Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: BaldEagl on June 20, 2011, 01:20:41 AM

Title: F3F
Post by: BaldEagl on June 20, 2011, 01:20:41 AM

I was looking ar an image of an F3F tonight and wondered what the thing under the nose is that looks like a radiator intake.  You wouldn't think there would be a radiator in a radial and not all F3F's seem to have it.  I also highly doubt they were supercharged.  What is it?

(http://www.flugzeuginfo.net/acimages/grummanf3f_robertdomandl.jpg)

Title: Re: F3F
Post by: Krusty on June 20, 2011, 01:31:19 AM

Radial engines do not have liquid cooling radiators, you are correct.

Most of them DO have oil coolers, however.

Title: Re: F3F
Post by: Soulyss on June 20, 2011, 11:04:51 AM

Not sure, but here's another view with the cowling removed.
(http://www.passion-aviation.qc.ca/images/planes_fame09/f3f2.jpg)

Title: Re: F3F
Post by: Noir on June 20, 2011, 11:08:29 AM

I love the chubby looks on this airplane  :D

Title: Re: F3F
Post by: Hap on June 20, 2011, 12:15:56 PM

boy is that a pretty plane.

Title: Re: F3F
Post by: Wmaker on June 20, 2011, 01:36:32 PM

F3F had a Wright's 950hp Cyclone 9 -22. And it was indeed supercharged but the lower air intake is for the oil cooler which is clearly visible in the pic that Soulyss posted. The carburator/supercharger intake is in the upper part of the cowling like in the Brewster for example but not quite as visible.

Title: Re: F3F
Post by: Rino on June 20, 2011, 02:48:19 PM

     If anyone remembers Der Bubba JG54 from AW, he was with the salvage effort that recovered this aircraft when
he was stationed at North Island.

http://collections.naval.aviation.museum/emuwebdoncoms/pages/doncoms/Display.php?irn=16017417&QueryPage=%2FQuery.php (http://collections.naval.aviation.museum/emuwebdoncoms/pages/doncoms/Display.php?irn=16017417&QueryPage=%2FQuery.php)

     Somewhere in my storage I have the videotape he made from his sub during the recovery effort.
I can't remember if it was the DSV Turtle or the Sea Cliff <it's sister ship>.  Here is the Sea Cliff.

(http://www.fas.org/man//dod-101/sys/ship/dsv-seaclf.jpg)

Title: Re: F3F
Post by: Widewing on June 20, 2011, 06:41:14 PM

Here's a couple of F3F videos from youtube....

Historic...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Os19XiWGDjs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Os19XiWGDjs)

Modern day... Note that the particular sound of the R-1820 engine is typical of those engines with a collector type exhaust.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGHLX5oQXh0&NR=1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGHLX5oQXh0&NR=1)

Title: Re: F3F
Post by: BaldEagl on June 20, 2011, 11:32:38 PM

Quote from: Widewing on June 20, 2011, 06:41:14 PM

Here's a couple of F3F videos from youtube....

Historic...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Os19XiWGDjs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Os19XiWGDjs)

Modern day... Note that the particular sound of the R-1820 engine is typical of those engines with a collector type exhaust.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGHLX5oQXh0&NR=1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGHLX5oQXh0&NR=1)

Thanks for the vids Widewing.

"480 mph and the wings stay on!"   :rofl

That must have been quite an accomplishment at the time.

Title: Re: F3F
Post by: clerick on June 21, 2011, 02:21:58 AM

Quote from: Noir on June 20, 2011, 11:08:29 AM

I love the chubby looks on this airplane  :D

... always fun to ride until your friends see you...   :bolt:

Title: Re: F3F
Post by: oboe on June 23, 2011, 03:58:03 PM

I was lucky enough to see an F3F fly at an airshow at St Paul's downtown airport a few (well maybe more than a few) years ago.  Looks so much cooler in flight doing low passes along the flightline.   Became an instant favorite of mine.