1st Flight 1931
The Grumman FF “Fifi” (company designation G-5) was an American biplane fighter aircraft operated by the United States Navy during the 1930s.
It was the first carrier aircraft with retractable landing gear.
It was produced under licence in Canada and known as the Goblin in Canadian service and Delfín in Spanish service.
Variants
XFF-1 – single prototype, serial number A8878
FF-1 – 27 built, two-seat U.S. Navy carrier-borne fighter
FF-2 – 25 of the original FF-1 fighters converted by the Naval Aircraft Factory with dual controls to serve as fighter trainers
XSF-1 – one built, second prototype, serial number A8940
SF-1 – 33 built, two-seat U.S. Navy carrier-borne scout
XSF-2 – One aircraft, an SF-1 airframe with the 650 hp (485 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1535-72 Twin Wasp Junior engine driving a Hamilton Standard propeller
Goblin – G-23s built under licence by the Canadian Car & Foundry Company
AXG1 – A single Grumman G-23 supplied to the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service for evaluation in 1935.
GE.23 Delfin – Export variant for Spain.
Specifications
Crew: two
Length: 24 ft 6 in (7.47 m)
Wingspan: 34 ft 6 in (10.52 m)
Height: 11 ft 1 in (3.38 m)
Wing area: 310 sq ft (28.8 m2)
Empty weight: 3,098 lb (1,405 kg)
Max take-off weight: 4,677 lb (2,121 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Wright R-1820-78 Cyclone radial engine, 700 hp (520 kW)
Performance
Maximum speed: 207 mph (333 km/h, 180 kn) at 4,000 ft (1200 m)
Range: 685 mi (1,100 km, 595 nmi)
Service ceiling: 22,100 ft (6,735 m)
Rate of climb: 1,667 ft/min (8.47 m/s)
Armament
2× 0.30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine guns or 1x 0.30 in and 1x 0.5 in (12.7mm) Browning M2 fixed in fuselage; 1x 0.30 in flex in rear cockpit
2× 100 lb (45 kg) M30 or 116 lb (53 kg) Mk4 bombs under wings.
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