Type history
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The P-12 was one of the most successful American fighters produced between WW I and WW II. Used by both the Army and Navy (as the F4B), the P-12 was developed from prototypes built by the Boeing Airplane Company at their own expense. It was produced in a basic version and five additional series, -B through -F. The basic P-12 and the -B, -C and -D series had fabric-covered fuselages of bolted aluminum tubing. P-12E and -F fuselages were all-metal, semimonocoque (stressed skin) construction. All had wooden wings with fabric covering. The Army Air Corps received its first P-12 in Feb. 1929 and the last P-12F in May 1932. The last of the biplane fighters flown by the Army; some remained in service until 1941. In all, 366 were produced for the Army. More P-12Es were built (110) than any other series.

It may seem odd to some, but in the era between WWI and WWII, Boeing was actually known for producing fine pursuit aircraft. This was all done in-house, not by taking over other companies as is done today. While many of their (and others) projects never reached production status (as much by the lack of available funds as anything else), one that did was the P-12/F4B family.

The P-12 was Boeing's first successful fighter, though in the days of the Great Depression, even a small order for 90 aircraft must have been enough to help keep the company solvent. For power, the P-12B used the 450 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340-7 Wasp

The F4B was the naval equivalent of the Army's P-12 and basically had some small modifications made to allow for use on aircraft carriers. The F4B-2, was roughly equivalent to the P-12C in terms of the airframe and engine. It had ailerons on the upper wing only and had a Townend Ring covering the outer cylinders. It also had a cross-axle landing gear and larger elevators. The F4B-2 had a tail wheel rather than the skid used by the Army. It was all pulled through the air by a 500 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340. Initially flown without the cowling ring, after a few years in service, this was added. Even later, the larger tail surfaces of the P-12E were retrofitted to extant aircraft. The P-12 has a tail skid and not the wheel used by the Navy's F4B. The only difference between the P-12B and P-12 D is that the latter aircraft used the braced landing gear similar to the F4B series. The aircraft lasted until replaced by the P-26 and other monoplane fighters.

The P-12 was one of the most successful American fighters produced between the world wars. More P-12s were ordered than any other type until 1940. This type was used by both the Army and the Navy (as the F4B). This was the last biplane fighter flown by the Air Corps. The P-12 program began as a Boeing-funded venture. The first two aircraft, both company demonstrators, were eventually purchased by the Navy. The first P-12 was flown on April 11, 1929. The P-12 was one of the very first Air Corps pursuit ships (and the first purchased in quantity) powered by an air-cooled engine. The P-12 and P-12B, C, and D aircraft had a bolted aluminum frame with fabric covering. The fuselages of the P- 12E and F were all metal, semimonocoque construction. The aircraft made an auspicious debut, on February 26, 1929, when Capt. Ira C. Eaker flew the first P-12 accepted by the Air Corps from Boeing Field, Wash., to the Panama Canal and back. The trip took several weeks. The P-12 entered service with the 95th Pursuit Squadron at Rockwell Field, Calif., in April 1929. P-12s were in operational service from 1929 to 1936. A number of P-12s were pressed into service delivering mail during the air mail crisis of 1934. Navy F4Bs served until 1938. In 1940, the last 23 P-12s were transferred to the Navy and converted for use as radio-controlled targets. These aircraft were designated F4B-4As.

Contractors: Boeing Airplane Co.
Locations Built: Seattle, Wash.
Number Built: (USAF) 586 (366)
First Flight: June 25, 1928
First Flight Model: Company Model 83
First Flight Location: King County Airport (Boeing Field), Wash.
First Flight Pilot: Unknown
Models/Variants: P-12, P-12B, C, D, E, F
Powerplant: One Pratt & Whitney R-1340-17 Wasp nine-cylinder radial of 500 hp
Wingspan: 30 ft 0 in.
Length: 20 ft 3 in.
Height: 9 ft 0 in.
Weight: 2,690 lb gross
Armament: Two .30-cal. or one .30-cal. and one .50-cal. machine guns; 244 lb of bombs on external racks
Accommodation: Pilot only
Cost: $15,000
Max. Speed: 189 mph
Range: 570 mi.
Ceiling: 26,300 ft.

Effects
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-On startup there is automatic engine smoke.
-Guns with flash, smoke and falling cartridges can be triggered with the standard Strobe key (O).
It is much nicer however if you put the FS2004/FSX standard Strobe key (O) to the trigger from your joystick.You can change this in the Key menu.
It is a good idea if you replace the standard (L) key for lights by the L+CTRL, (normaly activating the landing lights only). This avoids you having to have all lights on when pulling the trigger.
-The droptank appears/disappears by using the spoiler key.

Installation:
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-Unzip " Boeing P 12b" into a temporary file and move the "Boeing P 12b" folder into the main Aircraft directory.
-With slight mods the plane flies in FS2002 and CFS2 (Use MDLC program)
-Leave the PW-9.cab in your panelfolder.
-For FSX change the FSXpanel.cfg into panel.cfg.
-For fs9 change the FS9panel.cfg into panel.cfg.
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-Read instructions carefully when installing the gauges , say YES...when asked if the gauges sources should be trusted. If you say no....most of the gauges are not going to work !
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-Copy the effects into the Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator X\effects folder.
-Add the 20can.wav in your Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator X\sound folder.
ATTENTION :
-For FS2004, change the FS9_Wing_Guns.fx into fx_Wing_Guns.fx
-For FSX change the FSX_Wing_Guns.fx into fx_Wing_Guns.fx


Flying the plane:
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Remember...this is an early fighter biplane ! Manoeuvrability is very good, it rolls fine and is responsive to rudder and elevator. Nice flying aerobatics close to the tower !
Gather as much speed as possible for a loop. On top of it, cut throttle, or the Gs will breakup the plane. Wing over, knife edge, segment rolls are all possible.
- Hold up elevator to start the engine, you have no brakes and the tailskid must firmly be on the ground to stop the plane.
- Take off at about 80, correct with right rudder
- Climb at 115, level at altitude, speed slowly builds up to 160 kts.
- Landing approach at 100, over the fence at 90, touchdown at 75. You need some up trim for a threepointer.
- Hold up elevator for the tailskid to brake the plane when taxying.


CREDITS
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Special thanks to :
-GMAX for the drawing program and Microsoft for their makmdls.mdk.

LEGAL:
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The project is released as freeware. You may modify it and repaint it. You may upload this file to another website as long as it is not for profit.
You need the written permission of the original authors to use any of these files for commercial purposes, otherwise a simple credit would be nice. Non commercial repaints-remakes from the original file are welcome but I would appreciate very much receiving a copy of your model.
This file should not cause any problems with your computer, but I accept no responsibility if you think it does.


Happy Landings!!

A.F.Scrub
August 2008
Email: af_scrubbypc@hotmail.com