Grumman F9F's, from the factory to the field ...

[Mark Allen M]

One of the best looking early jet types ever created IMHO. Dad flew a few of them in his hayday. Sorry if these photos have been posted before. Source NMNA archives, SDASM archives, my own stuff. (and I'm going to give credit to armyjunk's great sticky above as I'm sure I've seen them posted there as well)
Additionally many of these photos are posted here with descriptions that I foolishly didn't provide.
http://navypilotoverseas.wordpress.com/ ... orea-1953/

... and I'm going to make one more edit of this first post as I'm only an amateur here and not a professional so I'm just another student desiring to learn
It looks to me as if the assembly photos are Grumman F9F panthers and several photos in the later posts are a mix of Panthers and Cougars.

Part 1

Last edited by Mark Allen M on Mon Apr 21, 2014 5:45 pm, edited 4 times in total.

[Mark Allen M]

Part 2

[Mark Allen M]

Part 3

[Mark Allen M]

Part 4


F9F-6 Cougar of Fighter Squadron (VF) 51 pictured on the flight line at Naval Air Station (NAS) Miramar, California.



F9F-2 Panthers of Marine Fighter Squadron (VMF) 314 pictured in right echelon formation.


F9F-2B
Panthers of Fighter Squadrons (VF) 831 and 837 pictured with an F9F-2P
Panther of Composite Squadron (VC) 61 ad they return to the carrier
Antietam (CV 36)


F9F-2 Panthers of Fighter Squadron (VF) 151 fly over the carrier Wasp (CVA 18) c 1955


An F8U-1 Crusader (VF) 32, F3H-2M Demon (VF) 31, F9F-8P Cougar of
Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (VFP) 62, and A4D-1 Skyhawk (VA) 34
off the carrier Saratoga (CVA 60) in flight, 1957.


An F8U-1 Crusader (VF) 32, F3H-2M Demon (VF) 31, F9F-8P Cougar of
Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (VFP) 62, and A4D-1 Skyhawk (VA) 34
off the carrier Saratoga (CVA 60) in flight, 1957-2

[Mark Allen M]

Part 5


F9F-2B Panther of VF-93 on the ground at K-1 Korea


F9F-2 Panther of VF-51 from the USS Essex CV-9 over Korea


F9F-2 Panther of VF-51 goes through maintenance at K-1 in Korea


F9F-2 Panther of VF-112 on the deck of the USS Philippine Sea CV-47 off Korea


F9F-2P Panther of VC-61 on the USS Antietam CV-36 being recovered after flying over Korea


F9F-2B Panthers of Fighter Squadron VF-831 pictured launching from Antietam (CV36) for missions over Korea as seen from the carriers island


F9F-2B Panthers of Fighter Squadron VF-831 with towbars attached to their front wheels spotted on the deck of the carrier Antietam CV36 during a break in flight operations


F9F-2B Panthers before catapult launch from the carrier Antietam


F9F-2B Panther roars off the deck of the carrier Antietam CV26 with fuel visible spraying from the starboard tip tank

[Mark Allen M]

Part 6


F9F-2PantherofFighterSquadronVF831followingitsreturntothecarrierAntietamCVA36followingacombatmissionoverKorea-battle-damage-1


F9F-2PantherofFighterSquadronVF831followingitsreturntothecarrierAntietamCVA36followingacombatmissionoverKorea-battle-damage-1


F9F-2Panther-VF831


F9F-2BPanthersassignedtoFighterSquadronsVF831and837astheyreadytolaunchfromthecarrierAntietamCVA36forastrikeoverKorea


F9F-2BPantherassignedtoFighterSquadronVF837picturedjustaftertakingthecuttorecoveronboardthecarrierAntietam


F9F-2BPantherassignedtoFighterSquadronVF837trapsonboardthecarrierAntietam


F9F-2BPanthersdumpfuelpriortocommencingtheirapproachesforrecoveryonboardthecarrierAntietam-51

[fnqvmuch]

Thanks again Mark, interesting and unseen for me anyway; any ideas how many quite different wings were applied on the basic F9F airframe? Is it a record?

[Snake45]

Thanks again Mark, interesting and unseen for me anyway; any ideas how many quite different wings were applied on the basic F9F airframe? Is it a record?

I think it would be three. I believe all the straight wings were basically the same, with fences and slight intake changes on the -4/-5. Then there was the swept -6, and then the swept, but much modified wings of the -8.

The record might be held by the F-86 Sabre. All Sabre wings look pretty much the same at first glance, but there was an almost bewildering array of differences--slatted, unslatted, 6-3s, extended, and all sorts of combinations thereof. (I should know them all--I've certainly read enough about them--but damned if I can keep them straight in my head.)

And if the Sabre doesn't hold the record, then the Spitfire probably does.

[fnqvmuch]

Thought about the Spitfire but decide the 'morphing' might have been profound enough to call it a different basis ...
i.e. more than the usual evolutionary stuff; razorback-deletion, fillet-addition, fuselage-extension etc., etc. ?
Wings aside, I would not fancy scratch-building a Mk XXI from a early model kit ...

Last edited by fnqvmuch on Mon Apr 21, 2014 8:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Snake45]

Thought about the Spitfire but decide the 'morphing' might have been profound enough to call it a different basis ...
i.e. more than the usual evolutionary stuff; razorback-deletion, fillet-addition, fuselage-extension etc., etc. ?

Very interesting point, which boils down to: When did the Spitfire stop being a Spitfire?

There's no denying that the Seafire 47 was a very different airplane from a Spitfire MK I or II.

I think the family line runs pretty strong through the MK IX/XVI.

A basically new wing was introduced on, what, the 21 or 22?

So it might be considered that the "big change" came somewhere in the XIV through 20 (with the Griffon engine).

Yeah, the Spit is an interesting case. Very evolutionary airplane.

[Mark Allen M]

Thanks dudes on the F9F wing information, fascinating stuff. The Inspector's (Bill) presence is certainly missed in these type of conversations. That fellas sure missed around here.

Señor Snake your a nice addition to this website, thanks for sharing some good stuff. It's been great reading the input from you and Ken in the Skyraider thread as well, even though most of your conversation has been far over my head. Great job and welcome. Keep up the great work.

M

[SaxMan]

Great pics. Thanks for posting and sharing.

I still believe our first and second generation jets are woefully under-represented, even as static displays, let alone flying ones. I can understand that the lack of available and reliable engines would be a severe hindrance to getting these planes airworthy, but I think we could give restorers are certain amount of latitude with substituting a more modern and reliable engine. I think the trade off of seeing one fly versus authenticity is a worthwhile one. A flying first generation jet would have much more impact than one collecting dust with an authentic, but non-airworthy engine.

[Flat 12x2]

I've always loved the film 'The Bridges at Toko-Ri' because of the aircraft in it.(and Grace Kelly )

[Mr. Scott]

Thank you much for the great photos!

[sandiego89]

Some great photos Mark, especially like the shots showing the engine changes etc in the field in Korea.

About Panther wings, why did they not fold past the vertical? Seems if they designed in a few more degrees of fold it would be much easier to park on deck or in the hanger- ie get more of them closer together. Perhaps there was a hangar ceiling height issue on the Essex class? Always wondered. Ideas?