Grumman JF Duck
JF Duck | |
---|---|
Grumman JF-2 Duck in United States Coast Guard service | |
Role | Utility amphibian Type of aircraft |
National origin | United States |
Manufacturer | Grumman |
First flight | 24 April 1933 |
Introduction | 1935 |
Primary users | United States Navy United States Marine Corps Argentine Navy United States Coast Guard |
Number built | 48 |
Variants | Grumman J2F Duck |
The Grumman JF "Duck" was an American single-engine amphibious biplane built by Grumman for the United States Navy during the 1930s. The J2F Duck was an improved version of the JF, with its main difference being a longer float.[1]
Design and development
The Grumman JF Duck was manufactured from 1934 until 1936, when production switched to the J2F Duck and later variants.[2] The more obvious external appearance clue to distinguish a JF from an early J2F is the deletion of the inter-aileron strut between the wings on the J2F; less noticeable perhaps is the J2F's slightly longer rear fuselage/float joining fillet beneath the tail.[2]
The Duck's main pontoon was part of the fuselage, almost making it a flying boat, although it appears more like a standard aircraft with an added float. The XJF-1 prototype first flew on 24 April 1933 piloted by Grumman test pilot Paul Hovgard.[3]
Operational history
The JF-1 that was first ordered had the same Pratt & Whitney R-1830-62 engine as the XJF-1 prototype. The US Navy ordered 27 JF-1s with the first Ducks delivered beginning in May 1934 to Norfolk NAS. These early production series had provisions for mounting a machine gun at the rear seat facing aft, as well as a single bomb rack mounted under each wing, capable of carrying a 100 lb (45.4 kg) bomb or depth charge on each. The main float was also a Grumman design (Grumman Model "A") and like the prototype, it included retractable main landing gear, making the Duck a true amphibian. Ducks served as general/utility amphibians for photographic, target-towing, scouting, and rescue work.[citation needed]
Variants
- XJF-1
- Prototype with 700 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1535-62 engine, one built (BuNo 9218).
- JF-1
- Production variant with 700 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-62 Twin Wasp engine, 27 built (BuNos 9434-9455, 9523-9527).
- JF-2
- Variant for the United States Coast Guard powered by a 750 hp Wright R-1820-102 Cyclone engine, 15 built (BuNo 0266, 00371-00372, 01647, USCG V141-V155).
- JF-3
- JF-2 for the U.S. Navy, five built (BuNos 9835-9839).
- Grumman G-20
- Armed version of the Grumman JF-2 for export to Argentina. Eight built.[4]
Operators
- Argentine Navy – Operated eight G-20s.[5]
- United States Navy
- United States Coast Guard
- United States Marine Corps – Operated one JF-2
Specifications (JF-2)
Data from [6]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2–4
- Length: 33 ft 0 in (10.06 m)
- Wingspan: 39 ft 0 in (11.89 m)
- Height: 12 ft 8 in (3.86 m)
- Wing area: 409.0 sq ft (38.00 m2)
- Empty weight: 4,100 lb (1,860 kg)
- Gross weight: 5,760 lb (2,613 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 150 US gal (120 imp gal; 570 L)
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp 14-cyl two row air-cooled radial piston engine, 775 hp (578 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 185 mph (298 km/h, 161 kn) at 7,000 ft (2,100 m)
- Cruise speed: 155 mph (249 km/h, 135 kn)
- Stall speed: 63 mph (101 km/h, 55 kn)
- Range: 620 mi (1,000 km, 540 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 22,000 ft (6,700 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,600 ft/min (8.1 m/s)
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
Notes
- ^ Allen 1983, p. 49.
- ^ a b Jordan, Corey C. "Grumman's Ascendency: Chapter Two." Archived 2012-03-25 at the Wayback Machine Planes and Pilots Of World War Two, 2000. Retrieved: 22 July 2011.
- ^ Thruelson 'The Grumman Story' 1976, p. 77.
- ^ Allen Air Enthusiast Twenty-three, p.78.
- ^ Allen Air Enthusiast Twenty-three, pp. 47–48.
- ^ Aviation April 1937, pp. 70–71
Bibliography
- Allen, Francis J. "A Duck Without Feathers". Air Enthusiast, Issue 23, December 1983 – March 1984, pp. 46–55, 77–78. Bromley, Kent UK: Pilot Press, 1983.
- "Specifications of American Airplanes". Aviation, Volume 36, No. 4, April 1937, pp. 66–71. (Registration required)
- Lezon, Ricardo Martin & Stitt, Robert M. (January–February 2004). "Eyes of the Fleet: Seaplanes in Argentine Navy Service, Part 2". Air Enthusiast (109): 46–59. ISSN 0143-5450.
