Grumman F3F-2 "Flying Barrel"

In 1935 the U.S. Navy placed an order with the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, then of Farmingdale, for the design and construction of a new fighter, the F3F. Based on earlier Grumman biplane designs, the F3F was faster and more maneuverable than any Navy fighter to date. By 1937, due to the slow development of the early monoplane fighters, the Navy ordered more F3Fs, this time an improved model, the F3F-2. The F3F-2 was strong, fast, maneuverable, and was considered a wonderful aircraft to fly. Its pilots considered it the ultimate biplane fighter; in fact it was the last biplane fighter produced in the United States. With its silver fuselage, yellow wings, and red, white, and blue markings, it was among the most colorful military aircraft ever built, but it heralded the end of an era.
By 1939 all U.S. Navy and Marine fighter squadrons flew Grumman biplane fighters exclusively. Of the 164 F3Fs built, 140 were still in service, as trainers in United States, at the time of the U.S. entry into World War II in December, 1941. Today the F3F is an extremely rare aircraft, with but two original surviving examples.

General characteristics
Crew: 1 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: 229 knots, 264 mph (425 km/h) at 15,250 ft (4,658 m)
Cruise speed: 150 mph (130 knots, 240 km/h)
Range: 980 mi (850 nm, 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) M2 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

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Grumman
• F3F-2
• Flying
• Barrel
• dive
• bomber
• biplane
• airplane
• aircraft
• aviation
• history

[Tomcat425uk]

To start the engine. It's actually a blank (no Shot), fired into the cylinders to turn the engine.

[bigkitten]

Beg to differ: this was a lovely 'plane...'crank-up' landing gear, but just charming. Yeah: I suppose it was a bit 'Polikarpov-esque', in certain ways. But the I-16 was basically a copy of the speed-winning planes of a couple of years prior.

[Gasbaggful]

To get a speed of 480 mph was in a dive called the 9 G Pull. A force of about 9 G's was experienced during the dive. Some pilots didn't make it out because of blacking out during the dive. Would have interesting to see how well these planes would have done in combat. But by 1938 types like the Me109 and A5M were common so I don't think they would have held up for too long.

[Elhombresombra]

@crankbv1 you don't need to be so tough with yourself! :-P Cheers! :o)

[crankbv1]

@Elhombresombra l stand corrected,sir. You're right of course,Coffman is the correct name. lt must be early senility creeping in. Cheers.

[Elhombresombra]

@crankbv1 Just for the sake of precision... "Coffman starter", not Kaufmann ;o) Cheers!

[carmium]

Those cartridge starters were how the engine of the rebuilt airplane in Flight of the Phoenix was started. First time I'd ever seen them in use.

[JaleelJohanson62]

@YTM021807 Without a doubt. Like the video said though, impressive the wings stayed on! That's a lot of drag to pull forward at 480mph!

[MrJp990]

@yyk99 It looks like a 12 guage blank shell

[YTM021807]

@ChorltonBrook That 480mph was probably in a DIVE!?!

[ChorltonBrook]

480 mph for a bi-plane! wow.

[crankbv1]

The cartridge shown here is used in what is known as a Kaufmann starter. It was used to dramatic effect by James Steward in the film Flight Of The Phoenix. The device was also used on some larger agricultural tractors too. Firing the Kaufmann into one cylinder would swing the engine enough to bring the other cylinders in on normal fuel...Hopefully.