View source for Grumman FF

{{Short description|US Navy biplane}}
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{{Infobox aircraft
 |name= FF / SF "Fifi"
 |image= File:Grumman Fifi.jpg
 |caption=
 |type= [[Naval aviation|Naval fighter]]
 |manufacturer= [[Grumman]]
 |designer= [[Leroy Grumman]]
 |first_flight= 29 December 1931
 |introduction=June 1933
 |retired= 1940
 |primary_user= [[United States Navy]]
 |more_users= [[Spanish Republican Air Force]]<br>[[Royal Canadian Air Force]]
 |produced= 1932–1934
 |number_built= 116<ref name=Fr62>Francillon, 1989, p.62</ref>
 |unit cost= 
 |variants= 
 |developed_into= [[Grumman XSBF]]
}}

The '''Grumman FF "Fifi"''' (company designation '''G-5''') is an American biplane [[fighter aircraft]] operated by the [[United States Navy]] during the 1930s.<ref name="world">Eden and Moeng 2002, p. 762.</ref> It was the first carrier aircraft with retractable landing gear.<ref name="winchester">Winchester 2002, p. 21.</ref> It was produced under license in Canada and known as the '''Goblin''' in Canadian service and '''Delfín''' (English: "Dolphin") in Spanish service.

==Design and development==
The ''FF-1'' was [[Grumman]]’s first complete aircraft design for the US Navy. The Navy had asked Grumman if their retractable landing gear made for the [[O2U]]-1 Scout planes could be retrofitted to the Navy's Boeing [[F4B]]-1 fighters; instead Grumman proposed a new fighter design.<ref name="Jordan">Jordan, Corey C. [http://www.planesandpilotsofww2.webs.com/Grumman1.html "Grumman's Ascendency: Chapter One"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103024723/http://www.planesandpilotsofww2.webs.com/Grumman1.html |date=2013-11-03 }} ''Planes and Pilots Of World War Two,'' 2000. Retrieved: 22 July 2011.</ref> The prototype ''XFF-1'' (serial number A8878) was built at Curtiss Field (later named [[Columbia Field]]), New York to a contract placed on 22 April 1931, first flying on 29 December of that year.<ref name="Jordan"/><ref name="world"/><ref name="great">Cacutt 1989, p. 155–162.</ref><ref name="USN1911">Swanborough and Bowers 1976, p. 195.</ref> The airplane was of two-seat design, with an enclosed cockpit, fuselage of all-metal construction, and wings covered largely with fabric. The XFF-1 was powered initially by a 616&nbsp;hp (459&nbsp;kW) [[Wright R-1820]]-E Cyclone [[radial engine]], it achieved 195&nbsp;mph (314&nbsp;km/h) during service trials.  Later the original engine was exchanged for a 750&nbsp;hp (560&nbsp;kW) Wright R-1820-F Cyclone and the XFF-1 reached a top speed of 201&nbsp;mph (323&nbsp;km/h), faster than any US Navy fighter in service at the time.<ref name="USN1911"/>

A production order was placed for 27 two-seat FF-1 (G-5) on 19 December 1932. Meanwhile, Grumman had completed a second prototype (serial number A8940) to a two-seat scout configuration as the XSF-1 (G-6). Subsequently, 33 production SF-1s were ordered based on the two-seat configuration. They differed from the FF-1 principally in having revised internal equipment and in being powered by R-1820-84 Cyclones instead of the R-1820-78 model installed in the fighter version.<ref name="USN1911"/> One XSF-2 was also completed, this having a Pratt & Whitney R-1535-72 two-row engine in place of the Cyclone.<ref name="world"/>

The distinctive retractable main landing gear design for the FF-1 had originated with [[Grover Loening]]'s employment of Grumman's future founder, [[Leroy Grumman]], who had hired both Grumman and [[Jake Swirbul]] to work in his own aircraft firm in 1928 – after the [[Loening Aeronautical Engineering]] Company folded in the 1932–33 timeframe, Loening in turn contributed to the [[Grumman]] firm's later successes, with the Grumman-designed, manual crank-operated retractable main gear design used for a number of Loening's military aircraft designs being used on the FF-1, and later [[Grumman F2F]] and [[Grumman F3F|F3F]] follow-on biplane fighter designs; culminating in the [[Grumman F4F Wildcat]] also using it, as well as the amphibious single-engined [[Grumman JF Duck|Grumman JF]] and [[Grumman J2F Duck|J2F Duck]] multi-use biplane military aircraft.<ref>{{cite book |last=Merriam |first=Ray |date=2017 |title=World War 2 in Review; No. 30; Grumman's Wildcat |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mfJIDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT6|location=Hoosick Falls, NY USA |publisher=Merriam Press |isbn=9781387487929 |quote=The unusual manually-retractable main landing gear design for all of Grumman's U.S. Navy fighters up to and through the F4F, as well as for the amphibious Grumman J2F utility biplane, was originally created in the 1920s by Leroy Grumman for Grover Loening.}}{{Dead link|date=March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media |title=FM 2 Wildcat landing gear test-2 |type=video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0OSLUaqIzg |access-date=September 25, 2021 |via=YouTube |time=0:24 |location=Reno, NV USA |publisher=Robert Spellman |quote=FM 2 Wildcat landing gear test you can see the mechanic in the cockpit hand cranking the gear up. }}{{Dead link|date=March 2025}}</ref>

