Flying the P-12

The Museum of Flight produced this 80-page book about the complete restoration of a Boeing Model 100 - more commonly known as the P-12/F4B model of pursuit aircraft operated by both the United States Army Air Corps and Navy. The restored aircraft is currently on display in the Museum's Great Gallery in Seattle. Filled with historic photographs and colorful illustrations, the book also provides a comprehensive look at the construction and service history of the P-12/F4B aircraft which Boeing developed as a private venture to replace the Boeing F3B and Boeing F2B with the United States Navy. The new aircraft was smaller, lighter and more agile than the ones it replaced. This resulted in a higher top speed and overall better performance. As result of Navy evaluation 27 were ordered as the F4B-1, later evaluation by the United States Army Air Corps resulted in orders with the designation P-12. Boeing supplied the USAAC with 366 P-12s between 1929 and 1932. Production of all variants totalled 586.