XF5F

XF5F

360://https://wiki.warthunder.com/images/1/1e/Cockpit_xf5f.jpg

XF5F

USA

III Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
3.0	2.3	2.3

Class:

PREMIUM

Fighter

Naval aircraft

Purchase:Bundle or Gift

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Description

The XF5F Skyrocket is a premium rank III American fighter with a battle rating of 3.0 (AB) and 2.3 (RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.37.

The XF5F Skyrocket is an oddity. Its lightweight and underwhelming armament aren't what you'd expect from a twin-engine fighter, but neither is its surprising manoeuvrability. Indeed, it is among the most agile twin-engine plane out there. Coupled with the low weight and its two power plants, this aircraft makes for a unique flying style. The Skyrocket's primary role is going to be Boom & Zoom; the climb rate is decent, and so is the energy retention if you stay under 550 kph and opt for smooth, moderate turns. However, the lack of heavy armament means that you will have to keep your guns on target longer in order to achieve considerable damage. Such opportunity comes when the enemy is low on speed and not suspecting any enemies/tunnel-visioned on an ally; for example at the top of a loop, or in a sustained turn fight with an allied plane. Be cautious as you go past 600 kph, however, as it locks up, similar to the XP-50's high-speed compression. Overall, the XF5F is a plane that favours high altitude, medium speed engagements, where it is safe from crashing in the ground and has room to manoeuvre.

If required, you can push the XF5F into a more aggressive energy fighter, similar to the Bf 109 series, where looping back on the enemy while holding superior speed and altitude allows you to extinguish their energy little by little. The responsive roll and pull, in addition to the effective combat flaps, engine throttle management, and acceleration, allows for some nifty dogfighting against heavier planes that may see you as easy prey. Keep in mind, however, that the engines will overheat badly at low altitude, and even more so at around 2,800m due to the supercharger setting in. Overheating isn't nearly as serious at higher altitude (around 12,000 ft / 3,600 m), where fresh air will cool your motor apparatus quickly. Alternatively, you may manually set the radiators to ~40% water/20% oil for continuous 100% engine power.

General info

Flight Performance

Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 5,273 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	559	543	9400	21.9	22.6	7.4	7.3	180
Upgraded	642	576		18.2	19.0	27.4	20.3

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear	Drogue chute
✓	✓	✓	X	✓	X

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
0	370	487	487	290	~11	~7

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 350	< 400	< 350	> 300

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
1,200-5,000 m	1,200 hp	N/A
Setting 2
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
4,200-9,000 m	1,120 hp	N/A

Survivability and armour

• 9.5 mm Steel plate in the nose
• 9.5 mm Steel plate behind the pilot
• Self-sealing fuel tanks (1 in each wingroot)

Armaments

Offensive armament

The XF5F is armed with:

• 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, nose-mounted (200 rpg = 400 total)
• 2 x 7.62 mm Browning machine guns, nose-mounted (500 rpg = 1,000 total)

Usage in battles

Exploiting the opponent's weakness while relying on a fast straight-line acceleration may allow for escapes out of an unfavourable situation.

Energy fighters (Bf 109/C.205/La-5) trying to out turn a twin-engine plane can be lured into stall-speed turn fights and intercepted during their subsequent speed recovery.

Single engagements at low altitude are optimal thanks to fast acceleration trumping dive speed and climb.

Engagements with multiple opponents are to be avoided since the XF5F needs a substantially longer time to effectively engage and eliminate a target.

In Realistic Battle and Simulator Battle, the stiff opposition, in the form of Bf 109 G-2s, Fw 190As, Yak-9Ts, Yak-3, and La-5FN, will give you a serious run for your money. Always make sure you hold the energy advantage at all times and are picking your fights with care.

Countering an XF5F could include out-diving or -stalling with horizontal manoeuvres followed up by a steep ascend, exploiting its weak energy retention and sluggishness at low speeds. Another tactic is to force the XF5F into a head-on attack. Since it's not very well armed, there is a good chance that you will be able to deal damage without receiving much yourself.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Not controllable	Not controllable	Not controllable	Separate	Not controllable	Not controllable

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage repair	Radiator		Offensive 7 mm
II		Compressor	Airframe	New 7 mm MGs
III	Wings repair	Engine		Offensive 12 mm
IV			Cover	New 12 mm MGs
This is a premium vehicle: all modifications are unlocked on purchase

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Telescopic sight for RB/SB
• Good manoeuvrability overall
• Superb turn time
• Nose mounted armament
• Can fly on a single-engine, albeit not for long
• Does not have an arrestor hook, however, can land on a carrier to repair/rearm

