Brewster information thread

[Pyro]

I'm looking for data on the Brewster B-239.  Detailed specs, flight data, pilot manual, photos, weight schedule, etc.  Please post info or links to info here.  Please don't post other stuff in this thread. 

[BansheCH]

Some specs and history I found. I am still looking for more.







http://home.att.net/~jbaugher1/f2a_3.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brewster_B-239

http://www.flickr.com/photos/saminkuvat/sets/72157606071317069/

[Fencer51]

http://heninen.net/brewster/english.htm

Keskinen, Kalevi and Stenman, Kari. ''Brewster Model 239: Suomen Ilmavoimien Historia 1A''. Espoo, Finland: Kari Stenman Publishing, 2005. ISBN 952-99432-3-7.

Keskinen, Kalevi and Stenman, Kari. ''Brewster Model 239: Suomen Ilmavoimien Historia 1B''. Espoo, Finland: Kari Stenman Publishing, 2005. ISBN 952-99432-4-5.

Maas, Jim. ''F2A Buffalo in action''. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal publications, 1988. ISBN 0-89747-196-2.

Shores, Christopher. ''The Brewster Buffalo (Aircraft in Profile 217)''. Windsor, Berkshire, UK: Profile Publications Ltd., 1971.

Zbiegniewski, Andre R. ''Brewster F2A Buffalo''. Lublin, Poland: Kagero, 2003. ISBN 83-89088-14-2. (bilangual Polish/English)  http://www.largescaleplanes.com/reviews/Books/Kagero/Buffalo/Buffalo.html


[edit]  Don't know why I am bothering as the Finns undoubtably have all this ready and waiting.. but you might want to contact these guys, they probably have information.. http://www.k-silmailumuseo.fi/contact_information

[Baumer]

Pyro,
I found the Brewster pilots notes for sale at Sircuro. I'm not sure if anyone all ready has it, but it might be a place to start.

http://www.sicuropublishing.com/servlet/the-2001/Brewster-Buffalo-I-F2A/Detail

                           


    Baumer

[RATTFINK]

Here is a good book but it's in Finnish.  We could have one of the CM's translate.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Suomen-Ilmavoimien-Historia-1-Brewster-B-239-Ja-Humu_W0QQitemZ280247561101QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Nonfiction_Book?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116


When you do model the Brewster, could we have this skin?

[Krusty]

I've taken the liberty of uploading my small collection of Brewster stuff.

There is a lot, including some photos of the cockpit of the xf2a, skeleton views, plan views, cutaways, etc. However, some is in japanese, some in russian, some in english. A lot is on the F2a/F3a, but I believe the 239 is shown in some.

Here's a manual for the "Brewster I" from the RAF in the east indies.
http://www.nakatomitower.com/brewster/buffpilotmanual.pdf

Here's the directory I've set up, browse it as you wish:
http://www.nakatomitower.com/brewster/

In there you'll find these as well:

(cutaway views)
http://www.nakatomitower.com/brewster/USAAFplanes105.tif
http://www.nakatomitower.com/brewster/USAAFplanes104.tif

(one of several sets of plan views)
http://www.nakatomitower.com/brewster/USAAFplanes103.tif
http://www.nakatomitower.com/brewster/USAAFplanes102.tif

And a couple of profiles just for default skin inspiration:

[Krusty]

From an older book I have on US aircraft of WW2, by David Mondey:

The first monoplane fighter to equip a squadron of the US Navy, Brewster's F2A Buffalo originated from a US Navy requirement of 1936 for a new generation of carrier-based fighters. In requesting proposals from US manufacturers for such an aircraft, the US Navy indicated requirements which included monoplane configuration, wing flaps, arrester gear, retractable landing gear and an enclosed cockpit. Clearly, this specification recognised the fact that the carrier-based biplane was nearing the end of its life.

Proposals were recieved from Brewster, allocated the designation XF2A-1, Grumman (XF4F-1) and Seversky (XFN-1), but of these the only significant aircraft in the long term was the Grumman design, which was initially of biplane configuration and given serious consideration by hte US Navy as an insurance policy against the possible failure of new fangled monoplanes.

A prototype of the Brewster XF2A-1 was ordered on 22 June 1936, and this flew for the first time in December 1937. While bearing a distinct family resemblence to the XSBA-1 of 1934, the new fighter appeared to be tubbier and stubbier, but a comparison of dimensions showed this to be something of an illusion. Of mid-wing monoplane configuration, it was of all0metal construction, except for fabric-covered control surfaces. Hydraulically operated split flaps were provided, and the main units of the tailwheel type landing gear retracted inward to be housed in the fuselage wells. The powerplant consisted of a 950-hp (708-kW) Wright XR-1820-22 Cyclone raidal engine, driving a Hamilton three-blade metal propeller.

