biplane
Powerplant:	1 x Pratt & Whitney R-1340-16 WASP air-cooled 9 cylinder radial engine, 550 hp (410 kW)
Performance:
Speed:	189 mph (164 kts / 304 km/h)
Service Ceiling:	26,900 ft (8,199 m)
Range:	369 mi (321 nm / 594 km)
Weight:
Empty:	2,355 lb (1,068 kg)
Max Takeoff:	3,611 lb (1,638 kg)
Dimensions:
Length:	20.08 ft (6.12 m)
Height:	9.32 ft (2.84 m)
Wingspan:	29.99 ft (9.14 m)