Why did Grumman name their fighters after types of cats??

[Ztex]

Panther, Cougar, Cheetah, Jaguar

But then there is the Guardian, Tracker, Trader, Greyhound, Avenger and Intruder...all rather utilitarian in their jobs and names...

I've always found aircraft and automobile naming interesting...my wife says its a guy thing...

[Robbie Roberts]

I think it probably just followed "Wildcat", and then "Hellcat".... Just sorta seemed the thing to do at the time!
Robbie

[JOHN MILLER]

possibly for the nine lives toughness ?

[Jerry O'Neill]

Except for the Cheetah, the Cats are all fighters. Bombers and ASW/AW A/C have names that are appropriate for their jobs.
Jerry

[marine air]

Because all the good "Moth" names were already taken! You know, Tiger moth, puss moth, fox moth, Gypsy moth, etc.

[IndyJen]

Except for the Cheetah, the Cats are all fighters. Bombers and ASW/AW A/C have names that are appropriate for their jobs.
Jerry

And the Tiger. And the Cougar.

When Grumman bought the GA line from American Aviation in ... 1974, I think it was, they changed the names to "cat" names immediately--the four-seat Traveler became the Cheetah, and after being up-engined to 180hp, it became the Tiger. Very minor changes to the airframe, but having that "Grumman" nameplate was a very big deal.

Grumman owned and produced the line for some years, and then sold off the design to Gulfstream, and it's since been sold again. But owners of any of those planes, manufactured by whoever, all refer to them as "Grummans," because there's a cachet there that can't be beat.

IndyJen
AA-5 Traveler ... but a Grumman nevertheless ... N5843L

[ZRX61]

When Grumman bought the GA line from American Aviation in ... 1974, I think it was, they changed the names to "cat" names immediately--the four-seat Traveler became the Cheetah, and after being up-engined to 180hp, it became the Tiger. Very minor changes to the airframe, but having that "Grumman" nameplate was a very big deal.

"up-engined"??? Have you been hanging out at UK msg boards???

[IndyJen]

Ach. I write overhaul manuals for Rolls-Royce for a living.

I guess it's rubbing off ...

[B-25 C]

UH Because they could Or they didn't know any dog names. Or bird names. and on on on on on

[corsair166b]

In response to 'Don't cats hate water?"...

I offer this...



And yes, he goes fishing and camping with me regularly....really does'nt mind the water...photo taken on the Thompson river in Rocky Mountain Nat'l park

Mark

[Garth]

Maybe because Chihuahua, Pekinese, Schnauzer, and Bassett Hound didn't exactly strike terror in the enemy.

Maybe "Beagle" would, considering the savage variety that's terrorizing parts of Long Island:

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/sava ... 9rKgTI8VEN

[bluehawk15]

I know "Beagle" would strike fear into the heart of the Red Barron! Go Snoopy, WWI Flying Ace!!

[JDK]

It's one of those interesting 'easy' seeming questions that evidently isn't easy to answer!

Wildcat was the first we know of, I think, and therefore the key to the question, I'd suggest.

Neither 'Sea Sky & Stars A history of Grumman', nor Eric Brown's account of the type in his 'Wings of the Navy' mention why it was named Wildcat.

Initially, of course, it wasn't (as far as I can see). The French ordered examples (none delivered to France) weren't named and generally the French used alpha-numeric designations. The Royal Navy called it a particularly stuffy name - 'Martlet' as we've discussed before. This was all before it entered USN use, although I've no solid details as to when and who (Grumman or the USN or someone else) chose the Wildcat name.

Wiki says: "The name "Wildcat" was officially adopted on 1 October 1941." without a source. The Royal Navy had been using the French ordered examples and their own for about a year as "Martlets" by then.

All sources seem to agree it was the first of the 'feline' names, and subsequently it appears Grumman applied a cat name to the fighters, and as IndyJen's touched on, traded on that fighter branding with the G/A things too.

An interesting one, and I'm certainly curious as to the answer too!

Regards,

[Jerry O'Neill]

Except for the Cheetah, the Cats are all fighters. Bombers and ASW/AW A/C have names that are appropriate for their jobs.
Jerry

And the Tiger. And the Cougar.

But there was first an F9F Cougar and an F11F Tiger before the Grumman American Line was bought.
Jerry

[ZRX61]

Maybe because Chihuahua, Pekinese, Schnauzer, and Bassett Hound didn't exactly strike terror in the enemy.

Well, that would be more frightening than naming them after rodents... Grumman Chincilla??? I think someone needs to use the names of various Muppets... Lockheed Waldorf.. Boeing Stadtler...Avro Animal.... Percival Miss Piggy....Grumman Gonzo..