Identify this U.S. Navy fighter - this one isn't easy.

[Widewing]

Designed and built U.S. Navy  Specification No. 96 (light carrier fighter), this aircraft was submitted, but rejected. The man heading the design team was responsible for some of the most famous aircraft to appear in the first 30 years of the 20th century. Can you name the fighter in the photo below?

 

My regards,

Widewing

[Rendar]

F2F?

------------------
Rendar

[This message has been edited by Rendar (edited 01-27-2001).]

[Widewing]

 

Originally posted by Rendar:
F2F?

No, it's not an F2F. Grumman's F2F had retractable landing gear and an enclosed canopy.

This is really a tough one, and I'm going to provide a useful clue. The man who headed the design team was Anthony Fokker. Fokker's U.S. based Fokker Aircraft Company merged with General Motors in 1929. The company was remamed several times over the next few years. This aircraft competed directly with the Curtiss XF9C-1 to be selected for the airship based parasite fighter program. The Curtiss won the competition.

My regards,

Widewing

[BUG_EAF322]

Interesting : Fokker USA company ??

didn't knew that

S! chaps

[Widewing]

 

Originally posted by BUG_EAF322:
Interesting : Fokker USA company ??

didn't knew that

S! chaps

Fokker set up a subsidary corporation under the name Atlantic Aircraft Corporation. It set up its factory in New Jersey. After the merger with GM, this facility, greatly expanded and modernized, manufactured Grumman aircraft during WWII as the Eastern Aircraft Corporation. You may recall that GM built the TBM and FM-1 and FM-2 (Avenger and Wildcat, respectively).

The U.S. Army Air service (later the USAAC), purchased many different Fokker aircraft. The most famous is the Fokker T-2, which flew coast to coast non-stop on May 2 and 3, 1923. This aircraft is hanging in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. I have some original photos of this aircraft and I could post one if anyone wants to see it. There is a photo of it on the Smithsonian web site that I'll post here for now.
 

Fokker has a long history here in the U.S., but is generally not remembered these days.

My regards,

Widewing

[Dingy]

XFA-1?

-Ding

[Widewing]

 

Originally posted by Dingy:
XFA-1?

-Ding

Outstanding! Good research, Ding. This was the first example of the Fokker designed, General Aviation XFA-1. It would later be modified to remove the prop spinner and the wheel pants. eventually, it would acquire a larger vertical stabilizer and rudder and a three-blade propeller. The XFA-1 suffered from spin problems and being too sensitive on the controls.

My regards,

Widewing