Description

The F9F Panther entered service in 1949. It was the first Grumman jet fighter, the first Carrier-Borne Navy jet fighter in combat, the 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.

• 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