The Boeing Model 203 was a three-seat biplane trainer build by

Boeing The Boeing Company () is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, telecommunications equipment, and missiles worldwide. The company also provides leasing and product ...

in the late 1920s and used in the company training school.

Development and design

The 203 was a low-power biplane designed to compete with other standard training aircraft. Its front cockpit accommodated 2 passengers side-by-side, or 1 student with a second set of controls. Its fuselage was welded steel tubing (the last Boeing aircraft to be built this way) and its wings were made of solid wood spars and plywood ribs. Physically it resembled a combination of the Boeing Model 95 and

Boeing P-12 The Boeing P-12/F4B was an American pursuit aircraft that was operated by the United States Army Air Corps , United States Marine Corps, and United States Navy. Design and development Developed as a private venture to replace the Boeing F2B an ...

. Initially five 203s were built. The first had a 145 hp engine, and first flew on 1 July 1929. The second aircraft was fitted with a 165 hp 5-cylinder

Wright J-6-5 The Wright R-540 Whirlwind was a series of five-cylinder air-cooled radial aircraft engines built by the Wright Aeronautical division of Curtiss-Wright. These engines had a displacement of 540 in³ (8.85 L) and power ratings of around ...

engine. It first flew on 29 August 1929 and was designated Model 203A. The final three aircraft had the original Axelson engine, upgraded to 165 hp. All aircraft were delivered to the

Boeing School of Aeronautics The Boeing School of Aeronautics was started by Boeing to compete against the Wright brothers' Wright Flying School and Curtiss Flying School in San Diego, California. Founded in 1929 at Oakland Municipal Airport in Oakland, California, the school ...

Oakland, California Oakland is the largest city and the county seat of Alameda County, California, United States. A major West Coast of the United States, West Coast port, Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, the third ...

, and all were eventually converted into ''203As''. After years of service, the vertical tails of the 203As were redesigned to align with those on the

Boeing Model 218 The Boeing P-12/F4B was an United States of America, American fighter aircraft, pursuit aircraft that was operated by the United States Army Air Corps , United States Marine Corps, and United States Navy. Design and development Developed as a p ...

. Two more aircraft were built at the Boeing School, one in 1935 and one in 1936. By 1941 the two new 203s and an original aircraft were converted to 203Bs. A larger 220 hp 9-cylinder

Lycoming R-680 The Lycoming R-680 is a nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engine, the first aero engine produced by Lycoming. The engine was produced in two types, the E and B series; both are essentially the same. The B4E was available in a trainer version wit ...

radial engine was installed, and more advanced training equipment was fitted for use by more advanced students. When the Boeing School was closed due to the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, the four 203As were transferred to

United Air Lines United Airlines, Inc. (commonly referred to as United), is a major American airline headquartered at the Willis Tower in Chicago, Illinois.

Cheyenne, Wyoming Cheyenne ( or ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Wyoming, as well as the county seat of Laramie County, with 65,132 residents, per the 2020 US Census. It is the principal city of the Cheyenne metropolitan statistical ...

, two 203Bs were sold to a private owner, and the fate of the final 203B is unknown.

Variants

;203:prototype powered by a

Axelson A Axelson is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Jan Axelson (born 1949), American author and conservationist *Joe Axelson (1927–2008), American sports executive *Matthew Axelson (1976–2005), American Navy SEAL See also *Axelso ...

radial engine and four production aircraft powered by

Axelson B Axelson is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Jan Axelson (born 1949), American author and conservationist * Joe Axelson (1927–2008), American sports executive *Matthew Axelson (1976–2005), American Navy SEAL See also *Axel ...

radial engines; 4 built. ;203A : The second 203 produced with a

engine and the three 203s converted, by replacing their Axelson engines. Also, two additional aircraft built in 1935 and 1936 :3 built + 3 converted. ;203B:Three 203As converted to 203Bs by installation of

radial engines.

Operators

; *

United Air Lines United Airlines, Inc. (commonly referred to as United), is a major American airline headquartered at the Willis Tower in Chicago, Illinois.

Specifications (203)

References

* {{Boeing model numbers 1920s United States military trainer aircraft 203 Single-engined tractor aircraft Biplanes Aircraft first flown in 1929