Designed and built by Boeing, this was the first all-metal monoplane fighter aircraft to enter service with the United States Army Air Corps. The prototype first flew in 1932 and, after several mishaps and numerous changes, the design was eventually accepted into service two years later.
Although the first all-metal fighter, it was also the last of its type to use a fixed undercarriage, an open cockpit and external bracing wires - a hang-over from the biplane era. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney nine-cylinder radial developing 600hp, the P-26 was faster than previous US combat aircraft, with a top speed of 234 mph. However, just a few years later, designs such as the Curtiss P-36, Hawker Hurricane and Messerschmitt Bf 109 were taking command of the skies.
The long telescopic gunsight mounted in front of the windscreen gave rise to pilots dubbing the design 'Peashooter' - a name which stuck for the life of the type.
In the years before the Second World War, American fighter aircraft were painted in bright colours to signify their respective units. Some designs were incredibly intricate and pilots were justly proud of their mounts. Pursuit Squadron emblems were displayed large on the fuselage sides and various stripes, bands and flashes indicated the rank of the pilot and their position in the squadron. 22 squadrons flew the P-26 and the little fighter was the mainstay of the USAAC front line until 1938.
The 'Peashooter' was exported to China for use by the Chinese Nationalist Air Force against invading Japanese forces. In August of 1937, P-26s engaged and shot down three Japanese bombers without loss and the skirmishes that developed between the Chinese Peashooters and Japanese A5Ms became the first recorded aerial dogfights between two all-metal fighter aircraft.
P-26s were also sent to the Philippines following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour in 1941. Despite being outclassed by the more modern Japanese foe, the valiant pilots of the Philippine Army Air Corps and their 'vintage' P-26 Peashooters engaged and destroyed a Mitsubishi G3M bomber and no less than three A6M 'Zeros'.
By 1943 the P-26 had been retired from active front-line duty and was placed in reserve as a trainer. From a total of 111 airframes built, only a handful remain in museums and as of today (December 2025), only one is airworthy.
The aircraft manual can be downloaded
here.
Innovative features
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Hi-Fidelity models with exceptional levels of detail
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Beautifully crafted exterior and interior models built using factory drawings wherever possible
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Highly detailed Pratt & Whitney R-1340-27 Wasp radial engine
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Accurate flight dynamics and performance envelope
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Authentic Wwise sound pack
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Realistic engine start routine, including manual fuel pump
Four authentic liveries
This package includes four colourful liveries from the 1930s:
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94th. Pursuit Squadron U.S.A.A.C.
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95th. Pursuit Squadron U.S.A.A.C.
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Chinese Nationalist Air Force
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Philippines Army Air Corps
MSFS 2024 compatibility
Please note this is an MSFS 2020 add-on. It is 'compatible only' with MSFS 2024. As MSFS 2024 matures there is no guarantee that this add-on will continue to be compatible, but all reasonable efforts will be undertaken to ensure that it will remain so.