Canadian Car & Foundry GE-23
Canadian Car & Foundry · Canada · first flew 1938 · fighter
The Canadian Car & Foundry GE-23 was the Canadian-built Grumman G-23, an improved version of the Grumman FF-1 two-seat biplane fighter. It was built under licence mainly for the Spanish Republic, and in Canada it was called the Goblin.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.47 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Canadian-built Grumman G-23, an improved FF-1 two-seat biplane fighter
- Retractable main undercarriage, a first for a carrier fighter when the FF-1 appeared
- Single Wright Cyclone radial engine in a close cowling
A two-seat biplane fighter with a rounded radial engine cowling and retractable main wheels that fold into the fuselage sides.
Specifications
- The Canadian Car & Foundry GE-23 has a length of 7.47 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.52 m (35 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 333 km/h (207 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Canadian Car and Foundry acquired a licence for the G-23 and completed 52, some assembled from US-built parts. Thirty-four went to the Spanish Republican government in 1937 on forged Turkish credentials, and were called Delfin there. The last 15 were not delivered to Spain.
Variants
The Goblin Mk I was the designation of the 15 G-23s taken on strength by the Royal Canadian Air Force. A single G-23 was also supplied to the Imperial Japanese Navy for evaluation in 1935.
Where you'll see it
Rejected at first by the RCAF as outdated and too slow, the last 15 served as Goblin Is from September 1940 to April 1942, with No. 118 Squadron at Rockcliffe and Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 8,606 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.