Introduced shortly after the secession of the Republic of Texas from the United States-and that nation's subsequent conflict with Mexico-the William and Colt Peacemaker 370 has been one of Texas' most recognized aircraft, featured in comic strips and pulp novels as the definitive Texan warplane.

Ironically, the Peacemaker was only produced in small numbers, with fewer than 200 in service (mostly operated by the Texas Rangers and the Texas Air Force). The remainder of operational Peacemakers are scattered between local militias in Texas, Arixo and Free Colorado…and a number of pirate bands (most notably, "Marshal" Bill Redmann, Texas' most famous outlaw).

Early this week, William and Colt, the manufacturer of the Peacemaker, has announced plans to upgrade production of this unusual aircraft, in a few different configurations. W&C has received permission from the Texas government to sell the new Peacemakers abroad-generating hard currency for the Lone Star Republic, as well as swelling the ranks of the Rangers and the Texas Air Force.

William And Colt
The Crash of '29 was the death knell for the North American Aviation Company. A once-prosperous manufacturer of aircraft and aviation supplies, NAAC had expanded rapidly throughout the 1920s, draining off capital. When the Stock Market crashed, NAAC-cash poor and overextended-was decimated, collapsing amidst a series of bitter lawsuits.

NAAC was forced to sell off most of its plants and manufacturing centers, launching the careers of several smaller aircraft firms. One such site, in Dallas, was purchased by local industrialists, Bruce William and Benjamin Colt (a descendant of noted gunsmith and entrepreneur, Sam Colt). With Texas' secession (and the subsequent call for arms to defend the Republic against Mexico), William and Colt designed their first aircraft, a heavy fighter.

The design was a failure, but despite the setback and lack of interest from the Texas military, the pair persevered, turning out the first airworthy Peacemaker in June of 1932. Despite some initial hiccups in the Peacemaker design (such as problems with the engine mounting), the first 50 Peacemakers were immediately purchased by the Texas government.

The Peacemaker 370
The Peacemaker is a dual-hull fighter, propelled by a pusher-prop mounted between the cockpit and the second hull. The Peacemaker's dual-hull design, while not revolutionary, incorporated several interesting design features. The placement of the single engine-between the two hulls-was a departure from standard double-hull design (which typically included one engine per hull). This reduced overall weight and fuel consumption, though it sacrifices speed and range.

Design Disadvantages
The standard Peacemaker is not an exceptional performer, with a top speed of 250 m.p.h., and a service altitude of 26,000 feet. The dual-hulls' drag and unusual weight distribution gives the Peacemaker a sluggish turn rate and mediocre handling.

In a test flight of a stock Peacemaker, I was singularly unimpressed with the craft; as a dogfighter, the Peacemaker is a flying coffin. It turns too slow, it accelerates poorly, and visibility afforded by the offset cockpit is difficult to get used to.

Design Advantages
So why is the Peacemaker seeing a resurgence with all these disadvantages?

The Peacemaker possesses a serious weapons load-out: four .60-caliber cannons and eight rocket hardpoints are the standard munitions load. And the Peacemaker's stability and low stall speed make it a useful, and hard-hitting, low-altitude fighter.

Even better, the "new" Peacemakers (with upgraded engines, delivering an extra 30 m.p.h.) come in a number of "flavors," each suited to various mission profiles.

The New Breed of Peacemaker
The Peacemaker 370a is the standard light fighter we're familiar with, though with a more robust engine (which improves overall performance and handling slightly). The Peacemaker 370b is the reconnaissance bird, sacrificing armor and munitions (it possesses four rocket hardpoints, and two .60-caliber cannons) for additional fuel and gun-cameras. The 370c is the powerhouse, a bomber. The 370c sheds the Peacemaker's standard cannons, replacing them with a bomb-bay, that can deliver three 50 lb. bombs. Rocket hardpoints can be swapped for aerial torpedo mounts, making the 370c deadly for fixed ground targets and a true zeppelin-killer.

Evaluation
Though the new models are still in the testing stage, the prototypes I flew (at William and Colt's Dallas plant) handle better than the original Peacemaker. The 370c in particular is a monster, designed to crack open the armor on mobile anti-aircraft platforms (which the Mexicans have begun to deploy on the border). Though none of these models is a true dogfighter, if the mission involves smashing hardened targets, the Peacemaker is a deadly and useful instrument of aerial warfare.