Grumman F3F

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F3F

The Grumman F3F was the last American biplane fighter aircraft delivered to the
United States Navy (indeed, the last biplane fighter delivered to any American
military air arm), and served between the wars. Designed as an improvement on
the single-seat F2F, it entered service in 1936. It was retired from front line
squadrons at the end of 1941 before it could serve in World War II, and was
first replaced by the Brewster F2A Buffalo. The F3F which inherited the Leroy
Grumman-designed retractable main landing gear configuration first used on the
Grumman FF served as the basis for a biplane design ultimately developed into
the much more successful F4F Wildcat. When it entered combat, the Wildcat would
quickly replace the Buffalo as the primary fighter of the Navy and Marines in
the first part of World War II, and continue to be produced throughout the
conflict.

MOVIE ROLES: "Dive Bomber",

Role Fighter aircraft
Manufacturer Grumman
Designer Leroy Grumman
First flight 20 March 1935
Introduction 1936
Retired November 1943
Primary users United States Navy
United States Marine Corps
Produced 1936–1939
Number built 147
Unit cost $20,424 (as of 1935)[1]
Developed from Grumman F2F

Grumman, wanting to take advantage of the powerful new 950 hp (708 kW) Wright
R-1820 supercharged radial engine, began work on the F3F-2 without a contract;
the order for 81 aircraft was not placed until 25 July 1936, two days before the
type's first flight.[2] The engine's larger diameter changed the cowling's
appearance, making the aircraft look even more like a barrel, though top speed
increased to 255 mph (410 km/h) at 12,000 ft (3,658 m).

Specifications (F3F-3)

General characteristics
Crew: one pilot
Length: 23 ft 2 in (7.06 m)
Wingspan: 32 ft 0 in (9.75 m)
Height: 9 ft 4 in (2.84 m)
Wing area: 260 ft² (24.15 m²)
Empty weight: 3,285 lb (1,490 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 4,795 lb (2,175 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Wright R-1820-22 "Cyclone" 9-cylinder radial engine, 950 hp (710
kW)

Performance
Maximum speed: 264 mph (229 kn, 425 km/h) at 15,250 ft (4,658 m)
Cruise speed: 150 mph (130 kn, 240 km/h)
Range: 980 mi (850 nmi, 1,600 km)
Service ceiling: 33,200 ft (10,120 m)
Rate of climb: 2,800 ft/min (14 m/s) at sea level

Armament
Guns:
1× 0.30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 machine gun, 500 rounds (left)
1× 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 machine gun, 200 rounds (right)
Bombs: 2× 116 lb (52.6 kg) Mk IV bombs, one under each wing






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