Plane of the Day: Grumman J2F Duck

The Grumman J2F "Duck" was an amphibious biplane used by the United States Armed Forces from 1930 to around 1945. It was used primarily for search and rescue and utility. It consisted of a typical, single engine biplane on a large float. It was equipped with landing gear for conventional runways as well. The J2F was an upgraded JF "Duck", with the primary difference being the larger float size. Many variants of the J2F were built, including one that was outfitted with guns and bomb pylons for the U.S. Marine Corps. All in all, more than 300 J2Fs were built for various purposes in the US Armed Forces. The J2F was a rugged, dependable, and very versatile aircraft that was definitely more interesting than your typical biplane.

Specifications

Country of Origin: United States

Speed: 190 mph (310 km/h)

Armament: 1 Browning 30 caliber machine gun, 2 100 lb bombs or 325 lb depth charges

Range: 780 mi (1,260 km)

Max Takeoff Weight: Unverified

Powerplant: 1 Wright R-1820-54 Cyclone 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine

Service Ceiling: 20,000 ft (6,100 m)

Crew: 2

Length: 34 ft (10.36 m)

Wingspan: 39 ft (11.89 m)

Height: 13 ft 11 in (4.24 m)