Air Power Series>1:48 die-cast display model>F3F>HA7302

General Background

Produced in the mid to late 1930s the F3F-1 as well as the 2 and 3 variants belonged to what probably was the most colorful era in US military aviation history. Grumman took all the lessons learned from the F2F and incorporated them into the F3F. The Flying Barrel, as it was commonly called, had a wide fuselage to accommodate the large radial engine and a three-bladed Hamilton Standard propeller. The plane had improved retractable landing gear, longer fuselage. The last F3F was retired by the USN in November 1943.

The Aircraft

This F3F-2 was flown by future Ace 1st Lt. Robert Galer of VMF-2 in November 1940. While qualifying for carrier-landings his engine failed and he had to make an unscheduled water landing. In the early 1980s the aircraft was located in good condition so it was raised and restored. Galer’s aircraft is the only original F3F-2 left and is on display in the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola Florida. There are three other F3F-2s in existence but they were completely reconstructed using parts from wrecked aircraft.

Specifications :

Crew:	1 pilot
Dimensions
Length:	23 ft 2 in (7.06 m)
Height:	9 ft 4 in (2.84 m)
Wingspan:	32 ft 0 in (9.75 m)
Wing area:	260 ft² (24.15 m²)
Weights
Empty:	3,285 lb (1,490 kg)
Max takeoff:	4,795 lb (2,175 kg)
Performance
Powerplant:	1× Wright R-1820-22 "Cyclone" 9-cylinder radial engine, 950 hp (710 kW), 8 ft 6 in. 3 blade Hamilton-Standard propeller
Maximum speed:	229 knots, 264 mph (425 km/h) at 15,250 ft (4,658 m)
Cruise speed:	150 mph (130 knots, 240 km/h) Range: 980 mi (850 nm, 1,600 km)
Service ceiling:	33,200 ft (10,120 m)
Rate of climb:	2,800 ft/min (14 m/s) at sea level
Armament
Guns:	1× 0.30 in (7.62 mm) M2 machine gun, 500 rounds
	1× 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 machine gun, 200 rounds
Bombs:	2× 116 lb (52.6 kg) Mk IV bombs, one under each wing