F9F-2P Panther USN VC-61 PP/154 "LOOK (1:48)

The F9F Panther was Grumman’s first jet fighter. The aircraft needed a more powerful engine so a Rolls Royce “Nene” was made under license in the US. Ironically Russia was also making this engine under license for their Mig-15 that would be one of the F9F’s main Korean adversaries. There were 101 F9F-2s produced including the F9F-2P aerial reconnaissance variant. The Panther flew over 78,000 sorties in Korea and the Panther became the first carrier jet to engage a jet-powered enemy, a MIG-15 that lost the duel.

The F9F-2P aerial reconnaissance version of the Panther had the 4 x 20mm nose guns replaced with cameras leaving them defenseless. Wearing white letters PP on the tail and wings VC-61, “Eyes of the Fleet” were assigned this task during the Korean Conflict. VC-61 flew over enemy territory, took pictures and returned them to be analyzed. Armed aircraft would deploy to destroy the targets and once more VC-61 Panthers would fly over the target taking pictures so the extent of damage could be determined. VC-61 lost 4 pilots while performing their duty.

Specifications F9F-2 Panther

Crew: 1

Dimensions:
Length – 37 ft 5 in (11.3 m)
Wingspan – 38 ft 0 in (11.6 m)
Wing area – 250 ft sq (23 m sq)
Height – 11 ft 4 in (3.8 m)

Weight:
Empty – 9,303 lb (4,220 kg)
Loaded – 14,235 lb (6,456 kg)
Max takeoff – 16,450 lb (7,462 kg)

Engine:
1 X Pratt & Whitney J-42-P-6/P-8 turbojet
Engine thrust – 5,950 lbf (26.5 kN) with water injection

Performance:
Max speed – 500 kt (575 mph, 925 km/h)
Range – 1,300 mi (1,100 nm, 2,100 km)
Service ceiling – 44,600 ft (13,600 m)
Rate of Climb – 5,140 ft/min (26.1 m/s)
Wing loading – 71 lb/ft sq (350 kg/m sq)
Thrust/weight – 0.42

Armament:
Guns – 4 x 20 mm (0.787 in) M2 cannon, 190 rounds/gun
Hard points – 8 under wing (4/wing) to carry combinations of –
6 x 5 in (127 mm) rockets
2,000 lb (910 kg) of bombs
F9F-2P – 20 mm nose guns replaced with cameras