{{Short description|US Navy biplane}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox aircraft | name = F3F | image = File:F3F-1 4-F-7 Jax.jpg | caption = An F3F-1 of VF-4 in the late 1930s | type = Fighter aircraft | national_origin = United States | manufacturer = Grumman | designer = Leroy Grumman | first_flight = 20 March 1935 | introduction = 1936 | retired = November 1943 | primary_user = United States Navy | more_users = United States Marine Corps | produced = 1936–1939 | number_built = 147 <!-- 54 F3F-1 + 64 F3F-2 + 27 F3F-3 + 2 prototypes (later were converted) --> | developed_from = Grumman F2F | developed_into = }}
The '''Grumman F3F''' is a single-seat biplane fighter aircraft produced by the Grumman aircraft for the United States Navy during the mid-1930s. Designed as an improved F2F, it entered service in 1936 as the last biplane fighter to be delivered to any American military air arm. It was retired from front line squadrons at the end of 1941 before World War II, and replaced by the Brewster F2A Buffalo. The F3F inherited the Leroy Grumman-designed retractable main landing gear first used on the Grumman FF, and was the basis for a biplane design ultimately developed into the F4F Wildcat.
==Design and development== [[File:F3F NAS Anacostia NAN10-80.jpg|thumb|F3F-3 assigned to Naval Air Station Anacostia]]
The Navy's experience with the F2F revealed problems with stability and poor spin recovery,<ref name="vf31">{{cite web|url=https://www.vf31.com/aircraft/f3f.html|title=Grumman F3F|website=Air Group 31|date=2006-12-27|access-date=2013-06-21}}</ref> prompting the 15 October 1934 contract for the improved XF3F-1, placed before F2F deliveries began. The contract also required a capability for ground attack, in addition to the design's fighter role.<ref name="greatac">Cacutt 1989, pp. 155–162.</ref> Powered by the same Pratt & Whitney R-1535-72 Twin Wasp Junior engine as the F2F, the fuselage was lengthened and wing area increased. A reduction in wheel diameter improved streamlining, and eliminated a prominent bulge behind the cowling of the F2F.
The prototype, BuNo. 9727, was delivered and first flown on 20 March 1935 with company test pilot making three flights that day. Two days later, six dive-recovery flights took place; on the 10th dive, the aircraft's pullout at {{cvt|8000|ft}} registered 14 ''g'' on the test equipment. The aircraft broke up in midair, crashing in a cemetery and killing the pilot.<ref name="greatac"/> A second, strengthened prototype was built, but it crashed on 9 May of the same year following the pilot's bailout during an unsuccessful spin recovery.<ref>Dann 1996, p. 4.</ref> The second prototype was rebuilt in three weeks, flying on 20 June 1935. An order for 54 F3F-1 fighters was placed on 24 August of that year, following the conclusion of the flight test program.<ref name="Jordan">{{cite web|last=Jordan|first=Corey C.|url=http://www.planesandpilotsofww2.webs.com/Grumman3.html|title=Grumman's Ascendency: Chapter Three|website=Planes and Pilots Of World War Two|access-date=2013-06-21|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054009/http://www.planesandpilotsofww2.webs.com/Grumman3.html|archive-date=2013-09-21}}</ref>
==Operational history== The first production F3F-1 was delivered on 29 January 1936 to the test group at Naval Air Station Anacostia, with squadron service beginning in March to VF-5B of {{USS|Ranger|CV-4|2}} and VF-6B of {{USS|Saratoga|CV-3|2}}. Marine squadron VF-4M received the last six in January 1937.<ref>Dann 1996, p. 27.</ref>
Grumman, wanting to take advantage of the new {{cvt|950|hp|0}} Wright R-1820 supercharged radial engine, began work on the '''F3F-2''' without a contract. The order for 81 was placed until 25 July 1936, two days before the type's first flight.<ref name="vf31"/> The larger diameter engine changed the cowling's appearance, making the aircraft look even more like a barrel, though top speed increased to {{cvt|255|mph}} at {{cvt|12000|ft}}.<ref name="greatac"/>
The entire F3F-2 production series was delivered in between 1937 and 1938. When deliveries ended, all seven Navy and Marine Corps pursuit squadrons were equipped with Grumman single-seat fighters. Further aerodynamic improvements were made to an F3F-2 based on wind tunnel studies in the NACA Langley {{cvt|30|x|60|ft|0}} full-scale wind tunnel and became the ''XF3F-3''. It featured a larger-diameter propeller, and a complete revision of the fuselage skinning from the aft cabane strut forward to improve aerodynamics and reduce carbon monoxide intrusion. On 21 June 1938, the Navy ordered 27 F3F-3s, as new monoplane fighters like the Brewster F2A and Grumman's F4F Wildcat were taking longer to develop than planned.<ref>Crosby 2002, p. 77.</ref>
