Grumman XSBF-1
Grumman · United States · first flew 1935 · bomber
The Grumman XSBF-1 (company designation G-14) was an American biplane scout bomber built for the US Navy in the 1930s. Derived from the Grumman SF, it did not enter production.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | All-metal fuselage with fabric-covered wings |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Two-seat biplane with an enclosed cockpit
- All-metal fuselage with fabric-covered wings
- Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp Junior radial driving a two-blade variable-pitch propeller
A compact two-seat biplane with an enclosed cockpit and retractable landing gear similar to that of the F3F fighter. The lower wing is shorter in span than the upper, 9.60 m against 10.52 m.
Specifications
- The Grumman XSBF-1 has a length of 7.85 m (26 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.52 m (35 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 346 km/h (215 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The US Navy issued a scout bomber specification in late 1934 and ordered one prototype in March 1935. Test pilot Bud Gillies flew it on 24 December 1935, though the infobox of the source gives 18 February 1936. It lost the competition to the Curtiss XSBC-3.
Variants
Only one prototype, serial 9996, was built. The SBF-1 designation was later reused for Helldivers built by Fairchild.
Where you'll see it
The prototype served as a liaison aircraft at Naval Air Station Anacostia and was used in NACA research at Langley. It was badly damaged in a crash on 25 May 1939 and struck off in July 1939.
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