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The Grumman FF was a 1930s biplane fighter aircraft operated by the United States Navy. It was the first Navy fighter with retractable landing gear. Image File history File links Information_icon. ... An aerospace manufacturer is a company or individual involved in the various aspects of designing, building, testing, selling, and maintaining aircraft, aircraft parts, missiles, rockets, and/or spacecraft. ... The Grumman logo The Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, later Grumman Aerospace Corporation, was a leading producer of military and civilian aircraft of the 20th century. ... The Maiden flight of an aircraft is the first occasion on which an aircraft leaves the ground of its own accord. ... USN redirects here. ... USN redirects here. ...

The FF-1 was Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation's first aircraft design for the US Navy. The prototype XFF-1 (A8878) was built to a contract placed on April 22, 1931, and made its first flight towards the end of that year. A 2-seater, it was powered initially by a 575 hp Wright R-1820 Cyclone radial engine, and when this was exchanged for a 750 hp Cyclone the XFF-1 reached a top speed of 201mph (323 km/h) during testing, faster than any US Navy fighter in service at the time. A production order ensued for twenty-seven FF-1s, delivery of which began to Fighter Squadron VF-SB (USS Lexington) in June, 1933. In service the FF-1 became familiarly known, almost inevitably, as the "Fifi." Meanwhile Grumman had completed a second prototype (A8940) to 2-seat scout configuration as the XSF-1, from which thirty-three production SF-2s were subsequently ordered. They differed from the FF-1 principally in having revised internal equipment and in being powered by R-1820-84 Cyclones instead of the R-1820-78 model installed in the fighter version. Delivery of SF-1s started in March, 1934, and they served, also aboard the Lexington, with Scout Squadron VS-3B. One XSF-2 was also completed, this having a Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Wasp engine in place of the Cyclone. Both the FF-1 and SF-1 were withdrawn from first-line US Navy squadrons by the end of 1936 and reallocated to reserve units, most of the FF-1s still being in service late in 1940. Later, when fitted with dual controls, the FF-1 was redesignated FF-2 and was used for instructional duties. The Grumman logo The Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, later Grumman Aerospace Corporation, was a leading producer of military and civilian aircraft of the 20th century. ... April 22 is the 112th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (113th in leap years). ... 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1931 calendar). ... The Wright R-1820 Cyclone 9 was an engine widely used in American aircraft in the 1930s and 1940s. ... Radial engine in a cut-away view. ... The fourth USS Lexington (CV-2), nicknamed the Gray Lady or Lady Lex, was the second aircraft carrier of the United States Navy. ... 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Categories: Stub | Aircraft piston engines ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ...

The Canadian Car & Foundry Co acquired a manufacturing licence for the FF-1, of which it completed a total of fifty-seven, some of them assembled from US-built components. Fifteen entered service with No 118 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1940, with the name Goblin I. Prior to this a single example was delivered to Nicaragua, and, allegedly, one to Japan; the remaining forty were ostensibly purchased by the Turkish government but were in fact received by the Spanish Republican Air Force in 1937. 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Specifications (FF-1)

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 24 ft 6 in (7.47 m)
• Wingspan: 34 ft 6 in (10.52 m)
• Height: ()
• Loaded weight: 4,655 lb (2,111 kg)
• Powerplant: 1× Wright R-1820-78 Cyclone radial engine, 700 hp (520 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 207 mph (333 km/h)
• Range: 920 mi (1,480 km)
• Service ceiling: 22,400 ft (6,828 m)

Armament

• 2x 0.30 in (7.62 mm) Browning machine guns
• 1x 100 lb (45 kg) bomb

The distance AB is the wing span of this Aer Lingus Airbus A320. ... The Wright R-1820 Cyclone 9 was an engine widely used in American aircraft in the 1930s and 1940s. ... Radial engine in a cut-away view. ... VNO of an aircraft is the V speed which refers to the velocity of normal operation. ... The maximal total range is the distance an aircraft can fly between takeoff and landing as limited by its fuel capacity. ... In aeronautics, the service ceiling is the maximum density altitude where the best rate of climb airspeed will produce a 100 feet per minute climb(twin engine) and 50 feet(single engine) at maximum weight while in a clean configuration with maximum continuous power. ...

Operators

• Canada (RCAF), Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Spain, United States Navy,

The RCAF Roundel is based on that of the British Royal Air Force with a maple leaf, a symbol of Canada in the centre. ... USN redirects here. ...

References

Munson, Kenneth. US War Birds|From World War 1 to Vietnam. (New Orchards Edition Ltd).

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