N26PX - MAYOCRAFT P 26D

MAYOCRAFT

P-26D

N26PX

Used

15.0

This reproduction is patterned after the famous Boeing P-26 “Peashooter” an interwar aircraft built for the pursuit of other aiplanes, hence the “P” designation. This restoration is faithful not only to the overall appearance of the P-26, but also to most of the fabrication methods at the time of its manufacture. According to Mayocraft’s founder and principal, Nate Mayo, “The P-26 represented the state of the art for the early 1930’s in aircraft design, so we thought it was an eminently worthy subject for a tribute.” Indeed, for a brief time, the P-26 was the Army Air Corp’s first line pursuit fighter and the fastest of its type in the world. However, rapid advances in aeronautics at that time soon rendered it forgotten, eclipsed by more powerful designs that drew heavily on the P-26’s parentage. A few P-26’s survived into WWII, but today only two original examples remain. Mayo brought to this project his own lifelong experience in manufacturing, engineering, and rebuilding historic airplanes, both on his own and for former clients like Collings Foundation whose fleet of vintage WWII aircraft appears at Airshows nationwide. Also, according to Mayo, “For safety and performance’s sake we made selected improvements. Alclad 2024-T3 aluminum was used throughout instead of the Dural of the 1930’s because the modern alloy is 20 percent stronger. The main landing gear wheels and brakes are adapted from a Cessna T-50. The engine exhaust is made from a stainless steel alloy specially formulated for aerospace applications. For a few non-structural elements, in place of metal we formed fiberglass. The engine and propeller are the same as employed in the T-6. We adapted a different airfoil shape to the wing that should make the bird a little easier to fly and land than the original. Mayo calculated that, because of these improvements and the fact that the Peashooter does not have the armament that was originally needed in the combat airplane, “it will have a performance about 10 percent better than the original. Last but not least Mayo credits a small but dedicated group of volunteers that have shown up at his shop at least once a week for years on end – and one able person did many hours of CADACM work at home. “Really, without the help of all these people, this project would have never seen completion. Or, it would have at least taken more than my lifetime!” An inspection of the aircraft’s construction details reveals what can only be described as a labor of love. The aircraft’s all-metal skin has been carefully hand formed and shaped in many complex compound curves by Mayo. The craft has over 29,000 rivets, each painstakingly inserted, driven and made flush with the skin. The craft has about one-half million other parts, most of which had to be machined and fabricated from raw metal or cleverly adapted from existing aircraft parts. Mayo explains, “In many cases three jobs had to be done for each piece. First, devise a method to make the production tool, jig or fixture. Then, use those methods to make it. Finally, use the tooling or forms to make the final part needed.” PERFORMANCE: Cruise speed: greater than 210 MPH Max. initial rate of climb: more than 2500 fpm. Max. speed (VNE): 315 MPH Landing speed: 73 MPH with flaps Stunning P-26D Peashooter Reproduction, Only 2 original examples of this aircraft exist in the world today!

All metal construction, 15 Hrs TTSNEW

15

SNEW

Pratt & Whitney R-1340 AN1, 600 hp 15 Hrs SMOH by Covington Aircraft Engines 2005 (Chrome Cylinders)

Hamilton Standard 12D-40 with 6101A-12 Blades, 15 Hrs SPOH

Eclipse E-80 Starter Gill G-246, 24 volt Battery 7” Oil cooler Fuel gauge: Skysport capacitance type AmeriKing AK-450 ELT Cleveland wheels Cleveland, 4 disk, hydraulic brakes Master cylinder: AT-6 Bendix- Cessna UC-78 Shock struts Locking tail wheel Stainless steel exhaust - new Main tires: 7.5 x 10 Tail tire – 12.5 – P51 channel tread Tail wheel: detent & positive lock Fuel capacities: main fuselage tank – 57 gal., each wing tank – 23 gal. = 103 gallons total Oil capacity – 9 gal.

Paint scheme in 1st Pursuit Group, 94th Squadron, Selfridge Field, Michigan, circa 1935-36, DuPont Imron, excellent condition