Not to be confused with the Vought XF5U "Flying Flapjack".
The Grumman XF5F Skyrocket was a prototype twin-engined shipboard fighter interceptor. The United States Navy ordered one prototype, model number G-34, from Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation on 30 June 1938; its designation was XF5F-1. The aircraft had a unique appearance: The forward "nose" of the fuselage did not extend forward of the wing. Provisions were included for two 20 mm (0.787 in) Madsen cannon as armament.
In 1938 Grumman presented a proposal to the U. S. Navy for a twin engine carrier based aircraft, unlike any other fighter aircraft that had ever been considered. The design was for a lightweight fighter (under 10,000 lbs maximum takeoff weight) powered by two 1,200 hp Wright R-1820 engines, with propellers geared to rotate in opposite directions to cancel out the effects of each engine's torque, promising high speed and an outstanding rate of climb.[1]
The XF5F Skyrocket was a low-wing monoplane with a short fuselage that began aft of the wing's leading edge with a twin tail assembly that featured a pronounced dihedral to the horizontal stabilizer. The main landing gear and tail wheel were fully retractable.[2]
Grumman XF5F-1 Skyrocket c. 1940
Operational historyedit
The aircraft flew for the first time on 1 April 1940. Engine cooling problems arose in the initial flights, resulting in modification to the oil cooling ducts. Further modifications were made to the prototype including reduction in the height of the cockpit canopy, revising the armament installation to four 0.5 in (12.7 mm) machine guns in place of the cannon, redesign of the engine nacelles, adding spinners to the propellers, and extending the fuselage forward of the wing. These changes were completed on 15 July 1941.
Testing by Grumman test pilot "Connie" Converse indicated "the flying qualities for the XF5F-1 were good overall. The counter-rotating props were a nice feature, virtually eliminating the torque effect on takeoff ... single-engine performance was good, rudder forces tended to be high in single engine configuration. Spin recovery was positive but elevator forces required for recovery were unusually high. All acrobatics were easily performed, and of course forward visibility was excellent."[3]
"for instance, I remember testing the XF5F against the XF4U on climb to the 10,000 foot level. I pulled away from the Corsair so fast I thought he was having engine trouble. The F5F was a carrier pilot's dream, as opposite rotating propellers eliminated all torque and you had no large engine up front to look around to see the LSO (landing signal officer) ... The analysis of all the data definitely favored the F5F, and the Spitfire came in a distant second. ... ADM Towers told me that securing spare parts ... and other particulars which compounded the difficulty of building the twin-engine fighter, had ruled out the Skyrocket and that the Bureau had settled on the Wildcat for mass production."[4]
Additional changes were needed after further flight tests that were not completed until 15 January 1942. In the meantime, Grumman began work on a more advanced twin-engine shipboard fighter, the XF7F-1, and further testing with the XF5F-1 supported the development of the newer design. The prototype continued to be used in various tests, although plagued by various landing gear problems, until it was struck from the list of active aircraft after it made a belly landing on 11 December 1944.
Specifications (XF5F Skyrocket)edit
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 28 ft 9 in (8.76 m)
Wingspan: 42 ft 0 in (12.80 m)
Height: 11 ft 4 in (3.45 m)
Wing area: 303.5 sq ft (28.2 m2)
Empty weight: 8,107 lb (3,600 kg)
Gross weight: 10,138 lb (4,600 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 10,900 lb (4,955 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Wright XR-1820-40/42 Cyclone nine cylinder radial air-cooled engine, 1,200 hp (895 kW) each
Performance
Maximum speed: 383 mph (616 km/h, 333 kn) at sea level
The XF5F Skyrocket was the propeller fighter aircraft flown by the fictional Blackhawks in Quality Comics monthly title Military Comics, which ran throughout World War II. The XF5F remained the Blackhawk Squadron's mount until their conversion to jet aircraft in Quality's retitled Modern Comics at the start of the jet age.[5]
Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War, Volume Four: Fighters. London: Macdonald & Co.(Publishers), 1961. ISBN0-356-01448-7.
