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Grumman F9F-5 Panther
Grumman F9F-5 Panther (US Navy BuNo 126226)
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This aircraft flew combat missions over North Korea with US Navy Fighter Squadron VF-51, the Screaming Eagles, from 2 January until 5 March 1953, when it was damaged in a barrier engagement during a carrier landing. VF-51 was attached to Carrier Air Group FIVE aboard the USS VALLEY FORGE (CVA-45).

Combat Air Museum recovered the Panther in derelict condition in June-August 1983 from an open storage silo in a rural area near Elkton, MN. RRS Aviation, Hawkins, Texas restored it to its former VF-51 markings from August 2001 to September 2002.

The first entry on BuNo 126226’s History Card is October 14, 1952. The US Navy accepted the aircraft from its manufacturer, Grumman aircraft Engineering Corporation, Bethpage, Long Island, New York on this date.

This Aircraft is on loan from the National Museum of Naval Aviation Pensacola, Florida

Other Assignments:

 
Fleet Aircraft Services Squadron (FASRON) 7 – San Diego, California
 
FASRON 11 – Atsugi, Japan
 
Overhaul & Repair Bureau of Aeronautics Maintenance & Repair – Alameda, California
 
FASRON 10 - Moffett Field, California
 
USN Fighter Squadron VF-93 – Alameda, California
 
USN Fighter Squadron VF-154 – Moffett Field, California and USS YORKTOWN (CVA-10)
 
FASRON 117 – Barbers Point, Hawaii
 
US Marine Corps Attack Squadron VMA-323 – El Toro, California
 
Naval Air Reserve Training – Naval Air Station Minneapolis, Minnesota
 
This was BuNo 126226’ last assignment
27 July 1959
Stricken from inventory
   
TECHNICAL NOTES:

Manufacturer:
Grumman
Basic Role:
US Navy carrier-based fighter/bomber. Also flown from land bases by US Marines
Crew:
One
Engines:
One 6,250 lb (28.4kN) static thrust Pratt & Whitney J48-P-6A centrifugal-flow turbojet.
Maximum speed:
604 mph (972km/hr) at sea level
Cruising Speed:
481 mph (776km/hr)
Max. Range:
1,300 miles (2,097km)
Initial climb:
5,090 ft/min (1,551m/min)
Service ceiling:
42,800 ft (13,045m)
Wingspan:
38 ft (11.58m)
Length:
38 ft 10 in (11.85m)
Height:
12 ft. 4 in (3.76m)
Wing Area:
250 sq ft (23.23sq. m)
Weight (empty):
10,147 lb. (4,603kg)
Weight (gross):
18,721 lb. (8,492kg)
Armament:
Four fixed forward-firing 20mm guns with 190 rounds per gun. Each wing rack could carry a 5-inch (12.7cm) rocket or up to a 500 lb. (227kg) bomb
Serial number:
US Navy BuNo 126226

Grumman F9F-5 Panther

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