|
|
Ordered as the US Navy's First monoplane fighter, the F2A first flew as the XF2A-1 prototype in January 1938. Following 1938 the F2A-1s were produced and entered service in July 1939 with a 940hp R-1820-34 engine. The F2A-1 was followed by the F2A-2s, which had an upgraded engine. The F2A-2 was succeeded by the F2A-3s, which had more armor and a longer nose. The F2A was generally unsuccessful in American service, but it was still ordered by other countries, like Finland (the only country that achieved any major success with it), Belgium, UK, Australia and the Netherlands.
|