Service testing of the prototype begain in January 1938, and on 11 June the US Navy contracted with Brewster for the supply of 54 F2A-1s. Deliveriesof these started 12 months later, nine aircraft going almost immediately to equip US Navy Squadron VF-3 aboard the USS Saratoga. The available balance of 44 aircraft was, sympathetically, declared surplus to requirements and, instead, supplied to Finland which was then fighting off the might of the Soviet Union. Later equipping Nos. 24 and 26 Squadrons of the Finnish Air Regiment LeR2, they remained successfully operation until mid-1944.

An improved version was ordered by the US Navy in early 1939, this having a more powerful engine, an improved propeller and built-in flotation gear. Designated F2A-2s, these began to enter service in September 1940. They were followed by F2A-3s with more armour and a bulletproof windscreen, and these two production versions were to equip US Navy Squadrons VF-2 and VF-3, and US Marine Corps Squadron VMF-221. A number were used operationally in the Pacific but as the type was overweight, unstable and of poor manoeuverability, it was no match for opposing Japanese fighters.

Belgian and British purchasing missions ordered 40 B-339 and 170 B-339E aircraft respectively, most of the former going to Britain after Belgium hand been overrun. These orders were for land-based versions, without arrester gear and other equipment specifically for shipboard operations, but were otherwise generally similar to the F2A-3s. Of those received from teh Belgian order, a small number served with Nos. 805 and 885 Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm, the former squadron using them for support rather than combat duties during the defense of Crete.

Of those which were ordered for the RAF, which gave the type the name Buffalo, deliveries began in July 1940. No. 71 Squadron received the first of these for service trials in September, and it was realised immediately that the Buffalo's performance was totally inadequate for the type's development in the European theatre. Instead, the Buffalos were sent to the Far East to equip RAF's Nos. 67, 146, 243, 453 and 488 Squadrons and the Royal Australian Air Force's No. 21 Squadron to defend Singapore and the Straits Settlements. Completely unsuited to the task, the few which survived the Japanese invasion fought alongside the American Volunteer Group operating in Burma. Buffaloes with the most successful combat record were a small number of almost 100 which had been ordered for the air arm of the Netherlands East Ineies' army, which saw action in Java and Malaya. These had the Brewster model numbers B-339D and B-439. The former was similar to teh B-339E, but the B-439 had a 1,200-hp (895-kW) Wright GR-1820-G205A engine.

Specification:
Type: single-seat land- or ship-based fighter
Powerplant (F2A-3): one 1,200-hp (895kW) Wright R-1820-40 Cyclone radial piston engine
Performance: maximum speed 321 mph (517 km/h) at 16,500 ft. (5030 m); cruising speed 258mph (415 km/h); service ceiling 33,200 ft (10120 m); range 965 miles (1553 km)
Weights: empty 4,732 lb (2146 kg); maximum take-off 7,159 lb (3247 kg)
Dimensions: span 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m); length 26 ft 4 in (8.03 m); height 12 ft 1 in (3.68 m); wing area 208.9 sq ft (19.41 m^2)
Armament: frout 0.50-in (12.7-mm) machien-guns, plus two 100-lb (45kg) bombs.

[Enker]

From a library book I got. not finished scanning all of the pages, but it makes an interesting read though.

http://s383.photobucket.com/albums/oo280/Enker_photo/Brewster%20Buffalo%20Info/


Bibliography:
United States Naval Fighters of World War II
Michael O'Leary
Published by Blandford Press
ISBN: 0 7137 0956 1

[dtango]

Pyro:

I assume you want specifically Brewster F2A B-239 (modified F2A-1) data and not just any F2A variant?

Tango, XO
412th FS Braunco Mustangs

[Pyro]

I'm looking specifically for B-239 but F2A data is welcome. 

[dtango]

I'm looking specifically for B-239 but F2A data is welcome. 

