View source for Boeing Model 40

{{Short description|1925 mailplane family by Boeing}}
{{Use American English|date = September 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date = September 2019}}
{{Infobox aircraft
  |name= Model 40
  |image= Model40.jpg
  |caption=
  |type= [[Mail plane]]
  |manufacturer= Boeing
  |designer=
  |first_flight= July 20, 1925
  |introduction= July 1, 1927
  |retired=
  |status=
  |primary_user= [[Boeing Air Transport]]  
  |more_users= [[Varney Air Lines]]<br/>[[Pacific Air Transport]]
  |produced= <!--years in production, e.g. 1970-1999, if still in active use but no longer built-->
  |number_built= ca. 80
  |unit cost=
  |variants=
}}
The '''Boeing Model 40''' is a United States [[mail plane]] of the 1920s. It was a single-engined [[biplane]] that was widely used for airmail services in the United States in the 1920s and 1930s, especially by airlines that later became part of [[United Airlines]]. It became the first aircraft built by the [[Boeing]] company to carry passengers.

==Development and design==
In 1925, the [[United States Postal Service|U.S. Post Office]] issued a requirement for a [[mailplane]] to replace the ex-military [[Airco DH.4|DH-4]]s then in use. The new aircraft was required to use the same [[water-cooled]] [[Liberty 12|Liberty]] [[V12 engine]] as used by the DH-4, of which large stocks of war-built engines were available.<ref name="AE127 p65">Davies ''Air Enthusiast'' January/February 2007, p. 65.</ref> The resultant aircraft, the '''Boeing Model 40''', was a conventional [[tractor configuration|tractor]] [[biplane]], with the required Liberty engine housed in a streamlined cowling with an underslung radiator. The aircraft's fuselage had a steel tube structure, with an [[aluminum]] and laminated wood covering. Up to {{convert|1000|lb|kg|abbr=on}} of mail was carried in two compartments in the forward fuselage, while the single pilot sat in an open cockpit in the rear fuselage.  The wings and tail were of wooden construction, and the Model 40 had a fixed [[conventional landing gear]].<ref name="AE127 p65"/><ref name="Bowersboeing p124-5">Bowers 1989, pp. 124–125.</ref>

The Model 40 made its first flight on July 7, 1925. Although the prototype was purchased by the U.S. Post Office, the production order went to the [[Douglas M-2]].<ref name="AE127 p65"/><ref name="AE22 p67">Taylor ''Air Enthusiast'' August–November 1983, p. 67.</ref>

[[File:Lftrear40c.jpg|thumb|left|Model 40C at Oshkosh 2008. Both passenger entry doors, one for each of the two-seat rows, are on the left side of the fuselage.]]
The Contract Air Mail Act of 1925 set out the gradual [[privatization]] of the Post Office's Air Mail routes. In late 1926, bids were requested for the main transcontinental trunk mail route, which was to be split into eastern and western sections, with Boeing bidding for the western section.  Boeing revived the design for the tender, with the '''Model 40A''' replacing the Liberty engine with a {{convert|425|hp|kW|abbr=on}} air-cooled [[Pratt & Whitney Wasp]] [[radial engine]], which was {{convert|200|lb|kg|abbr=on}} lighter than the Liberty, even ignoring the weight of the Liberty's radiator and cooling water. The fuselage was redesigned to make more extensive use of welded steel tubing, and an enclosed cabin was fitted between the mail compartments, allowing two passengers to be carried as well as {{convert|1200|lb|kg|abbr=on}} of mail. Boeing's bid of $3 per lb was much less than any of the competing bids, and Boeing was awarded the [[San Francisco]] to [[Chicago]] contract in January 1927, building 24 Model 40As for the route (with a further aircraft being used as a testbed by Pratt & Whitney).<ref name="AE22 p67"/><ref name="Bowersboeing p116-7">Bowers 1989, pp. 116–117.</ref><ref name="AE127 p66-7">Davies ''Air Enthusiast'' January/February 2007, pp. 66–67.</ref>
 
