UNITED STATES MILITARY AIRCRAFT by Jos Heyman

Navy

G Last update: 1 February 2015

G = AGA Aviation (1942)

LRG AGA Aviation Specifications: span: 108'6”, 33.07 m length: 57’, 17.37 m max. speed: 200 mph, 322 km/h

Model (Source: J.E.Mrazek "Kampfsegler im 2. Weltkrieg)

The XLRG-1 was a twin hulled amphibious glider based on a NAF design, with accommodation for a pilot and 12 troops in each hull. Development was ordered on 23 December 1941 and a 40% model flew with a civil registration. Two aircraft and a static test airframe were also ordered. Production was considered as LR2N but the programme was cancelled in 1943. Refer also to LRH and LR2N

G = Eberhart (1927-1928)

FG Eberhart Comanche Specifications: span: 28’9”, 8.76 m length: 27'3", 8.31 m engines: 1 Pratt & Whitney R-1340-C max. speed: 155 mph, 249 km/h

(Source: Jack McKillop, via 1000aircraftphotos.com photo #6861)

The Comanche was a single seat fighter. One XFG-1 was ordered by the US Navy with serial A-7944 and flew for the first time in June 1927. It was later converted as XF2G-1, with a larger wing and a single float. The FG designation was later used for the Goodyear licence built Corsair.

F2G Eberhart Specifications: span: 32', 9.75 m length: 27'3", 8.31 m engines: 1 Pratt & Whitney R-1340-D max. speed: 155 mph, 249 km/h

(Source: K.O. Eckland, via Aerofiles.com)

In January 1928 the XFG-1 with serial A-7944, was fitted with a single float and redesignated as XF2G-1. The aircraft was destroyed in March 1928. The F2G designation was later used for the Goodyear F2G development.

G = Goodyear (1942-1962)

FG Goodyear Corsair Specifications: span: 41', 12.50 m length: 33'4", 10.16 m engines: 1 Pratt & Whitney R-2800-8 max. speed: 314 mph, 505 km/h

(Source: US Navy)

The F4U Corsair was built in licence by Goodyear. The FG-1 version was similar to the F4U-1 and 1704 were supplied with serials 12992/14685 and 76139/76148. The first flight was on 25 February 1943. A number of these were converted to FG-1A standard before completion. The FG-1D version was identical to the F4U-1D and 2303 were built with serials 14686/14991, 67055/67099, 76149/76739, 87788/88453 and 92007/92701. Batches with serials 67100/67254 and 92701/93301 were cancelled. A number of FG-1s were converted with wing mounted radar pods as FG-1E whilst the FG-1K designation was assigned to target drone conversions of the FG-1. With the FG-2 designation not having been assigned, the FG-3 was used for 13 FG-1s converted to XF4U-3 standards with an XR-2800-1 engine. Serials included 76450. The FG-4 designation was applied to a proposed version similar to the F4U-4, with a length of 33'8", 10.26 m and a R-2800-18W engine. Production of 2371 aircraft with serials 67255/67754, 106876/107875 and 115729/116728 was cancelled. Refer also to F2G, F3A, F4U, AU

F2G Goodyear Specifications: span: 41', 12.50 m length: 33'9", 10.29 m engines: 1 Pratt & Whitney R-4360-4 max. speed: 340 mph, 547 km/h

(Source: Ray Cupri, via 1000aircraftphotos.com photo #12400)

The F2G was a development of the Corsair for which there was no Chance Vought equivalent although there is a reference to a XF4U-1M conversion. Two FG-1s and five FG-1Ds were converted as XF2G-1 prototypes. The first flight was in May 1944 and known serials include 12992, 13471, 13472 and 14691/14695. The aircraft was ordered in production in March 1944 as F2G-1 and F2G-2, the latter being a carrier version. As it was, this order was cut back in May 1945 and only five F2G-1s were completed with serials 88454/88458 whilst 413 with serials 88469/88871 were cancelled. Five F2G-2s were built with serials 88459/88463 with another five with serials 88464/88468 having been cancelled. Refer also to F3A, FG, AU, F4U

ZPG Goodyear N Specifications: length: 324', 98.76 m engines: 2 Wright R-1300-2 max. speed: 85 mph, 137 km/h

(Source: US Navy)

In 1954 the N class airship, which had been designated as ZPN and ZP2N (which were not aircraft designations) were redesignated as aircraft. A single ZPN-1 was redesignated as ZPG-1. The ZPG-2, with Wright R-1820 engines, was originally designated as ZP2N-1 and 9 were built with serials 126716, 135445/135448 and 141559/141562 and the first flight was on 20 March 1953. They had a length of 343’7”, 104.74 m. Batches with serials 126717/126719 and 144237/144238 were cancelled. Those remaining in service on 18 September 1962 were redesignated as SZ-1B. In February 1985 a surplus ZPG-2 was used by Piasecki in the PV-97 helistat experiment, attaching four modified Sikorsky SH-34Js to the airship. This was a non-military experiment. The ZPG-2W was originally designated as ZP2N-1W and five were built with serials 137832, 139918, 141334/141335 and 141563. On 18 September 1962 those remaining in service were redesignated as EZ-1B. The ZPG-3W had a length of 403', 122.83 m and was powered by 2 Wright R-1820-88 and had a speed of 90 mph, 145 km/h. Four were built with serials 144242/144243 and 146296/146297 and the first flight was on 21 July 1958. Those remaining in service on 18 September 1962 were redesignated as EZ-1C. Associated Goodyear model numbers were GZ-9 (for ZPG-1), GZ-11 (for ZPG-2), GZ-14 (for ZPG-2W) and GZ-17 (for ZPG-3W). Refer also to Z-1

