Loening PW-2

During 1918 the Loening Aeronautical Engineering Company had designed the M.8, a two-seat shoulder-wing monoplane intended for use in an observation role. It gained a US Army Air Service contract, but with the war's end only two were built. From this basic design the company developed a new single-seater to meet a post-war requirement of the USAAS for a fighter in the PW (Pursuit, Water-cooled) category. Three PW-2 prototypes were built, the first (64139) being used for static testing. Evaluation of 64140 and 64141 led to a contract for 10 PW-2A production aircraft, with modifications to the rear fuselage and tail unit, and with power provided by the 239kW Wright H engine. After one of the first four production aircraft lost its wings in flight, the remaining six were cancelled. One of the PW-2As was subsequently reworked with wings of reduced span and given a 261kW Packard 1A-1237 engine, and was tested for a period under the designation PW-2B.