The PA-1 ("Pursuit, Air-cooled" designation used only this one time) was a single-bay equi-span staggered biplane, the wings employing an unusually thick airfoil and the center section of the upper wing being thickened to accommodate the fuel tank. Armament comprised two 0.30 in (7.62 mm) Vickers machine guns and power was provided by a Wright R-1 (R-1454) nine-cylinder radial rated at 350 hp.
A contract was placed for two prototype PA-1s (serials 64248, 64249), however, the second was cancelled, while 64248 went to McCook Field under the Project Number "P-244"."