The 'Fastest Pursuit' Grumman Skyrocket XF5F/Black Hawk

In 1938, Grumman presented a proposal to the Navy for a twin engine carrier based fighter. The design was unlike any aircraft that had ever been considered before by the USN. Grumman's concept called for a light weight (under 10,000 lbs maximum take off weight) aircraft powered by two 1,200 hp Wright R-1820 engines. Being a low wing monoplane, the fuselage began aft of the wings leading edge. At the rear of the markedly short fuselage, the tail assembly was not unlike that of a B-25 Mitchell, however, with an pronounced dihedral to the horizontal stabilizer. The propellers were geared to rotate in opposite directions to cancel the effects of engine torque. The tail wheel was fully retractable.

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Related link:
www.aircraft-list.com/

Purchase Information $3.95 Two sizes and several versions including: Blackhawk, Navy(2), Lendlease, Russian Winter, and BW Back to Between the Wars

Three pages of the large version shown above.

What people say... Just finished downloading the Grumman XF5F "Skyrocket" - both versions. The Kid just declared it to be ". . . butt-ugly. . .". What does he know? He's 16. Boy, did ol' Blackhawk's verison d-r-a-i-n the color ink cartridge! It's time to get out the inks and syringe. . .again. The U.S.N. verison fuselage is begging to be done in Rub-n-Buff! Thanks, ymp, John Chip, your paper models are in a league by themselves. Absolutely beautiful with excellent background info . I love building them. Another "paper bender" ,,,Dick T Sacre Bleu ....I'd completely forgotten about the Black Hawk Squadron. Good show!.... Gill R I just downloaded both versions of the Skyrocket, and can't wait to build one or both! You guys are doing great work, with some tremendous models. I can't wait to get the Whittle Jet! ... Bob H Another neat looking FG aircraft paper model. Again, thank you and your people for your efforts.....Bob P... Hey there Chipperoonie--Thanks for the Skyrocket!!!! When I was about 14--hell of along time ago, wasn't it--There was a model of the Skyrocket in the hobby shops that I wanted so bad I could taste it. No money. Such is life. Got one now! John F Thanks for the latest masterpiece - the Skyrocket! That brought back hundreds of wonderful memories of my brother and our pals at our own Secret Black Hawk Headquarters, (the chicken coop) where we planned our latest missions in our twin engined pursuit interceptors (the roof of said chicken coop), underneath the inspiring black on white Black Hawk flag.... Mom never did find that bed sheet...Jay G Confirmed my suspicions- the Skyrocket fuselage bottom was flat across the bottom.