Grumman F2F

infobox Aircraft
name =Grumman F2F
type =Naval fighter
manufacturer =Grumman

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caption = A F2F-1 of fighter squadron VF-2B, "USS Lexington (CV-2)"
designer = Leroy Grumman
first flight = 31 October 1933
introduced =1935
retired =1940
primary user =United States Navy
produced = 1934-1935
number built = 55
unit cost = $12,000 (as of 1935)Ref Great Aircraft|Grumman Single-Seat Biplane Fighters|155-162]
developed from = Grumman FF
variants with their own articles = Grumman F3F

The Grumman F2F was a single-engine, biplane fighter aircraft with retractable undercarriage, serving as the standard fighter for the United States Navy between 1936 and 1940. It was designed for both carrier- and land-based operations.

Development

Grumman's success with the two-seat FF-1, which was significantly faster than even the single-seat fighters of its time, resulted in a contract for the single-seat XF2F-1. Armed with two .30 caliber (7.62 mm) machine guns above the cowl, the new design also incorporated watertight compartments to reduce weight and improve survivability in the event of a water landing. The prototype first flew on 18 October 1933, equipped with the experimental 625 hp (466 kW) XR-1534-44 Twin Wasp Junior radial engine, and reached a top speed of 229 mph (369 km/h) at 8,400 ft (2,560 m) - 22 mph (35 km/h) faster than the FF-1 at the same altitude. Maneuverability also proved superior to the earlier two-seat aircraft.The Navy ordered 54 F2F-1 fighters on 17 May 1934, with the first aircraft delivered on 1935-01-19. An additional aircraft was ordered to replace one which crashed on 16 March 1935, bringing the total to 55, and the final F2F-1 was delivered on 2 August 1935.

ervice

The F2F-1 had a relatively long service life for the time, serving in front-line squadrons from 1935 to late 1939, when squadrons began to receive the F3F-3 as a replacement. By September 1940, the F2F had been completely replaced in fighter squadrons and was relegated to training and utility duties.

Operators

*
** United States Navy

pecifications (Grumman F2F-1)

Aircraft specification

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
crew=One
length main=21 ft 5 in
length alt=6.53 m
span main=28 ft 6 in
span alt=8.69 m
height main=9 ft 1 in
height alt=2.77 m
area main=230 ft²
area alt=21.4 m²
empty weight main=2,691 lb
empty weight alt=1,221 kg
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
max takeoff weight main=3,847 lb
max takeoff weight alt=1,745 kg
more general=
engine (prop)=Pratt & Whitney R-1535-72 Twin Wasp Jr
type of prop=radial engine
number of props=1
power main=650 hp
power alt=485 kW
max speed main=238 mph
max speed alt=383 km/h
range main=985 miles
range alt=1,585 km
ceiling main=27,500 ft
ceiling alt=8,384 m
climb rate main=ft/min
climb rate alt= m/s
loading main=lb/ft²
loading alt= kg/m²
power/mass main=hp/lb
power/mass alt= kW/kg
more performance=
armament=

References

ee also

aircontent
related=
* Grumman F3F

similar aircraft=

sequence=
FF - F2F - F3F - F4F - F5F

lists=
* List of fighter aircraft
* List of US Naval aircraft

see also=