Air Power Series>1:48 die-cast display model>F2A>HA7005

General Background

The Brewster F2A Buffalo was USN's first mono-wing fighter. The status of the “Buffalo” is somewhat controversial in the history of aviation. It was designed by US but saw its real success only in Finland, a co-belligerent of Germany during WWII. It was designed as a carrier based fighter but only saw combat from land bases.

The most distinctive feature of the Buffalo was the retractable landing gear. With the right pilot the plane was quite capable in combat. Some historians believe that some units of the Commonwealth squadrons may have achieved a 2 to 1 kill ratio in the Far East.

The Aircraft

The second VF-2 was equipped with Brewster F2A2-2 Buffaloes in 1940 and called the USS Lexington home. In spite of Brewster's engineers' efforts weak landing gear remained a problem in this newer version. The "Fighting Two" was composed entirely of Chief Petty Officers so they became known as the "Flying Chiefs". This squadron was considered the "hottest US squadron in the Pacific" but they were still disestablished mid-1942. The last US combat for the Brewsters came at the Battle of Midway being replaced with F4F Wildcats.

Specifications :

Power plant:	One Wright R-1820-40 Cyclone nine-cylinder single row air-cooled radial, rated at 1200 hp
Performance:	Maximum speed - 285 mph at sea level
	323 mph at 16,500 ft.
	344 mph at 26,500 ft.
	cruising speed 157mph
	landing speed 73 mph
	initial climb rate 2500 ft/min.
	Service ceiling 34,000 ft.
Weight:	4576 lbs. Empty
	5942 lbs. Gross
	6890 lbs. Maximum take-off
Dimensions:	Wingspan – 35 ft.
	Length – 26 ft.
	Height – 11 ft. 8 ins.
	Wing area – 209 sq. ft
Armament	Four Browning 0.50 in. machine guns, two in the upper engine cowling, one in each wing.
	Under each wing bomb racks that could carry one 100-lb. bomb just outboard of the main landing gear.