Air Power Series>1:48 die-cast display model>F2A>HA7007

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

Captain William C. Humberd was one of the few pilots that had achieved success flying with the F2A. During the Battle of Midway on June 4th 1942, Captain Humberd shot down a "Zero" and a "Kate". For his actions he was awarded the Navy Cross.

During the battle the F2A-3 suffered heavy losses (out of 20 F2As 13 were shot down by the Zeros). But in the defend of the aircraft itself, 8 of the pilots were fresh from flight school and had joined the squadron only nine days before the battle. It was in the Finnish hands that the "Buffalo" had achieved its great success.

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.