Grumman Kitten

Kitten
G-72 Kitten
Role Cabin monoplane
National origin United States
Manufacturer Grumman
Designer Dayton T. Brown
First flight 1944
Number built 2


The Grumman Kitten was a 1940s American cabin monoplane designed and built by Grumman. Two versions were built; the G-63 Kitten I with a retractable tailwheel landing gear, and G-72 Kitten II with a retractable nosewheel landing gear.

Development

In 1943, as part of the postwar plan for the company, Grumman started looking at entering the light aircraft market. The first design was the G-63 Kitten I which was an all-metal two/three-seat cabin monoplane with a retractable tailwheel landing gear and powered by a Lycoming O-290 piston engine. The aircraft first flew on 18 March 1944. Although testing continued, the aircraft did not enter production due to the continuing war effort. The original wing was replaced by a ducted mainplane to improve the lift/drag ration. On 4 February 1946, a version with a retractable nosewheel landing gear and dual controls, the G-72 Kitten II was flown. The Kitten II also has improvements to the wing and the single vertical tail was changed to twin fins, although it reverted to a single fin before it was flown.

In 1947, the G-72 was modified for ducted-wing testing as the G-81, it was fitted with slotted flaps to induce slow flight. It was first flown on 11 February 1947, but the project was abandoned.

Variants

G-63 Kitten I
Prototype with retractable tailwheel landing gear, one built.
G-72 Kitten II
Prototype with retractable nosewheel landing gear and dual controls, one built.
G-81
G-72 modified for ducted-wing tests.

Specifications (G-63 Kitten I)

Data from [1]

General characteristics

Performance


References

Notes
  1. Oribis 1985, page 2037
  2. aerofiles.com
Bibliography

External links

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