Thanks for the clarification.  In that case There's 7 NACA reports with data on the F2A and variant data.  None of them are the B-239.  I assume you probably have these already but for reference sake here they are:

Power-on wind tunnel test F2A 1/8-scale model
Power-on longitudinal-stability and control tests F2A 1/8-scale model
Power-off wind tunnel test F2A 1/8-scale model
Additional power-on wind-tunnel test F2A 1/8-scale model
F2A-2 compressibility flight test data
F2A-2 lateral control flight test data
Calculated and measured turning peformance of F2A-3 including flaps

Here is the NTRS search results for the above:
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?N=0&Ntk=all&Ntx=mode%20matchall&Ntt=f2a


Additionally:

NACA F2A-2 flight tests with various flap configs:
http://hdl.handle.net/2060/19930092639

NACA Drag Analysis which includes tests and data on the XF2A-1:
http://hdl.handle.net/2060/19930092657
http://hdl.handle.net/2060/19760019077


I bet gripen probably has some data on the F2A B-239.

Tango, XO
412th FS Braunco Mustangs

[lyric1]

What I have. http://www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum/research/aircraft/series2/A51.htm  http://www.airliners.net/photo/Finland---Air/Brewster-B-239-Buffalo/1335754/M/  http://www.flickr.com/photos/saminkuvat/sets/72157606071317069/  http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Cgna1p9b0pY/RoB_qirn96I/AAAAAAAAAL4/EgBa6gErZ00/Picture%2B380.jpg&imgrefurl=http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/pEUsfnvK50yVq9F0fjZrxg&usg=__QKeXQv3BNfvPsleWYlMNzmBQJys=&h=768&w=1024&sz=19&hl=en&start=4&um=1&tbnid=OQ_LcuYQk7OGzM:&tbnh=113&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbrewster%2Bb%2B239%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4ADBR_enUS236US236%26sa%3DN

[mipoikel]

Anyone have a Pic of the one surviving Buff? In Finland? Maybe the story behind it?

Seems a shame. Only one left of an airplane that served so honorably.

Yes, some pics... this pic was taken in our visit to museum last year.

[NHawk]

Now where else would you get info on the Buffalo? (see avatar)

SPECIFICATIONS
Wingspan:  35 ft (10.67 m) 
Wing Area: 209 sq ft (19.42 sq m) 

Length: 
  F2A-1: 26 ft (7.92 m) 
  F2A-2: 25 ft 7 in (7.80 m) 
  F2A-3: 26 ft 4 in (8.03 m) 

Height: 
  F2A-1: 11 ft 8 in (3.56 m) 
  F2A-2 and -3: 12 ft 1 in (3.68 m) 

Empty weight: 
  F2A-1: 3,785 lbs (1,716.84 kg) 
  F2A-2: 4,576 lbs (2,075.64 kg) 
  F2A-3: 4,732 lbs (2,146,40 kg) 

Gross weight 
  F2A-1: 5,055 lbs (2,292.90 kg) 
  F2A-2: 5,942 lbs (2,695.25 kg) 
  F2A-3: 6,321 lbs (2,867.16 kg)

Maximum speed: 
  F2A-1: 271 mph (436.13 km/h) at sea level; 301 mph (484.41 km/h) at 17,000 ft (5,182.60 m) 
  F2A-2: 285 mph (458.66 km/h) at sea level; 323 mph (519.82 km/h) at 16,500 ft (5,029.20 m) 
  F2A-3: 284 mph (457.05 km/h) at sea level; 321 mph (516.60 km/h) at 16,500 ft (5,029.20 m) 

Climb in 1 minute: 
 F2A-1: 3,060 ft (932.69 m) 
 F2A-2: 2,500 ft (762.00 m) 
 F2A-3: 2,290 ft (697.99 m) 

Service ceiling: 
  F2A-1: 32,500 ft (9,906.00 m) 
  F2A-2: 34,000 ft (10,363.20 m) 
  F2A-3: 33,200 ft (10,119.36 m)

Range: 
  F2A-1: 1,095 mi (1,762.23 km) 
  F2A-2: 1,015 mi (1,633.48 km) 
  F2A-3: 965 mi (1,553.02 km) 

Maximum range: 
  F2A-1: 1,545 mi (2,486.44 km) 
  F2A-2: 1,670 mi (2,687.60 km) 
  F2A-3: 1,680 mi (2,703.70 km) 

Normal fuel: 
  F2A-1: 160 US gal (605.67 l) 
  F2A-2: 242 US gal (916.07 l) 
  F2A-3: 240 US gal (908.50 l)

Engine:
1200 hp Wright R-1820-40

Armament:
Four 50 cal (12.7mm?) guns
 


Cockpit - Right Side..


Cockpit - Front..


Cockpit - Left Side..


Misc Pictures..








Humu & ME109


The sole surviving Finnish Built Humu..



I'll see what else we have.

[NHawk]

Telescopic site used on the F2A and early F4F-3s. (See 8th picture in above post by me..American Plane 21)

Mark III Model 4