Naval Aircraft Factory TF
Naval Aircraft Factory · United States · first flew 1920 · fighter
The Naval Aircraft Factory TF (Tandem Fighter) was an American twin-engine flying-boat escort fighter. It was meant to escort maritime reconnaissance flights over the North Sea and Atlantic.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 13.4 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Two engines in tandem on the centreline, one tractor and one pusher
- Biplane flying boat with a hull of Curtiss NC-1 design
- Egg-shaped nacelle on top of the upper wing housing an extra pilot/gunner position
Look for a biplane flying boat with a pair of engines in line on the centreline above the hull and an egg-shaped gunner's nacelle on the upper wing.
Specifications
- The Naval Aircraft Factory TF has a length of 13.4 m (44 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 18.3 m (60 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 153 km/h (95 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Four prototypes were ordered after the First World War. The wingspan was too small for a conventional twin-engine layout, so the engines were mounted in tandem on the centreline as a tractor and pusher pair. The first flight took place on 13 October 1920 and ended in an emergency landing after the engines overheated.
Variants
Only the four prototypes were built. Two 300 hp Hispano-Suiza engines were fitted because the intended 400 hp Curtiss Kirkham engines suffered mechanical problems.
Where you'll see it
Flight testing was dogged by overheating engines, and the Trial Board asked for the project to be terminated in June 1921. It was cancelled on 11 January 1923 without entering service.
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