ZSG Goodyear K Specifications: length: 257'7", 78.51 m engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney R-1340- max. speed: 75 mph, 120 km/h

(Source: US Navy)

In 1954 the K class airship, which were preliminary used for anti-submarine duties, were redesignated as aircraft. The designation ZSG-1 was not used, whilst ZSG-2 applied to a number of ZP5Ks and ZSG-3 to a number of ZP3Ks. The designation ZSG-4 was assigned to 15 airships with a length of 266', 81.08m, R-1340-46 engines and a max. speed of 80 mph, 129 km/h. They had serials 131919/131926 and 134019/134025 and were originally designated as ZP4K. The first flight was in December 1953. A batch with serials 134026/134034 was cancelled. The designation XZSG-4 was in 1954 assigned to XZP4K-1 and carried serial 133639. The ZPxK designations referred to above, were not aircraft designations. The associated Goodyear model number were GZ-6 (for ZSG-1), GZ-10 (for ZSG-2 and -3) and GZ-12 for ZSG-4.

ZS2G Goodyear GZ-13 Specifications: length: 285', 86.87 m engines: 2 Wright R-1300-4 max. speed: 85 mph, 137 km/h

(Source: US Navy)

Originally designated as ZP5K (which was not an aircraft designation), these anti-submarine airships were redesignated as aircraft in 1954. One XZS2G-1 was built with serial 137811 and the first flight was on 22 July 1954. It was ordered as ZP5K-1. The production version was ZS2G-1 of which 18 were built with serials 137486/137490, 141564/141570, 144239/144241 and 146294/146295. One airship with serials 137491 was cancelled.

ZWG Goodyear GZ-16 Specifications: length: engines: max. speed: The designation ZWG-1 was used for an initial proposal for an AEW airship. It was not built.

G = Great Lakes (1929 - 1936)

BG Great Lakes Specifications: span: 36', 10.97 m length: 28'9", 8.76 m engines: 1 Pratt & Whitney R-1535-82 max. speed: 188 mph, 302 km/h

(Source: US Navy)

The BG design was a tandem seat dive bomber based on the BuAer design 110 and built in competition with the B2Y design. One XBG-1, fitted with a R-1535-64 engine, was ordered in June 1932 with serial 9220. This was followed by 60 BG-1 production aircraft in November 1933 with serials 9494/9520, 9534/9550 and 9840/9855. A number of these, incl. 9512, were used as drone aircraft in 1942.

B2G Great Lakes Specifications: span: 36', 10.97 m length: 28'9", 8.76 m engines: 1 Pratt & Whitney R-1535-82 max. speed: 188 mph, 302 km/h

(Source: US Navy)

Basically a BG with a deeper fuselage, an internal bomb bay and a retractable undercarriage, one XB2G-1 was built with serial 9722. It was eventually transferred to the USMC as a command transport.

SG Great Lakes Specifications: span: 35’, 10.67 m length: 32’7”, 9.93 m engines: 1 Pratt & Whitney R-985A max. speed: 124 mph, 200 km/h

(Source: US Navy, via Aerofiles.com)

Based on the BuAer design 106, the XSG-1 was a two seat amphibious biplane of which one was ordered on 30 June 1931 with serial A-8974. The first flight was on 15 September 1932 but the aircraft proved to be overweight and performance deficient and further development was suspended.

TG Great Lakes Specifications: span: 53', 16.15 m length: 35'3", 10.74 m engines: 1 Pratt & Whitney R-1690-28 max. speed: 127 mph, 204 km/h

(Source: William T. Larkins)

Following the acquisition of Martin’s Cleveland plant, Great Lakes continued to build the T4M design as TG-1 and TG-2. Of the former 18 were built with serials A-8458/8475. The TG-2 version, which was previously designated as TE-1 and had been ordered with Detroit, was fitted with a Wright R-1820-26 engine. 32 were built with serials A-8697/8728. Refer also to TE, T4M

TBG Great Lakes Devastator Specifications: span: 50', 15.24 m length: 35', 10.67 m engines: 1 Pratt & Whitney XR-1830-60 max. speed: 150 mph, 241 km/h

(Source: US Navy)

A three seat bi-plane torpedo bomber, one example of the XTBG-1 was built with serial 9723. The first flight was on 20 August 1935.

G = Gyrodyne (1960)

HOG Gyrodyne Specifications: rdm: 15', 4.57 m length: 11'1", 3.38 m engines: 1 Nelson H-59 max. speed: 68 mph, 109 km/h The XHOG-1 was a one-man observation helicopter which was later redesignated as XRON-1. Refer also to RON