Grumman G-44 Widgeon. A photo. Characteristics.
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Grumman G-44 Widgeon. A photo. Characteristics.

Grumman G-44 Widgeon. A photo. Characteristics. 

USA

A type: multipurpose two-engine amphibian - flying boat-vysokoplan

Capacity: a crew of two and three passengers

The plane "Widgeon» (Widgeon - wigeon) developed by "Grumman" as a reduction in modification of its successful civil amphibious "Goose." No less 40 aircraft fell into private hands by the time when the company has concentrated its efforts on the production of military amphibious, which the US Air Force awarded the designation OA-14, and the US Navy and Coast Guard - JF4. The last of these organizations enjoyed the first success of the year in August 1942 when the plane JF4-1 212 Squadron Coast Guard sank the submarine U-166 near the Mississippi Delta.

At the beginning of 1942, Grumman received its largest production order (on an 131 aircraft) for a modification of JF4-2, the last copy of which was delivered to the Navy by 26 February 1945. The Royal Navy also received 15 JF4-2 aircraft in Lend-Lease, which served as liaison officers mainly in the West Indies. In 1944, Grunmman again completed the design, introducing the G-44A, which featured an increased keel on the bottom of the boat to improve its hydrodynamic performance. This modification remained in production until January of the year 1949. By this time, 76 aircraft were built, another 41 aircraft was built under license in France in 1948-1949.

More 70 these aircraft were converted by McKinnon Enterprises of Oregon in the plane "Super Widgeon" through the installation of more powerful engines, the company "Lycoming" and improve both the body and the interior of the cabin. At present, most of the surviving aircraft flying "Widgeon" (less 20 copies) in different moments of his long life received "treatment McKinnon" (t. E. Were converted by McKinnon in the plane "Super Widgeon").

Basic data

Dimensions:

  • Length: 9,47 m
  • Wingspan: 12,19 m
  • Height: 3,48 m

 

The weight:

  • BLANK: 1447 kg
  • Maximum take-off: 2041 kg

 

Aircraft performance characteristics:

  • Maximum speed: 246 km / h
  • Range: 1481 km

 

Power point: Two engine L-440C-5 of "Ranger" or the engine G0-480-B1D of "Lycoming" Power: 200 l. from. (149 kW) and 270 l. from. (201,42 kW), respectively

Date of first flight:

  • 28 June 1940 year

 

The surviving airworthy modifications:

  • G-44 / -44A, JF4-2 and "Super Widgeon"

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