The next model to reach production was the '''Model 40C''', with an enlarged cabin allowing four passengers to be carried. Meanwhile, Boeing Air Transport's Model 40As were modified by replacing their Wasp engines with {{convert|525|hp|kW|abbr=on}} [[Pratt & Whitney Hornet]] radial engines to become the '''Model 40B-2'''.<ref name="AE22 p69">Taylor ''Air Enthusiast'' August–November 1983, p. 69.</ref> The '''Model 40B-4''' was a new-build aircraft combining the four-passenger cabin of the Model 40C with the Hornet engine of the B-2.<ref name="Bowersboeing p129">Bowers 1989, p. 129.</ref> Production continued until February 1932.<ref name="Bowersboeing p130">Bowers 1989, p. 130.</ref>

==Operational history==
[[File:First Transcontinental US Air Mail under Contract 1927.jpg|thumb|200px|Cover flown from San Francisco to Chicago by a Model 40A operated by Boeing Air Transport on the first day U.S. Transcontinental Air Mail under Contract. July 1, 1927]]
Boeing's airline, ''Boeing Air Transport'', commenced operations on the San Francisco–Chicago route on July 1, 1927.<ref name="AE127 p68-9">Davies ''Air Enthusiast'' January–February 2007, pp. 68–69.</ref>

==Variants==
[[File:Boeing Model 40 over mountains circa 1930s.jpg|thumb|A Boeing Model 40 flying over mountains in Washington State, 1930s.]]
;Model 40: Original 1925 design with Liberty engine.
;Model 40A: Revised 1927 design for BATC. the aircraft was powered by a Pratt & Whitney Wasp radial engine, plus seating for two passengers in an enclosed cabin; 25 built. Received Dept of Air Commerce Approved Type Certificate #2.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Flying Magazine|date=April 1973|title=The Golden Age of Air Transport|page=34|author=Gann}}</ref>
;Model 40B: Model 40As re-engined with a 525&nbsp;hp (391&nbsp;kW) [[Pratt & Whitney Hornet]] radial piston engine. 19 Model 40A were converted. Redesignated '''Model 40B-2'''.
;Model 40B-4: Revised Model 40B with seating for four passengers and other improvements.  Equipped with openable windows, plus seating for four passengers; 38 built.
;Model 40B-4A: One Model 40B used as engine testbed by [[Pratt & Whitney]].
;Model 40H-4: Four Model 40B-4s built by [[Boeing Canada]]. Two aircraft were exported to [[New Zealand]].
;Model 40C: Similar to Model 40B-4 but with Pratt & Whitney Wasp engine of Model 40A. (ten built, all later converted to Model 40B-4 standard).<ref>[http://eaavintage.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/2008-Vol.-36-No.-11-The-1928-Boeing-40C.pdf Boeing 40C Flies For the First Time in 80 Years] VintageAircraft, 2008 - 02/21</ref><ref>[http://www.leebottom.com/nordo/Archives/Feb%202008.htm Lee Bottom Flying Field] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509122628/http://www.leebottom.com/nordo/Archives/Feb%202008.htm |date=May 9, 2008 }} This Just In</ref>
;Model 40X: Unique special-order machine similar to Model 40C with only two-passenger cabin and extra open cockpit forward of pilot's cockpit.
;Model 40Y: Unique special-order machine similar to Model 40X, but with Pratt & Whitney Hornet engine.