==Operational history==
[[File:Grumman FF-1 9359 VF-5B 5-F-9 Ray Wagner Collection.jpg|thumb|Grumman FF-1 of U.S Navy Squadron [[VF-11|VF-5B]] ]]

''FF-1''s were delivered to Fighter Squadron VF-5B of the {{USS|Lexington|CV-2|6}} beginning in June 1933.<ref name="great"/> In service the ''FF-1'' became familiarly known as the "Fifi".<ref name="USN1911"/> Delivery of ''SF-1s'' started on 30 March 1934, and they also served aboard the ''Lexington'', with Scout Squadron VS-3B.<ref name="USN1911"/>
[[File:Canadian Car and Foundry G-23 Spain 1939 (GHC via RJF) (18355597905) (cropped).jpg|thumb|Post-war Spanish GE-23 Delfin "Pedro Rico"]]
[[File:Gobblins 7.jpg|thumb|right|Grumman Goblins of 118 Sqn RCAF near Dartmouth N.S. in 1941]]
Both the ''FF-1'' and ''SF-1'' were withdrawn from first-line US Navy squadrons in late 1935 and 1936. The 25 remaining FF-1s were sent to the Naval Aircraft Factory in Philadelphia where they were modified and redesignated FF-2s. The FF-2s had their upper cowling guns removed and replaced by a single .30-cal machine gun in the starboard side of the fuselage in the same configuration as the SF-1. They were flown by Naval Reserve Air Bases activities across the United States. SF-1s were also used by the Naval Reserve. The last FF-2 was stricken from the Naval Record in 1942. <ref name="complete">Green and Swanborough 1988, p. 259.</ref>
[[File:RCAF Canadian Car and Foundry Goblin (licence-built Grumman G-23) 342.jpg|thumb|[[Royal Canadian Air Force]] Canadian Car and Foundry Goblin I circa 1941]]
The [[Canadian Car and Foundry|Canadian Car and Foundry Co]] acquired a manufacturing license for the ''G-23'', an improved FF-1, of which it completed a total of 52, some of which were assembled from US-built components. Thirty-four were acquired by the Spanish Republican government in 1937 by presenting forged Turkish credentials. This batch was built primarily to bypass the US embargo placed on belligerents during the [[Spanish Civil War]].<ref name="winchester"/> Referred to as the GE-23 ''Delfin'' (en:'Dolphin') by the [[Spanish Republican Air Force]], the aircraft fought in the conflict, but were outclassed by opposing fighters and losses were high. A victory against a [[Heinkel He 59]]B was the only recorded "kill" by a Grumman biplane fighter.<ref name=Fr62/> Eleven survived to serve in the ''Ejército del Aire Español'', nicknamed ''[[Pedro Rico López|Pedro Rico]]'' for its rotundity.<ref name=Fr62/>

Although initially rejected as a fighter by the [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] as outdated and too slow, with the advent of war, the last 15 of the CC&F production batch were taken on strength as ''Goblin Is''. The aircraft type served with the RCAF from 17 September 1940 until 21 April 1942. "A" Flight of No. 118 RCAF Sqn was equipped with Goblins at Rockcliffe in [[Ottawa]], and subsequently became No. 118 (Fighter) Sqn., later stationed at [[Dartmouth, Nova Scotia]], where the Goblins for a time constituted the sole fighter force on the east coast.

Prior to RCAF use, single examples were delivered to Nicaragua, Japan, and Mexico.

The sole G-23 purchased by the Nicaraguan government saw limited service before being relegated to a scrap yard at Zololtan Air Field in 1942, destined to remain there until 1961 when it was purchased and shipped to the US. In 1966, [[Grumman Aircraft|Grumman]] restored the aircraft before passing it to the US Navy where it remains as one of the displays at the [[National Museum of Naval Aviation|Naval Aviation Museum]] at [[Pensacola, Florida]].<ref>{{cite web |title=FF-1 |url=http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/attractions/aircraft-exhibits/item/?item=ff-1 |website=National Naval Aviation Museum |publisher=Naval Aviation Museum Foundation |access-date=16 August 2018 |archive-date=15 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115143709/http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/attractions/aircraft-exhibits/item/?item=ff-1 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The Japanese example was purchased as an example of Grumman's undercarriage. However, by the time it was delivered, better designs were already in use.<ref name=Fr60>Francillon, 1989, p.60</ref>

