F9F Panther
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| F9F Panther | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Fighter-bomber |
| Manufacturer | Grumman |
| Maiden flight | 24 November 1947 |
| Retired | 1958, U.S. Navy 1969, Argentina |
| Primary users |  United States Navy United States Marine CorpsImage:Naval Jack of Argentina.svg Argentine Navy |
| Variants | F9F Cougar |
The Grumman F9F Panther was the manufacturer's first jet fighter and the U.S. Navy's second.
Contents |
[edit] Design and development
Development studies at the Grumman company began near the end of the World War II as the first jet engines emerged. The prototype Panther, piloted by test pilot Corky Meyer, first flew on 24 November 1947. Propulsion was a Rolls-Royce Nene turbojet built under license by Pratt & Whitney as the J42. Since there was insufficient space within the wings and fuselage for fuel for the thirsty jet, permanently-mounted wingtip fuel tanks were added. It was cleared for flight from aircraft carriers in September 1949. During the development phase, Grumman decided to change the Panther's engine, selecting the Pratt & Whitney J48-P-2, a license built version of the Rolls-Royce Tay. The other engine that had been tested was the Allison J33-A-16, a development of the Rolls-Royce Derwent.
[edit] Operational service
F9F-2s, F9F-3s and F9F-5s served with distinction in the Korean War, downing six Mikoyan MiG-15s with one F9F loss. The first MiG-15 downed was on 9 November 1950 by U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander William (Bill) Amen of VF-111 "Sundownders" Squadron flying an F9F-2B. Three more were downed in November 1951, and the other two were downed on the 18 November 1952. The type was the primary Navy jet fighter and ground-attack plane in the Korean conflict.
Panthers were withdrawn from front-line service in 1956, but remained in training roles and with Reserve units until 1958.
The only foreign buyer of the Panther was the Argentine Navy, who bought 24 ex-USN aircraft in 1958. The catapults on the then only Argentine carrier, ARA Independencia (V-1), were considered not powerful enough to launch the F9F, so the aircraft were land-based.
The Argentine Panthers were involved in the general mobilization during the 1965 border clash between Argentina and Chile but no combat occured. They were taken out of service in 1969 due to the lack of spare parts and replaced with A-4Q Skyhawks.
[edit] Variants
- XF9F-2: the first two prototypes
- XF9F-3: the third prototype
- F9F-2: first production version, J42 powered.
- F9F-2B: version fitted with underwing racks for bombs and rockets. All F9F-2s were eventually so modified, and the B designation was dropped.
- F9F-2P: unarmed photographic reconnaissance version used in Korea
- F9F-3: Allison J33 powered version produced as insurance against the failure of the J42, 54 built. All converted to J42 power later
- XF9F-4: Prototype used in the development of the F9F-4.
- F9F-4: longer fuselage with greater fuel load, J33 powered. Most re-engined with J42s. F9F-4s were the first aircraft to successfully employ blown air, extracted from between the engine´s compressor and combustion chambers, to energise the slot flaps, thus achieving a decrease in stalling speed of 9kt for takeoff and 7kt on power approach for landing.
- F9F-5: As -4, but Pratt & Whitney J48 (Rolls-Royce Tay built under licence) powered. 616 built.
- F9F-5P: unarmed photo-reconnaissance version, 36 built, longer nose.
- F9F-5KD: After the F9F Panther was withdrawn operational service, a number of F9F-5s were converted into unmanned target drone aircraft. Redesignated DF-9E in 1962.
[edit] Continued development
After concerns about the Panther's inferiority to its MiG opponents in Korea, a swept-wing derivative of the Panther, the Grumman F9F Cougar, was developed.
[edit] The Panther in film
The Panther played a prominent role in the 1954 movie Men of the Fighting Lady. It was also used for the flying sequences in the 1955 movie The Bridges at Toko-Ri, although in the 1953 James A. Michener novel upon which the movie was based the main character flew an F2H Banshee, not a Panther.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Specifications (F9F-2 Panther)
General characteristics<h3>
- Crew: 1
- Length: 37 ft 5 in (11.3 m)
- Wingspan: 38 ft 0 in (11.6 m)
- Height: 11 ft 4 in (3.8 m)
- Wing area: 250 ft² (23.2 m²)
- Empty weight: 9,303 lb (4,220 kg)
- Loaded weight: 14,235 lb (6,456 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 16,450 lb (7,462 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Pratt & Whitney J42-P-6/P-8 turbojet, 5,000 lbf dry; 5,950 lbf with water injection (22.2 kN / 26.5 kN)
<h3>Performance<h3>
- Maximum speed: 575 mph (925 km/h)
- Range: 1,300 mi (2,092 km)
- Service ceiling: 44,600 ft (13,594 m)
- Rate of climb: 5,140 ft/min (26.1 m/s)
- Wing loading: 71 lb/ft² (kg/m²)
- Thrust/weight: 0.42
<h3>Armament<h3>
- 4x 20 mm M2 cannon (190 rounds per gun, 760 rounds total)
- 2,000 lb (907 kg) of bombs or 6x 5 in (127 mm) rockets on underwing hardpoints
[edit] Related content
Related development<h3>
<h3>Comparable aircraft<h3> <h3>Designation sequence<h3>- Pre-1962: F6F - F7F - F8F - F9F - F10F - F11F - F12F
- Post-1962: F-6 - F-7 - F-8 - F-9 - F-10 - F-11 - YF-12
