F9F Panther

The Grumman F9F Panther was the manufacturer's first jet fighter and the US Navy's second. It first flew in 1947. Power 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.

Related Topics:
US Navy - 1947 - Rolls-Royce Nene - Pratt & Whitney - J42

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Multiple versions were produced:

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• F9F-2: first production version, J42 powered.
• F9F-2B: version fitted with underwing racks for bombs and rockets. All F9F-2's 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
• F9F-4: longer fuselage with greater fuel load, J33 powered. Most re-engined with J42s.
• 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.

Panthers served with distinction in the Korean War, downing five Mikoyan MiG-15s with no loss despite the MiG's superior performance. The type was the primary Navy jet fighter and ground-attack plane in the Korean conflict.

Related Topics:
Korean War - Mikoyan MiG-15

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Panthers were withdrawn from front-line service in 1956, but remained in training roles and with the reserves until 1958.

Related Topics:
1956 - 1958

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The only foreign buyer of the Panther was Argentina, who bought 24 ex-USN aircraft in 1958. The catapults on the then only Argentine carrier, ARA Independencia, were considered not powerful enough to launch the F9F, so the aircraft were based on land. They saw brief combat during the 1965 border clash between Argentina and Chile, and were taken out of service in 1969 because of lack of spare parts.

Related Topics:
Argentina - ARA ''Independencia'' - 1965 - 1969

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A swept-wing derivative of the Panther was later built, after concerns about the Panther's inferiority to its MiG opponents in Korea; this plane was the Grumman F9F Cougar.

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