Green, William and Gordon Swanborough. WW2 Aircraft Fact Files: US Navy and Marine Corps Fighters. London, UK: Macdonald and Jane's, 1976. ISBN0-356-08222-9.
Greenberger, Robert. "Blackhawk". In Dougall, Alastair. The DC Comics Encyclopedia. London: Dorling Kindersley, 2008. ISBN0-7566-4119-5.
Lucabaugh, David and Bob Martin. Grumman XF5F-1 & XP-50 Skyrocket, Naval fighters number thirty-one. Simi Valley, California: Ginter Books, 1995. ISBN0-942612-31-0.
Morgan, Eric B. "Grumman F7F Tigercat F.7/30". Twentyfirst Profile, Volume 1, No. 11. New Milton, Hants, UK: 21st Profile Ltd. ISSN 0961-8120.
Morgan, Eric B. "The Grumman Twins". Twentyfirst Profile, Volume 2, No. 15. New Milton, Hants, UK: 21st Profile Ltd. ISSN 0961-8120.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Grumman XF5F Skyrocket.
Unofficial Blackhawk Comics Site
January 01, 1970
grumman, xf5f, skyrocket, confused, with, vought, xf5u, flying, flapjack, prototype, twin, engined, shipboard, fighter, interceptor, united, states, navy, ordered, prototype, model, number, from, grumman, aircraft, engineering, corporation, june, 1938, designa. Not to be confused with the Vought XF5U Flying Flapjack The Grumman XF5F Skyrocket was a prototype twin engined shipboard fighter interceptor The United States Navy ordered one prototype model number G 34 from Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation on 30 June 1938 its designation was XF5F 1 The aircraft had a unique appearance The forward nose of the fuselage did not extend forward of the wing Provisions were included for two 20 mm 0 787 in Madsen cannon as armament XF5F Skyrocket Role Naval fighter Manufacturer Grumman First flight 1 April 1940 Retired 11 December 1944 Status Prototype Primary user United States Navy intended Number built 1 Variants Grumman XP 50 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Specifications XF5F Skyrocket 4 Notable appearances in media 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Notes 6 2 Bibliography 7 External linksDesign and development editIn 1938 Grumman presented a proposal to the U S Navy for a twin engine carrier based aircraft unlike any other fighter aircraft that had ever been considered The design was for a lightweight fighter under 10 000 lbs maximum takeoff weight powered by two 1 200 hp Wright R 1820 engines with propellers geared to rotate in opposite directions to cancel out the effects of each engine s torque promising high speed and an outstanding rate of climb 1 The XF5F Skyrocket was a low wing monoplane with a short fuselage that began aft of the wing s leading edge with a twin tail assembly that featured a pronounced dihedral to the horizontal stabilizer The main landing gear and tail wheel were fully retractable 2 nbsp Grumman XF5F 1 Skyrocket c 1940Operational history editThe aircraft flew for the first time on 1 April 1940 Engine cooling problems arose in the initial flights resulting in modification to the oil cooling ducts Further modifications were made to the prototype including reduction in the height of the cockpit canopy revising the armament installation to four 0 5 in 12 7 mm machine guns in place of the cannon redesign of the engine nacelles adding spinners to the propellers and extending the fuselage forward of the wing These changes were completed on 15 July 1941 Testing by Grumman test pilot Connie Converse indicated the flying qualities for the XF5F 1 were good overall The counter rotating props were a nice feature virtually eliminating the torque effect on takeoff single engine performance was good rudder forces tended to be high in single engine configuration Spin recovery was positive but elevator forces required for recovery were unusually high All acrobatics were easily performed and of course forward visibility was excellent 3 In 1941 Navy pilots tested the XF5F 1 in a fly off against the Supermarine Spitfire Hawker Hurricane Curtiss P 40 Warhawk Bell P 39 Airacobra Bell XFL Airabonita Vought