Grumman FF

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.