Warbird Information Exchange

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...

_________________
Zane Adams
There I was at 20,000 ft, upside down and out of ammunition.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Join us for the Texas Warbird Report on WarbirdRadio.com!
http://www.facebook.com/WarbirdRadio
Listen at http://www.warbirdradio.com

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

_________________
1942 Dodge WC-51 Weapons Carrier
I am a reenactor, have been since the early 1980s, and I am an aviation enthusiast, PILOT, A&P mechanic, and military vehicle owner. I have restored cars, trucks, and antique radios. These are MY hobbies- What are YOURS?.

possibly for the nine lives toughness ?

_________________
Remember, the propeller is only there to keep the pilot cool.If you don't believe me, have it stop and watch the pilot start sweating!

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

_________________
"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

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

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

_________________
IndyJen

------------------------------

Support "Hot Stuff"
Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon of the
American Military Heritage Foundation
http://www.amhf.org

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

_________________
Those who possess real knowledge are rare.

Those who can set that knowledge into motion in the physical world are rarer still.

The few who possess real knowledge and can set it into motion of their own hands are the rarest of all.

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

I guess it's rubbing off ...

_________________
IndyJen

------------------------------

Support "Hot Stuff"
Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon of the
American Military Heritage Foundation
http://www.amhf.org

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

_________________
*When you meet a Veteran shake his or her hand and thank them. They earned your freedom*

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

_________________
Mark Morris

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

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

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

_________________
Mike

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,

_________________
James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

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

_________________
"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

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..

_________________
Those who possess real knowledge are rare.

Those who can set that knowledge into motion in the physical world are rarer still.

The few who possess real knowledge and can set it into motion of their own hands are the rarest of all.