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.

The Navy's experience with the F2F revealed issues with stability and
unfavorable spin characteristics, prompting the 15 October 1934 contract for the
improved XF3F-1, placed before F2F deliveries began. The contract also required
a capability for ground attack, in addition to the design's fighter role.
Powered by the same Pratt & Whitney R-1535-72 Twin Wasp Junior engine as the
F2F, the fuselage was lengthened and wing area increased over the earlier
design. A reduction in wheel diameter allowed greater fuselage streamlining,
eliminating the prominent bulge behind the cowling of the F2F.

The prototype, BuNo. 9727, was delivered and first flown on 20 March 1935 with
company test pilot Jimmy Collins making three flights that day. Two days later,
six dive-recovery flights took place; on the 10th, the aircraft's pullout at
8,000 ft (2,438 m) registered 14 g on the test equipment. The aircraft broke up
in midair, crashing in a cemetery and killing Collins. A second, strengthened
prototype was built, but it crashed on 9 May of the same year following the
pilot's bailout during an unsuccessful spin recovery. The second prototype was
rebuilt in three weeks, flying on 20 June 1935. An order for 54 F3F-1 fighters
was placed on 24 August of that year, following the conclusion of the flight
test program.


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)


Developed from
Grumman F2F

The first production F3F-1 was delivered on 29 January 1936 to the test group at
Naval Air Station Anacostia, with squadron service beginning in March to VF-5B
of Ranger and VF-6B of Saratoga. Marine squadron VF-4M received the last six in
January 1937.

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. 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).

The entire F3F-2 production series was delivered in between 1937 and 1938; when
deliveries ended, all seven Navy and Marine Corps pursuit squadrons were
equipped with Grumman single-seat fighters. Further aerodynamic improvements
were made to an F3F-2 (BuNo 1031) based on wind tunnel studies in the NACA
Langley 30' x 60' full-scale wind tunnel and became the XF3F-3. It featured a
larger-diameter propeller, and a complete revision of the fuselage skinning
forward of the aft cabane strut in order to improve aerodynamics. On 21 June
1938, the Navy ordered 27 F3F-3s, as new monoplane fighters like the Brewster
F2A and Grumman's own F4F Wildcat were taking longer to develop than had been
planned.

With the introduction of the Brewster F2A-1, the Navy's biplane fighter days
were numbered. All F3Fs were withdrawn from squadron service by the end of 1941,
though 117 were assigned to naval bases and used for training and utility duties
until December 1943.

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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