==Operators==
;{{HON}}
*[[Honduran Air Force]]<ref name="caud p60">Hagedorn ''Air Enthusiast'' July–November 1986, p. 60.</ref>
;{{USA}}
*[[Boeing Air Transport]]

==Accidents and incidents==
* February 26, 1928: A Boeing Air Transport Model 40B (c/n 891, registration NC280) crashed near [[Marquette, Nebraska]] after the aircraft struck trees when flying low to avoid air turbulence; the passenger was killed, but the pilot survived.<ref name="AE127 p69">Davies ''Air Enthusiast'' January/February 2007, p. 69.</ref>
* April 17, 1928: A Boeing Air Transport Model 40B (c/n 893, registration NC282) crashed at Federal, Wyoming, killing one of two on board.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}
* October 2, 1928: A Pacific Air Transport Model 40C (c/n 1043, registration NC5339) crashed on Canyon Mountain near Canyonville, Oregon, killing one of two on board.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}
* November 18, 1930: A Pacific Air Transport Model 40B-4 (c/n 1036, registration NC5340) crashed into a mountainside at 4500 feet in a snowstorm, killing all three on board.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}
* January 22, 1931: A Varney Air Lines Model 40B-4 (c/n 1148, registration NC741K) crashed into Bluff Mountain in dense fog, killing the pilot.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}
* May 5, 1931: A Pacific Air Transport Model 40B-4 (c/n 1044, registration NC5390) crashed in La Tuna Canyon in the [[Verdugo Mountains]] while attempting to land at Burbank Airport in low visibility, killing both crew.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}
* September 16, 1931: A Pacific Air Transport Model 40B-4 (c/n 1428, registration NC10347) crashed into [[San Francisco Bay]] after takeoff for reasons unknown, killing all four on board.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}
* November 23, 1931: A Boeing Air Transport Model 40, registration NC7465, crashed eight miles west of Salt Lake Airport, killing the pilot; it was believed that the plane overturned while attempting to land at night.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}
* November 26, 1931: A Varney Air Lines Model 40B-4 (c/n 1419, registration NC10338) crashed near [[Pasco, Washington]] in low visibility while attempting to land, killing the pilot.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}
* February 2, 1932: A Boeing Air Transport Model 40, registration NC7470, crashed on landing at [[Rio Vista, California]]; the plane struck an irrigation ditch and caught fire, killing one of two on board.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}
* May 3, 1932: A Varney Air Lines Model 40B-4 (c/n 1155, registration NC830M) crashed at Portland, Oregon, killing both crew.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}
* May 16, 1932: A Pacific Air Transport Model 40, registration NC5589, crashed and burned in fog while attempting to land at Burbank Airport, killing all three (both pilots, radioman) on board.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}
* December 14, 1932: A Boeing Air Transport Model 40B-4 (c/n 1168, registration NC842M) crashed at Rocky Ridge, Colorado, killing the pilot.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}

==Surviving aircraft==
[[File:RtFront40c.jpg|thumb|Boeing Model 40C at Oshkosh 2008]]
As of February 17, 2008, Boeing 40C c/n 1043 became the only airworthy example in the world. It also holds the title of the oldest flying Boeing in the world. In 1928, the aircraft was substantially damaged in a crash near Canyonville, OR. After being recovered, it was completely rebuilt over an eight-year period from 2000 to 2008 and an estimated 18,000 [[man hour]]s by Pemberton and Sons Aviation<ref>[http://www.pembertonandsons.com Pemberton & Sons Aviation] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110074648/http://pembertonandsons.com/ |date=2016-01-10 }}</ref> in [[Spokane, Washington]]. On May 8, 2010, this airplane had an aerial rendezvous with Boeing's newest passenger aircraft, the [[Boeing 787]] Dreamliner.<ref>[http://blog.seattlepi.com/aerospace/archives/206172.asp Boeing on 787 aerial rendezvous with 1928 Model 40] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110202092938/http://blog.seattlepi.com/aerospace/archives/206172.asp |date=February 2, 2011 }}. Seattlepi.com</ref> In September, 2017, it was sold to the [[Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum]] in Hood River, Oregon.  It remains airworthy and flies on special occasions.

The [[Henry Ford Museum]] in [[Dearborn, Michigan]], contains a 1927 Boeing 40B-2, number 285.

