Grumman JF Duck explained
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.
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
References
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.. amp . Eyes of the Fleet: Seaplanes in Argentine Navy Service, Part 2. Air Enthusiast . January–February 2004 . 109 . 46–59 . 0143-5450.
- Thruelsen, Richard. The Grumman Story. New York: Praeger Publishers, Inc., 1976. .
- Treadwell, Terry. Ironworks: Grumman's Fighting Aeroplanes. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishers, 1990. .
Further reading
- Book: Ginter, Steve . 2009 . Grumman JF/J2F Duck . First . Ginter Books . Naval Fighters . Nº84 . 978-0-942612-84-4 . California, United States . 31 January 2015 .
- Book: Nuñez Padin, Jorge Félix . 2002 . Grumman G.15, G.20 & J2F Duck . Museo de la Aviación Naval, Instituto Naval . Serie Aeronaval . Nº15 . es . Buenos Aires, Argentina .
External links
Notes and References
- Allen 1983, p. 49.
- Jordan, Corey C. "Grumman's Ascendency: Chapter Two." 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.
