Grumman F9F Panther/Cougar: First Grumman Cat of the Jet Age. Dieser Artikel ist nicht verfügbar.Grumman F9F Panther/Cougar: First Grumman Cat of the Jet Age

By the end of World War II, piston-powered fighters were at their absolute zenith. As good as those airplanes were America's aviation industry found itself starting over in the Jet Age with new airplanes powered by anemic and somewhat cantankerous turbine engines. More importantly, just as these new aircraft were maturing, they were thrust into war in the skies over Korea. Grumman's first jets were potent aircraft in their own right, but they also proved to be the building blocks from which two more famous Grumman 'cats' were born - the legendary A-6 Intruder and supersonic F-14 Tomcat.

Grumman F9F Panther/Cougar tells the story of the pivotal F9F Panther from its initial concept through early design and manufacturing, flight test, aircraft carrier trials, and combat operations in the Korean War. Completing this story is coverage of the more advanced swept-wing transonic Cougar that goes on to become an effective trainer and photo-recon aircraft as well. Detailed appendices provide the reader with complete data on F9F production numbers, carrier deployments, and squadron histories.

As good as U.S. piston-powered fighters may have been at the end of World War II, America’s aviation industry had to start over in the Jet Age with new airplanes powered by anemic and somewhat cantankerous turbine engines. More importantly, before these airplanes had a chance to mature, they were thrust into war in the ominous skies over Korea. With more than 3,300 built, Grumman’s first jets proved to be not only potent combat aircraft, but also served as the seminal building blocks from which two more Grumman legends were born—the famed Vietnam-era A-6 Intruder and the supersonic Gulf War veteran F-14 Tomcat. Grumman F9F Panther/Cougar tells the story of the F9F series, from initial concept through early design and manufacturing, flight test, aircraft carrier trials, and combat operations during the Korean War. Panthers scored a total of nine aerial kills, which included the first downing of a MiG-15 by a Navy jet. Also covered is the more advanced swept-wing, transonic F9F-6 Cougar that went on to become an effective photo-recon aircraft and two-seat trainer. The Navy’s famed Blue Angels Aerial Demonstration Team flew both the Panther and Cougar as well. This book’s detailed appendices provide the reader with comprehensive data on all F9F production numbers, combat deployments, and individual squadron designations.