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.

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

Date stricken from inventory – 27 July 1959

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

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