Grumman FF
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| FF / SF "Fifi" | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Type | Naval fighter |
| Manufacturer | Grumman |
| Designed by | Leroy Grumman |
| Maiden flight | 1931-12-21 |
| Retired | 1940 |
| Primary user | United States Navy |
| Produced | 1932-1934 |
| Variants | Grumman F2F |
The Grumman FF was a biplane fighter aircraft operated by the United States Navy during the 1930s, and the first with retractable landing gear.
Contents |
[edit] Development
The FF-1 was Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation’s first aircraft design for the US Navy. The prototype XFF-1 (A8878) was built to a contract placed on April 22, 1931, first flying on December 21 of that year.[1] A two-seat design, it was powered initially by a 575 hp Wright R-1820 Cyclone radial engine, and when this was exchanged for a 750 hp Cyclone the XFF-1 reached a top speed of 201mph (323 km/h) during testing, faster than any US Navy fighter in service at the time.
A production order was placed for 27 two-seat FF-1s on 19 December 1932, deliveries to Fighter Squadron VF-SB of the USS Lexington beginning in June of 1933.[1] In service the FF-1 became familiarly known as the "Fifi." Meanwhile Grumman had completed a second prototype (A8940) to 2-seat scout configuration as the XSF-1, from which 33 production SF-2s were subsequently ordered. They differed from the FF-1 principally in having revised internal equipment and in being powered by R-1820-84 Cyclones instead of the R-1820-78 model installed in the fighter version. Delivery of SF-1s started in March, 1934, and they served, also aboard the Lexington, with Scout Squadron VS-3B. One XSF-2 was also completed, this having a Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Wasp engine in place of the Cyclone. Both the FF-1 and SF-1 were withdrawn from first-line US Navy squadrons by the end of 1936 and reallocated to reserve units, most of the FF-1s still being in service late in 1940. Later, fitted with dual controls, the surviving FF-1s were redesignated FF-2 and used for instructional duties.
The Canadian Car & Foundry Co acquired a manufacturing licence for the FF-1, of which it completed a total of 57, some of them assembled from US-built components. Fifteen entered service with No 118 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1940 with the name Goblin I. Prior to this a single example was delivered to Nicaragua, and, allegedly, one to Japan; the remaining 40 were ostensibly purchased by the Turkish government but were in fact received by the Spanish Republican Air Force in 1937.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Specifications (FF-1)
This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 24 ft 6 in (7.47 m)
- Wingspan: 34 ft 6 in (10.52 m)
- Height: ()
- Loaded weight: 4,655 lb (2,111 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Wright R-1820-78 Cyclone radial engine, 700 hp (520 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 207 mph (333 km/h)
- Range: 920 mi (1,480 km)
- Service ceiling: 22,400 ft (6,828 m)
Armament
- 2× 0.30 in (7.62 mm) Browning machine guns
- 1× 100 lb (45 kg) bomb
[edit] References
- ^ a b Cacutt, Len, ed. “Grumman Single-Seat Biplane Fighters.” Great Aircraft of the World. London: Marshall Cavendish, 1989. p. 155-162. ISBN 1-85435-250-4.
- Munson, Kenneth. US War Birds|From World War 1 to Vietnam. (New Orchards Edition Ltd).
[edit] Related content
Related development
Designation sequence
Related lists
See also
Fighters: FF · F2F · F3F · F4F · XF5F · XP-50 · F6F · XP-65 · F7F · F8F · F9F · XF10F · F11F · F12F · F-14
Attack/Patrol: SBF · TBF · XTSF · TB2F · AF · S-2 · A-6 - Recon/Scouts: SF · E-1 · OV-1 · EA-6 · E-2
Utility/Transports: UC-103 · JF · J2F · OA-12 · JRF · J3F · OA-9 · OA-13 · J4F OA-14 · JR2F · UF · U-16 · C-1 · C-2
Others: Apollo Lunar Module · X-29 · Q-8 · X-47
Timeline of aviation
Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines
Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft
Notable military accidents and incidents · Notable airline accidents and incidents · Famous aviation-related deaths
Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft
