Air Power Series>1:48 die-cast display model>F3F>HA7309

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

VF-6 was originally formed as Combat Squadron 4 in 1921and re-designated VF-2 in 1922, VF-2B in 1923 and VF6B and then VF-6 in 1927. In 1928 VF-6 became VB-2B and then VF-6B in 1930, in 1937 VF-3 and finally VF-6 in 1943 only to be disestablished in 1945. In 1935 the new F3F-1 was first introduced and by 1936 the USN had received fifty four that would equip (VF) 5B on the USS Ranger and VF-6B on the USS Saratoga. These squadrons would become VF-4 and VF-3 respectively and flew the F3F-1 until 1940.

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