Zero-prey |
1938 The Brewster F2A "Buffalo" was an American fighter aircraft which saw limited service during World War II. In 1939, the F2A became the first monoplane fighter aircraft used by the US Navy. In 1935, the US Navy issued a requirement for a carrier-based fighter intended to replace the Grumman F3F biplane. Two aircraft designs were considered: the Brewster Model 139 and the Grumman XF4F-1 which was still a "classic" biplane. The Model 139 incorporated sophisticated features for the time: a monoplane configuration, wing flaps, arresting gear, retractable landing gear and an enclosed cockpit. The US Navy competition was opened up to allow another competitor, the Seversky XNF-1, a navalized P-35 that was eliminated early on when the prototype could not reach more than 267 mph. The Navy awarded Brewster the contract; the Model 139 was redesignated as XF2A-1. The prototype first flew on 2 December 1937 and early test results showed that it was far in advance of the Grumman entry. While the XF4F-1 would not enter production, it would later re-emerge as a monoplane, the Grumman Wildcat. The Brewster fighter looked "pugnacious" with a stubby fuselage, mid-set wings and a host of advanced features. It was all-metal, with flush-riveted, stressed aluminum construction, although flying surfaces were still fabric-covered. Split flaps, a hydraulically-operated retractable main undercarriage (and partially retractable tail wheel) and a streamlined framed canopy gave the XF2A-1 a modern look. Powered by a Wright R-1820-22 Cyclone producing 850 hp gave it a top speed of 277.5 mph (later boosted to 304 mph at 16,000 ft after improvements were made to the cowling streamlining and carburetor/oil cooler intakes). Service testing of the Brewster prototype began in January 1938 and, in June, the Navy ordered 54 of the F2A-1 production model. The initial armament mix of two machine guns, a .30 caliber and .50 caliber Browning machine gun mounted in engine cowling firing through the propeller arc, would later be augmented by the provision of an additional two .50 caliber machine guns, one in each wing outboard of the landing gear. A later variant, the F2A-2, of which 43 were ordered, included a more powerful engine, a better propeller, and integral flotation gear, and was followed by the F2A-3. Unfortunately, the improvements added weight that adversely affected the fighter's performance and caused perennial problems with its landing gear (collapse issues), especially in shipboard service. Crew: One, pilot Length: 26 ft 4 in (8.03 m) Wingspan: 35 ft (10.7 m) Height: 12 ft 1 in (3.68 m) Empty weight: 4,732 lbs (2,146,40 kg) Max takeoff weight: 6,321 lbs (2,867.16 kg) Maximum speed: 284 mph at sea level, 321 mph at 16,500 ft (457.05 km/h / 516.60 km/h) Range: 965 mi (1,553.02 km) Rate of climb: 2,290 ft/min Armament 4 x 0.50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns and two 100-pound (45.36 kg) bombs USN 85 René Hieronymus Scale 1:72 Building time: 19 hrs. |