XF4U Corsair Grumman F4F Wildcat and Brewster F2A Buffalo 4 LCDR Crommelin in charge of the test stated in a 1985 letter to George Skurla Grumman president for instance I remember testing the XF5F against the XF4U on climb to the 10 000 foot level I pulled away from the Corsair so fast I thought he was having engine trouble The F5F was a carrier pilot s dream as opposite rotating propellers eliminated all torque and you had no large engine up front to look around to see the LSO landing signal officer The analysis of all the data definitely favored the F5F and the Spitfire came in a distant second ADM Towers told me that securing spare parts and other particulars which compounded the difficulty of building the twin engine fighter had ruled out the Skyrocket and that the Bureau had settled on the Wildcat for mass production 4 Additional changes were needed after further flight tests that were not completed until 15 January 1942 In the meantime Grumman began work on a more advanced twin engine shipboard fighter the XF7F 1 and further testing with the XF5F 1 supported the development of the newer design The prototype continued to be used in various tests although plagued by various landing gear problems until it was struck from the list of active aircraft after it made a belly landing on 11 December 1944 Specifications XF5F Skyrocket editGeneral characteristics Crew 1 Length 28 ft 9 in 8 76 m Wingspan 42 ft 0 in 12 80 m Height 11 ft 4 in 3 45 m Wing area 303 5 sq ft 28 2 m2 Empty weight 8 107 lb 3 600 kg Gross weight 10 138 lb 4 600 kg Max takeoff weight 10 900 lb 4 955 kg Powerplant 2 Wright XR 1820 40 42 Cyclone nine cylinder radial air cooled engine 1 200 hp 895 kW each Performance Maximum speed 383 mph 616 km h 333 kn at sea level Range 1 200 mi 1 800 km 1 000 nmi Service ceiling 33 000 ft 11 000 m Rate of climb 4 000 ft min 20 m s Wing loading 33 4 lb sq ft 163 kg m2 Power mass 23 hp lb 0 38 kW kg Armament 4 0 5 in 12 7 mm machine guns 2 165 lb 75 kg bombsNotable appearances in media editMain article Aircraft in fiction F5F Skyrocket The XF5F Skyrocket was the propeller fighter aircraft flown by the fictional Blackhawks in Quality Comics monthly title Military Comics which ran throughout World War II The XF5F remained the Blackhawk Squadron s mount until their conversion to jet aircraft in Quality s retitled Modern Comics at the start of the jet age 5 See also editRelated development Grumman XP 50 Grumman F7F Tigercat Aircraft of comparable role configuration and era Focke Wulf Fw 187 Gloster F 9 37 Westland WhirlwindReferences editNotes edit The Fastest Pursuit Grumman Skyrocket XF5F Black Hawk fiddlersgreen net 2012 Retrieved 18 May 2012 Thompson Dan Grumman F5F 1 Skyrocket Archived 2013 02 04 at archive today Blackhawk 2012 Retrieved 18 May 2012 Lucabaugh and Martin 1995 p 14 a b Lucabaugh and Martin 1995 p 16 Greenberger 2008 p 54 Bibliography edit Green William War Planes of the Second World War Volume Four Fighters London Macdonald amp Co Publishers 1961 ISBN 0 356 01448 7 Green William and Gordon Swanborough WW2 Aircraft Fact Files US Navy and Marine Corps Fighters London UK Macdonald and Jane s 1976 ISBN 0 356 08222 9 Greenberger Robert Blackhawk In Dougall Alastair The DC Comics Encyclopedia London Dorling Kindersley 2008 ISBN 0 7566 4119 5 Lucabaugh David and Bob Martin Grumman XF5F 1 amp XP 50 Skyrocket Naval fighters number thirty one Simi Valley California Ginter Books 1995 ISBN 0 942612 31 0 Morgan Eric B Grumman F7F Tigercat F 7 30 Twentyfirst Profile Volume 1 No 11 New Milton Hants UK 21st Profile Ltd ISSN 0961 8120 Morgan Eric B The Grumman Twins Twentyfirst Profile Volume 2 No 15 New Milton Hants UK 21st Profile Ltd ISSN 0961 8120 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Grumman XF5F Skyrocket Unofficial Blackhawk Comics Site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Grumman XF5F Skyrocket amp oldid 1213773834, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
