oldcrowcv63
Tech Sergeant
The F2A-2 came out after SS tanks and armour would have been required. Add these and the LG begins to fail at an unacceptable rate.
RAF, There is undoubtedly a correllation between aircraft weight and gear failure time, which I don't think we know yet from the information at hand. the F2A-2 with armor (including bullet wind screen) and SS tanks isn't going to weigh quite as much as an F2A-3 because IIRC, there were other changes that increased its gross weight in addition to those two items. I don't know yet how much less such an F2A-2 would weigh or what else could be deleted without weight tables. The F2A variant weight data may be in the forum tech section, or someone may show pitty and clarify our mutual ignorance on this account by having ready access to AHT.
Websites which provide perhaps a ball-park start for such an analysis is Joe Baugher's:
Index of /navy_fighters
and Jack McKillop:
Brewster F2A Buffalo by Jack McKillop
Though frankly I don't think either provide enough information to be truly helpful. I didn't see any ammo capacity figures or engine weights,
According to the web sites, the weights of each F2A version was.
1. F2A-1 empty 3,785 lbs., Gross wt: 5,055 lbs., Max T/O wt.: 5,370 lbs. (Assume includes the 2 additional .5" HMGs)
2. B239 empty 3,900 lbs., Gross wt: 5,842 lbs., (assumd to include 2 additional .5" and the one .5" replacement gun, plus seat armor)
3. F2A-2 empty: 4,576 lbs, Gross wt.: 5,942 lbs., Max T/O wt.: 6,890 lbs.
4. B339B/E/D: empty: 4,576 lbs, Gross wt.: 5,942 lbs., Max T/O wt.: 6,890 lbs ??? (couldn't find any numbers)
3. F2A-2 empty: 4,732 lbs., Gross wt.: 6,321 lbs., Max T/O wt.: 7,159 lbs.
Web sites really don't seem to provide enough additional information beyond these weights and the data is inevitably suspect with many just rehashing and perpetuating misinformation.
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