Diecast Aircraft Information

MetalWings Diecast Aircraft Reference by Dauntless Aviation

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series
HA7208
Grumman F9F-5 "Blue Tail Fly"
126652, VF-153, USS Princeton, 1953

Die-cast metal with a minimum of plastic.

All markings pad applied for superb results.

Cockpit slides open.

Pilot figure.

Comes with display stand.

Landing gear is fully retractable and can be displayed up or down.

Wings can fold and unfold.

Extremely sought after by collectors.

Powered by a Rolls-Royce engine the first F9F flew in 1947. These new engines were
fuel hungry and with no extra internal space permanent wing-tip tanks were added.
These tanks also had the unexpected benefit of increasing the aircraft roll rate. In the
Korean War the F9F was the primary USN aircraft for ground-attack and served with
distinction. However it was realized that the Panther was inferior to the MiG aircraft so a
swept-wing version was developed. The new aircraft retained the F9F designation and
was called the Cougar.

Two Grumman F9F Panthers from VF-153 suffered AA fire damage. One Panther wore a
natural metal finish and had its tail section destroyed while 126652 wore a glossy sea
blue scheme and had its forward section destroyed so it was decide to mate the good
sections from each aircraft to produce one airworthy Panther, 126652 the “Blue Tail
Fly”. The unique aircraft flew 12 missions in this configuration before being sent for a
complete rebuild returning to service with VF-63 and later VMF-115, VMF-311, VMA-224
and in 1958 placed in storage.

Specifications for the Grumman F9F-5 Panther

Crew – (1) pilot

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

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