Performance for the base PW-9 model stemmed from the fitting of a single Curtiss D-12 water-cooled V12 series inline piston engine delivering 435 horsepower. This gave the PW-9 a top speed of nearly 160 miles per hour with a cruise speed equal to 142 miles per hour. Service ceiling was rated at 18,925 feet.
At least 157 PW-9 aircraft were delivered by Boeing per Boeing company records. This included the 77 examples delivered as "FB" fighters and trainers for the US Navy. Peru became the only foreign operator of the PW-9, these being five examples of the FB navy trainer model.
The Model 15/PW-9/FB appeared in a range of designations beginning with the three aforementioned XPW-9 prototypes. This was followed by the base PW-9 designation used to signify the 30 initial production models fitting Curtiss D-12 series engines. The PW-9A appeared next in 24 examples with the improved D-12C series engine. A single example based on a modified PW-9A became the PW-9B of 1927. The appearance of the new D-12D engine produced 40 examples of the PW-9C model. Sixteen PW-9D examples became the final PW-9 production models of the family line and sported improved rudder control. Boeing fitted a PW-9 with a Packard 1A-1500 series engine of 510 horsepower to produce the single prototype XP-4 (company designation Model 58). A PW-9A served as a converted single-seat trainer mounting a Wright-Hispano powerplant, becoming the AT-3.
The United States Navy received its Model 15s as the "FB". This began with the initial FB-1 production forms of which 10 were delivered though these operated exclusively from land bases as they lacked arrestor hooks. It was not until the two FB-2 models appeared that the FB series became carrier-capable and these began service on the carrier USS Langley. FB-2s were fitted with a Packard 1A series engine (company designation Model 53). The FB-3 followed in three examples meant to trial floatplane operations with the Packard 1A powerplant (company designation Model 55). A "one-off" prototype with a Wright P-1 radial piston engine of 450 horsepower was born out of the Boeing Model 54 initiative to fulfill the FB-4 designation. At least 27 of the FB-5 variant were produced, these with their Packard 2A-1500 series engines of 520 horsepower (company designation Model 67). Another "one-off" form, the FB-6, trialed the Pratt & Whitney R-1340-B Wasp engine while the FB-7 only made it to the drawing boards.
Incidentally, the "PW-9" designation stemmed from the formal long-hand name of "Pursuit, Water-Cooled, Design 9".
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