Air Power Series>1:48 die-cast display model>F9F>HA7209

General Background

The F9F Panther entered service in 1949. It was the first Grumman jet fighter, first Carrier-Borne Navy jet fighter in combat, first USN jet to shoot down an enemy airplane, first jet aircraft used by the Blue Angels. A total of 1,382 F9Fs were made. VF-781 was the first squadron to volunteer for combat in Korea and were 100% volunteers earning them the name “Pacemakers”. The F9F flew 78,000 sorties with VF-781 flying 2,721 of them without a single loss of life. The Panther was removed from front-line service in 1956

The Aircraft

In late 1950 VF-111 “The Sundowners” took their F9F-2B Panthers to Korea aboard the USS Philippine Sea (CV-47). On November 9, 1950 VF-111 Lt. CMDR William Amen was the lead aircraft providing support to F4U Corsairs and AD-4 Skyraiders when five MiG-15s were encountered. During that encounter Amen became the first person to ever record a jet-to-jet victory. VF-111 was later upgraded to the F9F-5 Panther and completed more cruises on the USS Valley Forge, USS Boxer and USS Lake Champlain.

Specifications :

Crew:	1
Performance:	Engine – (1) Pratt & Whitney J48-P-4/P-6A turbojet @ 6,250 lb.s.t.
	Internal fuel capacity - 1,003 US gallons
	Maximum speed - 604 mph @ sea level, 579 mph @ 5,000 ft, 543 mph @ 3,500 ft
	Cruising speed - 481 mph
	Stalling speed - 132 mph
	Initial climb rate - 5,090 fpm
	Service ceiling - 42,800 ft.
	Range - 1,300 miles.
Dimensions:	Wingspan - 38 ft 0 in
	Length - 38 ft 10 1/2 in
	Height - 12 ft 4 in
	Wing area - 250 sq ft
Weights:	Empty - 10,147 lbs
	Gross - 17,766 lbs
	Maximum takeoff - 18,721 lbs
Armament:	(4) 20-mm cannon in the nose
	(8) Under wing hard points could accommodate up to 3,465 lbs. of bombs and rockets