Cons:

• Weak armament
• Control surfaces compress hard after exceeding around 600 kph
• Horrible energy retention
• Large profile, an easy target
• Large, fragile engines
• Engine overheats fast
• Somewhat underwhelming climb rate
• Terrible high altitude performance
• No WEP in RB/SB

History

The Grumman XF5F Skyrocket was a prototype twin engine, carrier-borne, interceptor aircraft; developed for the United States Navy. In January 1938, the U.S. Navy issued a specification calling for a lightweight carrier-based fighter / interceptor to replace the obsolete biplanes which were in use at the time. Five companies issued proposals, of which Grumman, Vought and Bell received contracts to produce a prototype. Grumman produced the XF5F Skyrocket, to complete with Vought's XF4U-1 Corsair (the prototype of the legendary F4U Corsair), and Bell's XFL Airabonita (a naval version of the P-39 Airacobra.

The requirement put an emphasis on the aircraft achieving the highest speed possible, and so for this reason the Grumman engineers chose to design a dual engine fighter. Grumman planned to fit the aircraft with two 23mm Madsen cannons, along with two Browning .30 machine guns; although this would eventually be revised with Browning .50 machine guns replacing the cannons. The main landing gear of the Skyrocket was built into the engine nacelles, and the wings were made to fold upwards just outboard of the engines in order to take up less room on aircraft carriers.

The Skyrocket was the first of the three prototypes to fly, taking to the air for the first time on 1st April 1940 and becoming the worlds first twin engined carrier-borne fighter. It was followed shortly after by the Airabonita on 13th May and the Corsair on 29th May. The XF5F proved to have good overall flight characteristics in it's first flight; however a number of problems were soon found with the aircraft. The oil cooling system was found to be inadequate, and the landing gear doors did not function properly. Following early test flights many modifications were made to the aircraft, including improvements to the cooling system, reducing the size of the cockpit canopy, redesigning aspects of the engine nacelles, and adding spinners to the propellers.

Bell's XFL Airabonita had been plagued with technical and design issues relating to the engine, aircraft balance, and landing gear; leading to it being rejected by the Navy. This left just the XF5F and XF4U in the competition. The XF5F had shown a high top speed of 616 km/h in early tests, and had proven itself to have an excellent climb rate of 4,000 ft/min, compared to the XF4U's 2,660 ft/min. However the single engine XF4U soon proved to be a better overall aircraft, achieving speeds of 650 km/h in later test flights, beating the duel engined XF5F.

On the 30th June 1941 the Navy gave Vought a contract to start producing the Corsair, and it soon became apparent that no such order would be placed for the Skyrocket. The XF5F continued flying as a test bed aircraft, but continued to be plagued by landing gear issues, eventually suffering two gear failures, the second of which lead to the aircraft being written off in December 1944.

Following the rejection of the XF5F Grumman worked on developing a dual engine land based fighter, the XP-50. The XP-50 was visually similar to the XF5F; however it had a longer noes, extending forwards of the wing, and a tricycle undercarriage. It also had more powerful engines than the XF5F, giving it significantly better flight performance. During testing of the single XP-50 prototype the turbo-supercharger on one of the aircraft's engines exploded, destroying the landing gear and forcing the pilot to abandon the aircraft. Using their experience from the XF5F and XP-50 Grumman finally developed the F7F Tigercat, which was accepted into service, becoming the first duel engined fighter to be deployed by the US Navy.

Obtainable events

• During the January 2014 event "Winter Magic", the XF5F was given to those who participated the most in the event.
• On 31 October 2014, the XF5F was one of the few planes that could be received by Gaijin in their 2nd anniversary present giveaways.
• In March 2016, the XF5F was obtainable in the "War Thunder:100" team deathmatch event
• In September 2017, the XF5F was obtainable in the U.S. Air Force Anniversary Event
• It is currently considered a rare vehicle and is obtainable through the Gaijin Marketplace.

Media

War Thunder Premium Review: XF5F Skyrocket [Ugly Duckling]

See also

• XP-50
• F7F-1
• F7F-3
• F4U Corsair

External links

• War Thunder Aircraft Data Sheet: Grumman XF5F
• Aviation History Online Museum - Grumman XF5F-1 Skyrocket
• Performance Data of XF5F-1 and XFL-1 (26 Dec 1942)
• SD-260 Detail Specification for Model XF5F-1 Airplane, May 5, 1938

Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation
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