- Yes
- No
Hello, I am suggesting a Canadian-built bi-plane. Well, this one not being as flashy as the FDB-1 due to it being licensed built, shouldn’t make it any less special. Well, this aircraft has two primary nations that could be suggested under Canada and Spain, I’m here suggesting this under its service in Canada under the RCAF.
History:
The Goblin I would get started in the Grumman FF being a licensed-built variant of it. The FF came about because the US Navy wanted a fighter with the retractable landing gear Grumman had made. This would be the XFF-1 which would have its first flight on the 29 of December in 1931. Some of its features would include, an enclosed cockpit that is a two-seater design, an all-metal fuselage and fabric wings.
In 1937 Canadian Car and Foundry acquired the license to build the Grumman plane. The variant the company was known as G-23, being a later and upgraded version of the FF-1. The number of these aircraft built by Canadian Car & Foundry wasn’t much only 57. Most of these were exported, with Spain receiving the largest number of them being 34. Although due to an embargo placed on the belligerents of the Spanish Civil War, the aircraft would be bought by the Spanish Republican government which would proceed to use credentials that would make them seem Turkish to acquire the aircraft. These would be pressed into the Spanish Republican Air Force, where they would be known as GE-23 Delfin. Although these aircraft would take part in the conflict, they would more often find themselves outclassed by the other aircraft there, which led them to take heavy losses. Out of the 34, 11 would serve to see service in the Ejército del Aire Español, where they would revive the nickname Redro Rico due to its shape.
When the aircraft was originally offered to the Royal Canadian Air Force it was rejected, under the grounds of it being outdated/obsolete and too slow. Would could be considered good luck for the aircraft came when its bleak assessment would change with the advent of war. This would lead Canada to acquire any equipment it could get its hands on to equip the military. This would lead to Canadian Car and Foundry’s last batch of the aircraft, consisting of 15 aircraft being acquired by the RCAF. These would be pressed into service on the 17 of September in 1940 where they would serve until the 21 of April 1942. When the aircraft first entered service they were part of the “A” Flight of No. 118 RCAF Squadron (sqn) at RCAF Station Rockcliffe in Ottawa. This unit would be renamed to No. 118 (Fighter) Squadron and moved to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia where it would become the sole fighter force on the east coast for its time. In late 1941 they would supplemented by the more modern P-40 Kittyhawks, although replacement wasn’t 100% complete until May of 1942. No. 123 (Army Cooperation [AC]) Sqn would also fly 5 goblins for a brief time but would have disposed of them by March 1942.
Specs:
SPECIFICATIONS
Manufacturer: Canadian Car and Foundry Company under licence from Grumman
Crew/Passengers: One pilot and one observer
Power Plant: One 745 hp Wright R-1820-F53 Cyclone radial
Performance: Max speed: 223 mph (359 km/h)
Service ceiling: 29,400 ft (8,960 m)
Weights: Empty: 3,279 lb (1,488 kg) Gross: 4,728 lb (2,146 kg)
Dimensions: Upper span: 34 ft 6 in (10.51 m) Length: 24 ft 6 in (7.47 m)
Height: 11 ft 1 in (3.78 m) Wing area: 310 sq ft (28.80 sq m)
Armament: 2 forward-firing .30 cal M1919 Browning machine guns and one flexible mount for
the observer, 1 × 45 kg bomb
Cost: Unknown
Affiliated Units: Nos. 118 (F) and 123 (AC) Sqns
Serial Numbers: 334–348
Sources
Information archivée dans le Web | Information Archived on the Web
Canadian Warplanes 1: Canadian Car & Foundry (Grumman) Goblin
Grumman FF - Wikipedia
http://silver_fang.tripod.com/goblin.html
Canadian Car & Foundry G-23 Goblin