The Mexican example was intended to be a pattern aircraft to allow a production line to be set up there, but this never occurred.<ref name=Fr61/>

==Variants==
;XFF-1 (Grumman Model G-5)
:Single prototype,<ref name=Fr62/> serial number A8878<ref name="USN1911"/>
;FF-1
:27 built,<ref name=Fr62/> two-seat U.S. Navy carrier-borne fighter<ref name="USN1911"/>
;FF-2
:25<ref name=Fr62/> of the original FF-1 fighters converted by the [[Naval Aircraft Factory]] with dual controls to serve as fighter trainers<ref name="world"/>
;XSF-1 (Grumman Model G-6)
:One built,<ref name=Fr62/> second prototype, serial number A8940<ref name="USN1911"/>
;SF-1
:33 built,<ref name=Fr62/> two-seat U.S. Navy carrier-borne scout<ref name="USN1911"/>
;XSF-2 (Grumman Model G-13)
:One aircraft,<ref name=Fr62/> an SF-1 airframe with the 650&nbsp;hp (485&nbsp;kW) [[Pratt & Whitney R-1535]]-72 Twin Wasp Junior engine driving a [[Hamilton Standard]] propeller.<ref name="world"/>
;GG-1
:Single company demonstrator built from FF-1 and SF-1 components.  Powered by a {{convert|450|hp|kW}} [[Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp]].  Later modified with a {{convert|890|hp|kW}} [[Wright R-1820 Cyclone|Wright R-1820-F52]], full span split flaps on the lower surface of the top wing and ailerons on the bottom wing and sold American businessman Howard F. Klein as a demonstrator to the [[Canadian Car and Foundry|Canadian Car & Foundry Company]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dann |first=Richard S. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/34959007 |title=Grumman Biplane Fighters in action |date=1996 |publisher=Squadron/Signal Publications |isbn=0-89747-353-1 |location=Carrollton, TX |oclc=34959007}}</ref>
;Goblin Mk.1
:15 '''G-23'''s built under license by the Canadian Car & Foundry Company, but not delivered to the Spanish Republicans. Later taken on strength with the RCAF .<ref name=Fr62/>
;AXG1
:A single Grumman G-23 supplied to the [[Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service]] for evaluation in 1935.
;GE.23 Delfin
:Designation for the 34 G-23s delivered to the Spanish Republicans in 1938. 34-delivered.

==Operators==
[[File:Grumman FF-1 N2803J.jpg|thumb|ex-Nicaraguan CC&F Grumman G-23 restored and painted to represent a [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] FF-1.]]
;{{flag|Canada|1921}}
:[[Royal Canadian Air Force]]
::[[No. 118 (Fighter) Squadron RCAF]] – 15 aircraft, designated '''Goblin I'''<ref name=Fr60/>
::[[439 Combat Support Squadron|No. 123 (Army-Co-operation) Squadron RCAF]] – 5 aircraft (transferred from 118 (F) Sqn, designated '''Goblin I'''<ref name="438-book01">{{cite book| last1 = Kostenuk | first1 = Samuel | first2 = John | last2 = Griffin | title = RCAF Squadron Histories and Aircraft 1924-1968 | location = Toronto | publisher = National Museum of Man Canada | year= 1977 | pages = 255| isbn = 0-88866-577-6 }}</ref>
;{{JPN}}
:[[Imperial Japanese Navy]] – one CC&F example designated '''AXG'''<ref name=Fr60/>
;{{MEX}}
:[[Mexican Air Force]] – one intended as pattern for production in Mexico.<ref name=Fr61>Francillon, 1989, p.61</ref>
;{{NIC}}
:[[Nicaraguan Air Force|Military Aviation Corps]] – 1 example, serial GN-3<ref name=Fr61/>
;{{flagicon|Spain|1931}} [[Second Spanish Republic|Spanish Republic]]
:[[Spanish Republican Air Force]] – 34 aircraft delivered serials AD-001 to AD-034<ref name=Fr61/>
:[[Ejército del Aire]] – 11 examples that survived the civil war.
;{{USA}}
:[[United States Navy]]