All F3Fs were withdrawn from squadron service by the end of 1941 following the introduction of the Brewster, though 117 were assigned to naval bases (Mainly NAS Miami and NAS Corpus Christi) for training and utility duties until December 1943.<ref name="vf31"/>
A civilian aerobatic variant, the ''G-22A'' "Gulfhawk II," was built in 1936 and flown by Major Alford "Al" Williams, of Gulf Oil.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://airandspace.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?object=nasm_A19490059000|title=Grumman G-22|website=Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum|date=2014|access-date=2014-08-04|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810230940/http://airandspace.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?object=nasm_A19490059000|archive-date=2014-08-10}}</ref>
=== Incidents === * 30 October 1936, the pilot was killed when both left wings of an F3F-1 tore off at {{cvt|1500|ft}} during dive bombing practice at Border Field, San Diego.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Casualties: US Navy and Marine Corps Personnel Killed and Injured in Selected Accidents and Other Incidents Not Directly the Result of Enemy Action |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/c/casualties-usnavy-marinecorps-personnel-killed-injured-selected-accidents-other-incidents-notdirectly-result-enemy-action.html |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=public1.nhhcaws.local |language=en-US}}</ref> * 10 November 1936, pilot killed when an F3F-1 crashed into {{USS|Ranger|CV-4|2}} on approach. It sank in {{cvt|4600|ft}} of water.<ref name=":0" /> * 25 August 1937, a F3F-1 crashed after colliding midair with a Navy Vought SBU-1 above Rancho Santa Fe near San Diego. The pilot bailed out safely.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Petaluma Argus Courier 25 August 1937 — California Digital Newspaper Collection |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=PAC19370825.1.1&srpos=4&e=25-08-1937-30-08-1937--en--20--1-byDA-txt-txIN-Plane+crash-------1 |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=cdnc.ucr.edu}}</ref>
==Variants== ''Data from:'' Aerofiles - Grumman<ref name=Ecklandgrum>Eckland, K.O. [http://aerofiles.com/_grum.html "Grumman, Grumman-American."] ''aerofiles.com'', 11 September 2008. Retrieved: 21 June 2013.</ref> ;G-11 :Company designation for F3F-1 carrier-borne fighters ;XF3F-1 :Three prototypes of the F3F (all with Bureau Number 9727), powered by a {{cvt|700|hp}} Pratt & Whitney R-1535-84 Twin Wasp Juniors ;F3F-1 :Initial production version for the US Navy, 54 built. ;G-19 :Company designation for the F3F-2 and F3F-3 ;XF3F-2 :One prototype, powered by a {{cvt|850|hp}} Wright XR-1820-22 Cyclone G [[File:2022-Grumman Gulfhawk II NASM.jpg|thumb|The Grumman G-22 Gulfhawk II at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum.]] ;F3F-2 :Second production model, powered by a {{cvt|950|hp}} Wright R-1820-22 Cyclone, 81 built. ;XF3F-3 :One prototype F3F-3 with curved windshield, modified forward fuselage with a widened diameter cowling with a single cowl flap on either side ;F3F-3 :Final production variant for the US Navy, 27 built. Featured a redesigned forward fuselage. ;G-22 Gulfhawk II :A single hybrid F2F/F3F, powered by a {{cvt|1000|hp}} Wright R-1820 Cyclone, for display pilot Al Williams, sponsored by the Gulf Oil Company for demonstration flights and aerobatic displays. The G-22 Gulfhawk II was retired to the National Air Museum in October 1948.
==Operators== {{Unreferenced section|date=October 2017}} ; {{USA}} * United States Marine Corps<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=The Grumman F3F Series |url=https://www.gruppofalchi.com/files/Profile-Publications-Aircraft-092---Grumman-F3F-Series.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=November 4, 2025}}</ref> **VF-4M **VMF-1 **VMF-2 **VMF-211 **VMJ-1 * United States Navy<ref name=":1" /> **VF-2B **VF-3B **VF-5B **VF-6B **VF-2 **VF-3 **VF-4 **VF-5 **VF-6 **VF-71 **VF-72
==Surviving aircraft== thumb|Grumman F3F-2 at the National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, Florida (2007) Today, there are three flying F3F-2 models, all which were restored by Herb Tischler's Texas Airplane Factory in Fort Worth. The wreckage of three F3F-2 aircraft which had originally crashed in Hawaii was used to complete the other restorations.<ref name="HistoryNet">{{cite web|last1=Wilkinson|first1=Stephan|title=F3F Biplane Barrels Back|url=https://www.historynet.com/f3f-biplane-barrels-back.htm|publisher=HistoryNet|access-date=2016-08-31|date=2013-01-15}}</ref>
