For big projects, they seem to prefer “Peace” and “Protect” and such.

Not “Death” and “Destroy”.

If the book has not been written already, the topic is waiting.

The Monomail Model 200 was a mail plane, and the Model 221 was a six-passenger transport. Both were later revised for transcontinental passenger service as Model 221As.

The major drawback of the Monomail was that its design was too advanced for the engines and propellers of the time. The airplane required a low-pitch propeller for takeoff and climb and a high-pitch propeller to cruise. By the time the variable-pitch propeller and more powerful engines were available, the Monomail was being replaced by newer, multiengine planes it had inspired.

The Boeing B-9 bomber was the earliest plane based on the Monomail design. It had a top speed of 186 mph and could outrun the fighters of the day by 5 mph. The monoplane bomber reached this speed although it had a five-person crew (in open cockpits) and carried a 2,400-pound bomb load.

Boeing built the YB-9 prototype bombers at company expense to show their design potential to the military. This high-speed aircraft inspired other airplane manufacturers to launch a new generation of bombers, such as the Martin B-10. Because fighters were expected to be faster than bombers, the B-9 also led to the first monoplane fighters.

First flight: April 13, 1931
Model number: 214/215
Classification: Bomber
Span: 76 feet
Length: 51 feet 5 inches
Gross weight: 13,919 pounds
Top speed: 186 mph
Cruising speed: 158 mph
Range: 1,150 miles
Ceiling: 20,150 feet
Power: Two 600-horsepower P&W Hornet engines
Accommodation: 5 crew
Armament: 2 machine guns, 2,400-pound bomb load

(Civilian version was 215 – before they started using ‘7’s.)