Grumman FF
| Grumman FF / SF | |
|---|---|
 Grumman FF of the US Navy |
|
| Type: | Fighter and reconnaissance aircraft |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
December 29, 1931 |
| Commissioning: |
June 1933 |
| Production time: |
1932 to 1934 |
| Number of pieces: |
120 |
The Grumman FF was a two-seat biplane made by the US aircraft manufacturer Grumman , which was produced in the early 1930s for the United States Navy as a fighter and reconnaissance aircraft .
FF-1
The FF-1 (Model G.5) was intended as a fighter aircraft for use by aircraft carriers. The FF-1 was the first aircraft developed by Grumman and also the first type of retractable landing gear used by the US Navy. The first flight of the prototype XFF-1 (original company name HPTSF then called Model G-5 like the production variant) took place on December 29, 1931. The first series machines were delivered from April 1933 and from June with the squadron VF-5B ("Red Rippers" ) stationed on board the aircraft carrier USS Lexington (CV-2) . The biggest drawback of the aircraft called "Fifi" by the pilots was its extremely poor climbing ability.
The Canadian Car & Foundry GE-23 Goblin is the Canadian license production of the Grumman FF-1.
- Bu.No. 9350-9376 c / n 104-130 (27 pieces),
FF-2
After all FF-1 were withdrawn from the active fleet units in March 1936, the remaining 25 copies (22 according to other sources) were transferred to the Naval Aircraft Factory . A second control unit was installed there in the aircraft now designated as FF-2 , so that they could continue to be used as training aircraft in the US Navy reserves until 1942.
SF-1
35 of the reconnaissance version SF-1 (Model G.6) were built and the VS-3B ("Scouting Three") squadron was also stationed on the aircraft carrier Lexington. They were equipped a little differently and had a different engine (Wright R-1820-84).
Export version
The export version of the FF-1 was the model GE.23 with an 800 hp R-1820-F52 as a drive. 23 specimens were delivered to Spain and called dolphins there . By Canadian Car & Foundry 15 pieces for the RCAF were assembled and there as Goblin until its replacement by the Curtiss Kittyhawk used. A single copy was shipped to Nicaragua . From there it was bought back and restored by Grumman Aircraft after a long period of inactivity. The restored aircraft was then handed over to the US Navy and is on display in the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola to this day .
In 1937 40 aircraft of this type were to be delivered to Turkey . However, the machines fell into the hands of the Spanish republican armed forces during transport and were used by them in the Spanish civil war.
Technical specifications
Grumman FF-1
- Crew: 2 men
- Span: 10.52 m
- Length: 7.47 m
- Height: 3.38 m
- Wing area: 28.80 m²
- Empty weight: 1,395 kg
- Max. Takeoff weight: 2,111 kg
- a 9-cylinder radial engine Wright R-1820-78 (522 kW / 700 PS)
- Cruising speed: 196 km / h
- Top speed: 333 km / h
- Summit height: 6,400 m
- Gradeability: approx. 11 m / s
- Range: 1,178 km
- Armament: 4 pieces 0.3 in. Browning MG.
Grumman FF-2
- Crew: 2 men
- Span: 10.52 m
- Length: 7.47 m
- Height: 3.38 m
- Wing area: 28.80 m²
- Empty weight: 1,471 kg
- maximum take-off weight: 2,190 kg
- a 9-cylinder radial engine Wright R-1820-78 (522 kW / 700 PS)
- Top speed at an altitude of 1,200 m: 333 km / h
- Summit height: 6,400 m
- Gradeability: approx. 11 m / s
- Range: 1,428 km
- Armament: one fixed and two articulated 7.62 mm Browning MG
literature
- The Corpulent Long Islanders , AIR International, March 1976, pp. 124-134
- Reno J. Francillon: Grumman Aircraft since 1929 , Annapolis, 1989, ISBN 0-87021-246-X . (Pp. 83–91)
- John M. Andrade: US Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909 , ISBN 0-904597-22-9 (p. 187)
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Francillon, Grumman Aircraft since 1929 (p. 52)
- ↑ Andreade, US Military Aircraft Designations and Serials (p. 187)
- ↑ National Naval Aviation Museum: Aircraft on Display ( Memento of the original from August 28, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
