Grumman XF5F Skyrocket
Grumman · United States · first flew 1940 · fighter
The Grumman XF5F Skyrocket was a prototype twin-engined carrier fighter notable for a fuselage nose that stopped level with the wing leading edge.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Twin engine nacelles flanking a very short forward fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Stub nose that does not extend ahead of the wing leading edge
- Twin engine nacelles flanking a very short forward fuselage
- Twin tail with pronounced dihedral on the horizontal stabiliser
Its short, blunt nose set well back from the propellers, flanked by two closely mounted engine nacelles, makes it one of the odder-looking American fighters of its era.
Specifications
- The Grumman XF5F Skyrocket has a length of 8.76 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.8 m (42 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 616 km/h (383 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Ordered by the US Navy in June 1938 as a lightweight interceptor, the XF5F paired two Wright R-1820 engines with opposite-rotating propellers for a high rate of climb, first flying on 1 April 1940. Extensive changes to fix handling problems delayed final testing until January 1942.
Variants
The design's lessons carried directly into Grumman's larger and more successful twin-engined XF7F Tigercat.
Where you'll see it
The XF5F never entered production or squadron service and no example survives today; it is remembered as a technical stepping stone to the Tigercat.
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- Grumman XP-50
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- Bloch MB.700
- CANSA FC.12
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