Grumman TBF Avenger. A photo. Characteristics.
USA
A type: single-engine torpedo bomber
Crew: three persons
It is produced as a replacement airplane TBD «Devostator» (Devastator) company "Douglas". Two prototypes XTBF-1 have been ordered from the company "Douglas" in April 1940, together with competitive aircraft XTBU-1 of "Consolidated". Plane XTBF-1 was significantly more "complete" because of its bomb bay, contains the largest (559-mm - 22- dyumovuyu) torpedo from the arsenal of the Navy. The plane "Evendzher» (Avenger - Avenger) quickly passed flight tests and the end of January, the first production 1942 TBD-1 enrolled in the US Navy.
As their name suggests, the TBF / TBM aircraft have committed severe retaliation over the Japanese in the Pacific for the next three years, participating in all major fighting clashes since Midway. One of the striking features of the history of the Avenger is that its design during the mass production has changed a little, which allowed for a short time to build it in huge quantities. The US Navy's need for this aircraft soon overtook the production capabilities of Grumman, so from September 1942, the contract for the production of an almost identical TVM-1 was issued to General Motors.
By the time of the complete cessation of production in June this year 1945 company built 7546 (out of a total built 9836 copies) TBM aircraft of various modifications. More 1000 aircraft "Evendzher" to the Victory Day participated in the fighting the Royal Navy in the Atlantic and the Pacific. After the war planes "Evendzher" remained in operation until the beginning of the Navy 1950-ies. And today more than 30 aircraft remain in a state of airworthiness. Most of them are based in North America.
Basic data
Dimensions:
- Length: 12,19 m
- Wingspan: 16,51 m
- Height: 5 m
The weight:
- BLANK: 4853 kg
- Maximum take-off: 8278 kg
Aircraft performance characteristics:
- Maximum speed: 430 km / h
- Range: 1819 km
Power point: R-2600-20 «Double Cyclone" Company "Wright"
Power: 1750 l. from. (1305 kW)
Date of first flight:
- 1 August 1941 year
Surviving airworthiness modifications:
- TBF-1C, TBM-3/-3E/-3R/-3S/-3U