* 0972 – F3F-2 owned by Hawks Zeroq3 in Sonoma, California. This airframe was restored by Chris Prevost and was on the flight line at Vintage Aircraft in Sonoma, California. It has since been sold to Lewis Air Legends in Texas.<ref name="HistoryNet" />{{cn|date=April 2023|reason=removed ref to unreliable (crowdsourced) site}} * 0976 – F3F-2 on static display at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida. This aircraft was ditched off the coast of San Diego by Marine aviator Robert E. Galer on 29 August 1940 while landing on {{USS|Saratoga|CV-3|2}}. The fighter was rediscovered by a U.S. Navy submarine in June 1988, and recovered on 5 April 1991. It was restored at the San Diego Aerospace Museum before going on display at the National Naval Aviation Museum.<ref>{{cite web|title=F3F-2|url=https://navalaviationmuseum.org/aircraft_exhibits/f3f-2/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810031448/https://navalaviationmuseum.org/aircraft_exhibits/f3f-2/|archive-date=2023-08-10|access-date=2023-08-10|website=National Naval Aviation Museum|publisher=Naval Aviation Museum Foundation}}</ref> * 1028 – F3F-2 on display at the Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Florida.<ref>{{cite web|title=1938 Grumman F3F-2|url=https://www.fantasyofflight.com/collection/aircraft/wwii/1938-grumman-f3f-2|website=Fantasy of Flight|date=18 September 2013 |access-date=2016-08-31}}</ref> * 1033 – F3F-2 owned by the National Museum of World War II Aviation in Colorado Springs, Colorado.<ref>{{cite web|title=Grumman F3F Flying Barrel|url=https://www.worldwariiaviation.org/aircraft/grumman-f3f-flying-barrel|website=worldwariiaviation.org|access-date=2023-08-09}}</ref> * 335 – G-22 on static display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia.<ref>{{cite web|title=Grumman G-22 Gulfhawk II|url=https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/grumman-g-22|website=Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum|access-date=2016-08-31}}</ref>
==Specifications (F3F-2)== thumb|Three-side drawing of an F3F-1 {{Aircraft specs |prime units?=imp |ref=Great Aircraft of the World<ref name="greatac"/> |crew=one pilot |length ft=23|length in=2 |span ft=32|span in=0 |height ft=9|height in=4 |wing area sqft=260 |empty weight lb=3285|max takeoff weight lb=4795 |eng1 name=Wright R-1820-22 "Cyclone"|eng1 type=9-cylinder radial engine|eng1 number=1|eng1 hp=950 |max speed mph=264|max speed note=at {{cvt|15250|ft}}|cruise speed mph=150 |range miles=980 |ceiling ft=33200 |climb rate ftmin=2800 |climb rate note=at sea level |guns=<br/> ** 1 × {{cvt|0.30|in|2}} M1919 machine gun ** 1 × {{cvt|0.50|in|1}} M2 machine gun |bombs=2 × {{cvt|116|lb}} bombs, one under each wing }}
==See also== {{Aircontent |related= * Grumman F2F * Grumman F4F Wildcat
|similar aircraft= * Berliner-Joyce XF3J * Curtiss BF2C Goshawk * Curtiss F11C Goshawk * Fiat CR.42 Falco * Gloster Gladiator * Nakajima A4N * Polikarpov I-153
|lists= * List of fighter aircraft * List of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962) |see also= * F3F in fiction }}
==References== ===Notes=== {{Reflist}}
===Bibliography=== {{Refbegin}} * {{cite book|last=Cacutt|first=Len|title=Grumman Single-Seat Biplane Fighters|location=London|publisher=Marshall Cavendish|year=1989|isbn=1-85435-250-4}} * {{cite book|last=Crosby|first=Francis|title=Fighter Aircraft|location=London|publisher=Lorenz Books|year=2002|isbn=0-7548-0990-0}} * {{cite book|last=Dann|first=Richard S. (USN, LCDR)|title=Grumman Biplane Fighters in action. Aircraft In Action 150|location=Carrollton, Texas|publisher=Squadron/Signal Publications|year=1996|isbn=0-89747-353-1}} * {{cite book|last=Orriss|first=Bruce|title=When Hollywood Ruled the Skies: The Aviation Film Classics of World War II|location=Hawthorne, California|publisher=Aero Associates Inc.|year=1984|isbn=0-9613088-0-X}} {{Refend}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Grumman F3F}} * {{cite web|url=http://www.mucheswarbirds.com/F3Fart.html|title=The Grumman F3F: The U.S. Navy's Last Biplane Fighter|last=Muches|first=Jim|website=mucheswarbirds.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070209214446/http://www.mucheswarbirds.com/F3Fart.html|archive-date=2007-02-09}} * {{cite web|url=http://www.fantasyofflight.com/aircraftpages/f3f.htm|title=Fantasy of Flight's F3F|website=fantasyofflight.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516210159/http://www.fantasyofflight.com/aircraftpages/f3f.htm|archive-date=2011-05-16}}
{{Grumman aircraft}} {{USN fighters}} {{USAF transports}}
F03F Category:1930s United States fighter aircraft Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft Category:Biplanes Category:Carrier-based aircraft Category:Aircraft first flown in 1935 Category:Aircraft with retractable conventional landing gear Category:Single-engined piston aircraft