The [[Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago)|Museum of Science and Industry]] in [[Chicago, Illinois]] has a 1928 Boeing Model 40-B on display in its Transportation Gallery. (N288)

The [[Museum of Flight]] in [[Seattle, Washington]] has a complete full-scale replica and two partially finished replica fuselages (showing what the original [[Boeing]] factory would have looked like circa 1928-29) on display.

==Specifications (Model 40A)==
[[File:Boeing 40 Inst40c.jpg|thumb|Model 40C Pilot's panel with some modern features added for safe operation]]
[[File:Boeing Pax40c.jpg|thumb|Model 40C front seat of rear passenger cabin showing the fold-down writing desk/table]]

{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=imp
|ref=Boeing Aircraft since 1916<ref name="Bowersboeing p127">Bowers 1989, p. 127.</ref>
|crew=one
|capacity=two passengers and {{convert|1200|lb|kg|abbr=on}} mail
|length ft=33  
|length in=2.25
|length m=10.12 
|span ft=44  
|span in=2.25
|span m=13.47 
|height ft=12  
|height in=3.1
|height m=3.74 
|wing area sqft=547 
|wing area sqm=50.82 
|empty weight lb=3,531 
|empty weight kg=1605 
|max takeoff weight lb= 6000 
|max takeoff weight kg=2727 
|eng1 name=Pratt & Whitney Wasp
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 hp= 420
|eng1 kw=313 
|max speed mph= 128 
|max speed kts=111
|max speed kmh=206
|cruise speed mph= 105 
|cruise speed kts=91
|cruise speed kmh=169
|range miles= 650 
|range nmi=565
|range km=1046
|ceiling ft= 14,500 
|ceiling m=4420 
|climb rate ftmin=770 
|climb rate ms=3.9 
}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

*{{cite book|last=Bowers|first=Peter M.|author-link=Peter M. Bowers|title=Boeing Aircraft since 1916|publisher=Putnam Aeronautical Books|location=London|year=1989|edition=Third|isbn=0-85177-804-6}}
*{{cite magazine|last=Davies|first=Ed|title=Boeing's Airline: The Life and Times of Boeing Air Transport: Part One|magazine=[[Air Enthusiast]]|issue= 127|date=January–February 2007|pages=64–74|issn=0143-5450}}
*{{cite magazine|last=Davies|first=Ed|title=Boeing's Airline: The Life and Times of Boeing Air Transport: Part Two|magazine=Air Enthusiast|issue= 128|date=March–April 2007|pages=62–73|issn=0143-5450}}
*{{cite magazine|last=Hagedorn|first=Daniel P.|title=From Caudillos to COIN|magazine=Air Enthusiast|issue=Thirty-one|date=July–November 1986|pages=55–70|issn=0143-5450}}
*{{cite magazine|last=Taylor|first=H. A.|title=When Boeing Flew The Mails|magazine=Air Enthusiast|issue=Twenty-two|date=August–November 1983|pages=64–74|issn=0143-5450}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book |last= Taylor |first= Michael J. H. |title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year=1989 |publisher=Studio Editions |location=London |page=170 }}
* {{cite book |title=World Aircraft Information Files |publisher=Bright Star Publishing|location=London |pages=File 890 Sheet 52 |no-pp=true }}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Boeing 40}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060523133927/http://www.boeing.com/history/boeing/40a.html Boeing History – Boeing Model 40A Commercial Transport] Retrieved June 17, 2006.
* [http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1184434145?bclid=1184431670&bctid=1618638475 Prelude to AirVenture appearance, 7 minute video, accessed 8 August 2008]
*[http://www.barnstormers.com/eFLYER/2008/031-eFLYER-FA01-Sept10.html Pemberton-Tobin-Scott transcontinental air mail re-enactment]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090221175124/http://home.comcast.net/~biplane0/boeing40/ Pemberton and Sons Aviation Website]

{{Boeing airliners}}
{{Boeing model numbers}}

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[[Category:Biplanes]]
[[Category:1920s United States mailplanes]]
[[Category:Boeing aircraft|004, Boeing]]
[[Category:1920s United States airliners]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1925]]