Grumman FF

The Grumman FF Story

Grumman's longstanding relationship with the US Navy began with the service adopting their "G-5 Type" biplane as the "FF". It was the first Grumman aircraft to enter service with the U.S. Navy and the first carrier-based fighter to have retractable main legs in its design. The plane was born out of a U.S.

Navy program to retrofit its existing Boeing F4B fighter jets with retractable landing gear, and rival Grumman responded with a new, modern , an all-metal, high-speed fighter that combines the required features. The first flight took place on December 29, 1931, and it entered service in 1933.

Grumman demonstrated the aircraft in prototype form with the XFF-1. Propulsion was provided by a single large Wright R-1820-E "Cyclone" radial piston engine located at the front of the aircraft. The exterior of the hull is deep, rather unwieldy and bulky by modern standards. Two crew members - pilot and observer - sat tandem in a long cockpit arrangement. The aircraft retains the decades-proven biplane wing layout featuring parallel struts and appropriate cables between the upper and lower wing assemblies.

The upper assembly was raised far enough above the fairing to provide the necessary forward visibility from the pilot's position. The lower wing assemblies are attached to the sides of the deep ventral structure.

The legs of the retractable main landing gear are also located in this abdominal structure and are attached to the front of the main aircraft on the lower wing. The rear wing consists of a vertical rear wing, low-lying horizontal surfaces and a snap hook - the latter mounted under the rear wing. When resting or running on the ground, a small tail wheel supports the rear of the aircraft, which remains stationary in flight despite the main legs retracting. The standard armament became 2 x .30 caliber Browning M1919 medium machine guns - on the day - delivering a reasonable offensive "strike" against the opponent of the day.

The aircraft also has light bomb-dropping capabilities, capable of carrying and dropping a 100-pound bomb under the fuselage.

The aircraft incorporates some fairly modern elements into its design, in contrast to its outdated biplane look. It emerged in the aviation age, with many designs retaining the qualities of bygone eras of flight but also bringing brand new features such as retractable landing gear, a fully enclosed cockpit, a more modern instrument panel and metal trim on the fuselage (more than Cloth is still used on the wings).

In this way, the FF was more modern than the form that appeared in the 1920s, but it was itself quickly replaced by new thoroughbreds of WWII, such as the famous British Hawker Hurricanes and German Messerschmitt BF 109s.

In December 1932, about a year after the first flight, the U.S. Navy ordered the FF into production with the first prototypes of the 27 "FF-1" fighter mine brand.

Also added 33 examples of another brand - the Scout-leaning "SF-1", these examples are based on Grumman's follow-up FF prototype called "XSF-1" with various mission loadouts as well as various Wright Cyclone trails Towards. In June 1933, the first cargo was delivered to USN units aboard the USS Lexington (CV-2) (the WWII veteran was later killed in the Battle of the Coral Sea in 1942).

The FF series did not last long on the front lines of the U.S. Navy, having been phased out by 1937, relegated to secondary units and roles, and officially retired in 1940 before World War II (1939-1945). Fifty - Two aircraft were built in Canada for the Canadian Air Force called "Gnomish" and based on a slightly improved FF-1 form called "G-23". The aircraft family has also been evaluated in Imperial Japan, Mexico and Nicaragua, although no firm orders have been received. The other 34 aircraft were exported to Spain and operated under the GE name.

23 "Definitions". These parts served in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). The XSF-2 was an experimental model including a Pratt & Whitney R-1535-72 "Twin Wasp Junior" 650 hp radial engine, but nothing came of it.

About 25 FF-1 fighters were converted by the Naval Aircraft Factory to the US Navy for use as trainer platforms with dual controls.

From 1932 to 1934, all FF forms were produced, 116 units were completed.

In its final production fighter form, the FF-1's Wright R-1820-78 Cyclone radial piston engine produced a useful 700 hp. This enables a top speed of 207 mph and a range of 685 miles. Service is capped at 22,100 feet for this type with a climb rate of 1,670 feet per minute.

With the introduction of the Grumman F2F series biplanes in 1935, Grumman continued to maintain a partnership with the U.S. Navy as a major supplier of carrier-based fighter jets. Only 55 examples of this type were built, and these were also quickly retired in 1940.

The Grumman F3F was another offshoot that was decommissioned from 1936 to 1943.

Specification

Basic

Production

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Performance

Performance

Armor

Changes