 |
U. S.
Military Aircraft
Grumman F7F TIGERCAT Photo By Coll B. Thouanel |
|
The flight trials of the XF5F Skyrocket provided Grumman with a keen insight into the type of twin engine fighter that might interest the Navy. This resulted in the G-51 shoulder wing monoplane with a narrow fuselage and tricycle landing gear. The first of two XF7F-1 prototypes flew in December 1943 with R-2800-22W radial engines. Before this, 500 examples of the F7F-1 had been ordered for the US Marine Corps but only 34 were built, together with 64 F7F-2N two seat night fighter. One of the last piston engine fighters to enter service, the F7F was used only by the US Marines Corps. Production of the F7F-3 totaled 189 and 1,386 were cancelled after Japan's surrender in 1944. |
TECHNICAL DATA
| Description | Specifications |
| Manufacturer: Grumman | Length: 45 ft. 4.5 in. |
| First Flight: December, 1943 | Height: 16 ft. 7 in. |
| Model: 3 | Wing Span: 51 ft. 6 in. |
| Crew: One | Wing Area: 455.0 sq. ft. |
| Nickname: Tigercat | Empty Weight: 16,270 lb. |
| Basic Role: Carrier borne fighter and fighter bomber. | Max. Weight: 25.720 lb. |
| Other
Versions: F7F-1
initial fighter. F7F-2N night fighter with
nose gun and with one fuselage tanks replaced by radar operator's position.
F7F-3 with engines offering
more power at altitude, slightly larger vertical tail surfaces, and greater
fuel capacity. F7F-3E electronic warfare conversion.
F7F-3N night fighter. F7F-3P Photo reconnaissance conversion. F7F-4N carrier borne night fighter. Principal User: USA |
Armament: Four 20-mm cannon and four 0.5-in (12.7-mm) machine guns, and up to 2,000 lb. of bombs. |
|
Performance |
Propulsion |
| Range: 1,200 miles. | Power Plant: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-34W Double Wasp radial piston engine. |
| Max. Speed: 435 mph. | Horsepower: 2,100-hp (1566-kW.) |
| Ceiling: 40,700 ft. | No. Of Engines: Two |
| Climb Rate: 4,530 ft. per minute. |