F9F Panther/Cougar

The Grumman F9F Panther and its swept‑wing successor, the F9F Cougar, were the first jet fighters to enter service with the United States Navy after World War II. Developed from the experimental XP-79 and XF9F-1 prototypes, the straight‑wing Panther first flew in 1947 and saw extensive combat during the Korean War, where its rugged airframe, eight‑inch cannon and four 20 mm rockets proved highly effective against North Korean ground targets and MiG‑15s. In 1952 Grumman introduced the Cougar, redesigning the Panther with a 35‑degree swept wing, larger tail surfaces and more powerful Allison J33 or J35 engines, which dramatically increased speed to over 600 mph and improved high‑altitude performance. Both types featured tricycle landing gear, all‑metal construction, and could carry a variety of bombs, rockets and early air‑to‑air missiles. The Panther/Cougar series marked the Navy’s transition from propeller‑driven fighters to jet propulsion, establishing carrier‑based jet operations and influencing later designs such as the F9F-6/7 “Fury” and the F-4 Phantom. Their combat record, ease of maintenance, and pioneering carrier‑landing techniques solidified Grumman’s reputation and left a lasting legacy in post‑war military aviation. The aircraft remains a celebrated subject among historians and vintage jet enthusiasts.

Grumman

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