Grumman F3F – Φώτο & Βίντεο

Teh 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.

Πηγή: Grumman F3F on Wikipedia

The Grumman F3F was a biplane fighter aircraft produced by the Grumman aircraft company for the United States Navy during the mid-1930s. It was designed as an improvement on the previous F2F model, with a longer fuselage, increased wing area, and a more powerful engine. The F3F was the last biplane fighter to be delivered to any American military branch, as it was soon replaced by monoplane designs such as the Brewster F2A Buffalo and the Grumman F4F Wildcat. The F3F entered service in 1936 and was retired from front line squadrons at the end of 1941, before it could see action in World War II. However, some F3Fs were used as training and utility aircraft until 1943. The F3F had a single-seat cockpit, a Pratt & Whitney R-1535 radial engine with 700 hp, and two fixed forward-firing machine guns. It had a top speed of 231 mph, a range of 530 miles, and a service ceiling of 28,500 feet. The F3F could also carry up to 110 lb of bombs for ground attack missions. The F3F was known for its excellent maneuverability and aerobatic performance, and was popular among its pilots and spectators alike.