AF-2 Guardian on display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation
Remains of Grumman AF Guardian at Pima
After disposal by the U.S. Navy five Guardians saw many years service with Aero Union based at Chico California in the forest fire-fighting role, the last being retired in 1978.[12]
AF-2S Guardian, BuNo 123088, is owned by Airstation Inc. in Arlington, Washington.[13]
AF-2S Guardian, BuNo 123100, is on display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida. It was the seventh AF-2S produced. The aircraft was operated as a firefighter until 1978. It was acquired by the museum in 1980. It is displayed in the colors of its first Navy assignment, though still carries the number "30" on the cowling, which for many years the aircraft's call-sign as a fire fighting aircraft;[14]
AF-2S Guardian, BuNo 126731, is on display at the Commemorative Air Force's Mesa facility in Mesa, Arizona. The aircraft was restored in 1997, and flew briefly with the CAF as "Navy 126731/SM/10".[15]
AF-2S Guardian, BuNo 129233, is on display at the Pima Air Museum, Tucson, Arizona.[16]
[edit]Specifications (AF-2S Guardian)
Data from United States Navy Aircraft since 1911 [17]
General characteristics
Crew: 3 (4 in AF-2W variant)[4]
Length: 43 ft 4 in (13.21 m)
Wingspan: 60 ft 8 in (18.49 m)
Height: 16 ft 2 in (5.08 m)
Wing area: 560 ft² (52.03 m²)
Empty weight: 14,580 lb (6,613 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 22,640 lb (11,567 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-48W "Double Wasp" radial engine, 2,400 hp (1,790 kW)
Performance
Maximum speed: 253 mph at full throttle not to exceed 30 minutes at 15,000 ft, gross weight 21,000 pounds (276 kn, 510 km/h)
Range: 1,500 mi (1,304 nmi, 2,415 km)
Service ceiling: 15,000 ft (9,900 m)
Rate of climb: 1,850 ft/min (9.4 m/s)
Armament
Rockets: 16× 5 in (127 mm) unguided High velocity aircraft rocket (HVAR) rockets
Bombs: 4,000 lb (1,814 kg) of bombs, torpedoes, and depth charges
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