==Specifications (FF-1)==
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=imp

|ref=''The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft''<ref name="world"/> and ''American Combat Planes''
|crew= two (pilot and observer/gunner)
|span ft= 34
|span in= 6
|span m= 10.52 
|length ft= 24
|length in= 6
|length m= 7.47 
|height ft= 11
|height in= 1
|height m= 3.38 
|wing area sqft= 310 
|wing area sqm= 28.8 
|empty weight lb= 3,098 
|empty weight kg= 1,405 
|max takeoff weight lb= 4,677 
|max takeoff weight kg=2,121 
|eng1 name= [[Wright R-1820]]-78 Cyclone
|eng1 type= [[radial engine]]
|eng1 number= 1
|eng1 hp= 700 
|eng1 kw= 520 
|max speed mph= 207  
|max speed kmh= 333 
|max speed kts=180
|max speed note=at 4,000 ft (1200 m)
|ceiling ft= 22,100 
|ceiling m= 6,735 
|range miles= 685 
|range km= 1,100 
|climb rate ftmin= 1,667 
|armament=
*2× 0.30 in (7.62 mm) [[M1919 Browning machine gun]]s or 1x 0.30 in and 1x 0.5 in (12.7mm) [[Browning M2]] fixed in fuselage; 1x 0.30 in flex in rear cockpit
*2× 100 lb (45 kg) M30 or 116 lb (53 kg) Mk4 bombs under wings
}}
<ref>Wagner, R. (1982). American Combat Planes. Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Company, Inc.</ref>

==See also==
{{Aircontent
|related=
* [[Grumman F2F]]
* [[Grumman XSBF]]
|similar aircraft=
|lists=
* [[List of aircraft of Canada's air forces]]
* [[List of aircraft of the Spanish Republican Air Force]]
* [[List of aircraft of World War II]]
* [[List of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962)]]
|see also=
}}

==References==

===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
*{{cite book|last1=Barrera|first1=David Gesalí |title=Delfín : el avion Grumman CC&F G-23 en la guerra civil española|publisher=Montmeló|location=Spain|year=2005|isbn=978-8460979777}} (in Spanish)
*{{cite book|editor=Cacutt, Len|title=Great Aircraft of the World - "Grumman Single-Seat Biplane Fighters."|publisher=Marshall Cavendish|location=London|year=1989|isbn=1-85435-250-4|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/greataircraftofw0000unse}}
*{{cite book|last1=Eden|first1=Paul|last2=Moeng|first2=Soph |title=The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft|publisher=Amber Books|location=London|year=2002|isbn=0-7607-3432-1}}
*{{cite book|last1=Francillon|first1=Rene J.|title=Grumman Aircraft since 1929|publisher=Naval Institute Press|year=1989|isbn=978-0870212468}}
*{{cite journal|last1=Green|first1=William|title=The Strange Story of Grumman's First Fighter|journal=Flying Review International|date=October 1966|volume=22|issue=2}}
*{{cite book|last1=Green|first1=William|last2=Swanborough|first2=Gordon|title=The Complete Book of Fighters|publisher=Barnes & Noble|location=New York|year=1988|isbn=0-7607-0904-1}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Green|first1=William|last2=Swanborough|first2=Gordon|name-list-style=amp |title=A Grumman by Any Other Name...|journal=Air Enthusiast |date=February–May 1979 |issue=9 |pages=26–39 |issn=0143-5450}}
*{{cite journal|last1=Levy|first1=Howard|title=All the Way Home|journal=Air Progress|date=October 1966|volume=19|issue=4}}
*{{cite journal|last1=Levy|first1=Howard|title=Canadian-built Goblin Restored|journal=Canadian Aviation|date=December 1966|volume=39|issue=12}}
*{{cite book|last1=Listemann|first1=Phil H.|title=Grumman FF|series=Allied Wings No.6|publisher=Philedition|location=London|year=2008|isbn=978-2953254402}}
*{{cite magazine|last=Lumsden|first=Alec|title=Talkback|magazine=[[Air Enthusiast]] |date=April–July 1980|issue=12 |pages=46–47 |issn=0143-5450}}
*{{cite magazine|last=R-Roda|first=Pedro|title=Talkback|magazine=Air Enthusiast |date=April–July 1980|issue=12|page=47 |issn=0143-5450}}
*{{cite book|last1=Swanborough|first1=Gordon|last2=Bowers|first2=Peter M.|title=United States Navy Aircraft Since 1911|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=1976|isbn=0-870219685}}
*{{cite book|last1=Winchester|first1=Jim|title=Fighters of the 20th Century|publisher=Airlife Publishing|location=Shrewsbury, UK|year=2002|isbn=1840373881}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Grumman FF/SF}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070226110906/http://aeroweb.brooklyn.cuny.edu/specs/grumman/ff-1.htm Grumman FF-1 'Fifi']
* [http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/attractions/aircraft-exhibits/item/?item=ff-1 Grumman FF] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115143709/http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/attractions/aircraft-exhibits/item/?item=ff-1 |date=2017-11-15 }} – National Naval Aviation Museum

{{Grumman aircraft}}
{{USN fighters}}
{{USN scout aircraft}}
{{Aircraft manufactured in Canada}}
{{Japanese Navy short aircraft designations}}
{{Spanish reconnaissance aircraft}}

{{Authority control}}

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[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1931]]
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