Grumman Panther
Model Airplane News Cover Art for April, 1948
by Jo Kotula
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The Grumman F9F Panther was the most widely used U.S. Navy jet fighter of the Korean War. It flew 78,000 sorties. A total of 1,382 "Panthers" were produced, and several variants were exported to Argentina.

Grumman F9F "Panther"
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The prototype Panther first flew in 1947. The permanently-mounted wingtip fuel tanks contrinute to the distinctive appearance of the Panther but are necessary because there was insufficient space within the wings and fuselage for fuel. It was cleared for flight from aircraft carriers in September 1949. here is a historical documentary on the Grumman Panther:

After combat showed the Panther's inferiority to its MiG opponents in Korea, the airplane evolved to a swept-wing derivative called the the Grumman F9F "Cougar". Carrier operations featuring the "Panther" are shown in the film The Bridges of Toko Ri>

In addition to the cover of Model Airplane News, this airplane was also featured in the WINGS "Friend or Foe" trading card series of the early 1950s

Trading card representation of the Grumman F9F "Panther"
Click Here to see all 200 cards in the series
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Cleveland made a "Simplex" model of the Panther.

  

Cleveland Model of the Grumman F9F Panther
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You can buy the plans and patterns that will enable you to make this model right now. Click Here to go to the exact location on the Cleveland Website to get them.

  

F9F "Panther" at the Cleveland Site
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