Academy 12363 1/48 USN XF5F-1 Skyrocket

Experimental twin-engine carrier fighter aircraft developed by Grumman for the U.S. Navy in the late 1930s.

Powered by two Wright R-1820 Cyclone counter-rotating radial engines, the Skyrocket’s top speed was 358 mph and could climb 10,000 ft in just over four minutes. During diving tests the Skyrocket reached a speed of 485 mph.

One prototype was built and its first flight was on April 1st 1940. At the time it was the Navy’s largest fighter, with a wingspan of 42 ft and length just under 29 ft.

The unique Skyrocket served for research purposes until being dismantled after an accident in late 1944.

The reissue kit by Academy includes parts for the early truncated-nose & short engine nacelles and the late long-nose & extended engine nacelles, originally released by Minicraft as two separate kits.