- Thruelsen, Richard. The Grumman Story. New York: Praeger Publishers, Inc., 1976. ISBN 0-275-54260-2.
- Treadwell, Terry. Ironworks: Grumman's Fighting Aeroplanes. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishers, 1990. ISBN 1-85310-070-6.
Further reading
- Ginter, Steve (2009). Grumman JF/J2F Duck. Naval Fighters. Vol. Nº84 (First ed.). California, United States: Ginter Books. ISBN 978-0-942612-84-4. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
- Nuñez Padin, Jorge Félix (2002). Grumman G.15, G.20 & J2F Duck. Serie Aeronaval (in Spanish). Vol. Nº15. Buenos Aires, Argentina: Museo de la Aviación Naval, Instituto Naval.
External links
- The Grumman J2F Duck
- v
- t
- e
designations
- G-1 (floats only)
- G-2 (floats only)
- G-3
- G-4
- G-5
- G-6
- G-7
- G-8
- G-9
- G-10
- G-11
- G-12
- G-13
- G-14
- G-15
- G-16
- G-17
- G-18
- G-19
- G-20
- G-21
- G-22
- G-23
- G-24
- G-25
- G-26
- G-27
- G-29
- G-30
- G-31
- G-32
- G-33
- G-34
- G-35
- G-36
- G-37
- G-38
- G-39
- G-40
- G-41
- G-42
- G-43
- G-44
- G-45
- G-46
- G-47
- G-48
- G-49
- G-50
- G-51
- G-52
- G-53
- G-54
- G-55
- G-56
- G-57
- G-58
- G-59
- G-60
- G-61
- G-62
- G-63
- G-64
- G-65
- G-66
- G-67
- G-68
- G-69
- G-70
- G-71
- G-72
- G-73
- G-74
- G-75
- G-76
- G-77
- G-78
- G-79
- G-80
- G-81
- G-82
- G-83
- G-84
- G-85
- G-86
- G-87
- G-88
- G-89
- G-90
- G-91
- G-92
- G-93
- G-94
- G-95
- G-96
- G-97
- G-98
- G-99
- G-100
- G-101
- G-102
- G-103
- G-104
- G-105
- G-106
- G-107
- G-108
- G-109
- G-110
- G-111
- G-112
- G-113
- G-114
- G-115
- G-116
- G-117
- G-118
- G-119
- G-120
- G-121
- G-122
- G-123
- G-124
- G-125
- G-126
- G-127
- G-128
- G-129
- G-130
- G-132
- G-134
- G-137
- G-142
- G-143
- G-154
- G-159
- G-164
- G-165
- G-170
- G-191
- G-211
- G-214
- G-215 (I)
- G-215 (II)
- G-226
- G-231
- G-234
- G-235
- G-242
- G-244
- G-251
- G-262
- G-270
- G-273
- G-279
- G-283
- G-288
- G-296
- G-300
- G-303
- G-305
- G-306
- G-310
- G-315
- G-327
- G-333
- G-340
- G-341
- G-342
- G-344
- G-356
- G-359
- G-371
- G-376
- G-378
- G-391
- G-399
- G-413
- G-426
- G-429
- G-431
- G-436
- G-450
- G-467
- G-484
- G-486
- G-487
- G-511
- G-516
- G-518
- G-532
- G-550
- G-607
- G-612
- G-613
- G-618
- G-623
- G-636
- G-674
- G-680
- G-698
- G-704
- G-711
- G-712
- G-723
- G-728
- G-730
- G-744
- G-754
- G-755
- G-870
- G-1128
- G-1159
- Model 400
Fighters | |
---|---|
Bombers | |
Attack/Patrol | |
Recon/Scouts | |
Utility/Transports | |
Civil aircraft | |
Others |
- Ag Cat
- Albatross
- Avenger
- Bat
- Bearcat
- Cougar
- Duck
- Fifi
- Firebird
- Fire Scout
- Global Hawk
- Goose
- Greyhound
- Guardian
- Gulfhawk III
- Gulfstream I
- Gulfstream II
- Hawkeye
- Hellcat
- Intruder
- Jaguar
- Joint STARS
- Kitten
- Mallard
- Mohawk
- Panther
- Pegasus
- Prowler
- Raider
- Skyrocket
- Spirit
- Super Tiger
- Switchblade
- Tadpole
- Tiger
- Tigercat
- Tomcat
- Tracer
- Tracker
- Trader
- Triton
- Wildcat
- Widgeon