F9F-2

This page is about the American naval jet fighter F9F-2. For other versions, see F9F (Family).

F9F-2

F2H-2

F9F-5

360://https://old-wiki.warthunder.com/images/2/2b/Cockpit_f9f-2.jpg

F9F-2

F2H-2

F9F-5

USA

V Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
8.3	8.0	8.3

Class:

Fighter

Jet fighter

Naval aircraft

Research:95 000

Purchase:270 000

Description

The F9F Panther was born during a time when the jet engine was beginning to make its appearance into service. Grumman began work on the XF9F-1 Prototype that eventually was dropped in favour of the XF9F-2 prototype, Grumman's Model G79, that utilized 1 crew member and eventually a single engine. As the Panther moved along the creation process, items like wingtip fuel tanks were added to increase its range. Carrier trials with the prototypes were completed in March of 1949. The F9F-2 entered US Navy service in May of 1949. The F9F-2 is the first production variant of the Panther. It is powered by a Pratt & Whitney J42-P-8, a license-built version of the Rolls Royce Nene engine.

It was introduced in Update 1.37. The Panther will typically find itself outclassed as it often faces against more advanced jet designs, such as the MiG-15 or Venom. However, it does excel in a support fighter role. Distracted opponents are easy prey when the Panther's high-speed driving and manoeuvrability are applied correctly. When engaged 1 on 1 with other jet fighters, its flaws (low top speed) can be exposed. Defensively, the Panther has an uncanny ability to escape pursuing enemies when using its agility to your advantage. The Panther greatly excels in the fighter-bomber role due to its optional payloads.

General info

Flight performance

Arrestor gear

Accelerates braking by grabbing the brake cable on the deck of the aircraft carrier

Air brakes

Allows you to dramatically reduce the flight speed by releasing special flaps

Max speed

at 0 m926 km/h

Turn time27 s

Max altitude12 500 m

EnginePratt & Whitney J42-P-8

TypeJet

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight10 t

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 0 m - sea level)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	913	904	12500	27.3	28.6	19.8	18.3	750
Upgraded	939	926		26.8	27.0	34.1	26.5

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear	Drogue chute
✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	X

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
1000	400	572	531	310	~9	~4

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 620	< 650	< 700	N/A

Engine performance

Engine			Aircraft mass
Engine name		Number	Basic mass			Wing loading (full fuel)
Pratt & Whitney J42-P-8		1	4,833 kg			325 kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load)					Max Takeoff Weight
Weight (each)	Type		22m fuel	30m fuel	45m fuel	60m fuel	73m fuel
600 kg	Centrifugal-flow turbojet		5,650 kg	5,942 kg	6,496 kg	7,051 kg	7,555 kg	9,636 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
Condition	100%	WEP	22m fuel	30m fuel	45m fuel	60m fuel	73m fuel	MTOW
Stationary	2,260 kgf	2,599 kgf	0.46	0.44	0.40	0.37	0.34	0.27
Optimal	2,260 kgf (0 km/h)	2,599 kgf (0 km/h)	0.46	0.44	0.40	0.37	0.34	0.27

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural1 000 km/h

Gear400 km/h

• 9.5 mm Steel - Fore cockpit armour plate
• 9.5 mm Steel - Armour plate behind pilot's seat
• 60 mm Bulletproof Glass - Windshield

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB3 262 → 4 371

RB9 478 → 12 700

SB11 239 → 15 060

Total cost of modifications80 000

128 000

Talisman cost2 000

Crew training78 000

Experts270 000

Aces1 500

Research Aces670 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

120 / 350 / 590 %

190 / 190 / 190 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 5 300 Cost: 8 600 290 Compressor Research: 5 300 Cost: 8 600 290 New boosters Research: 4 500 Cost: 7 300 240 Wings repair Research: 6 700 Cost: 11 000 360 Engine Research: 6 700 Cost: 11 000 360 G-suit Research: 6 500 Cost: 10 000 350	Airframe Research: 4 500 Cost: 7 300 240 Cover Research: 6 500 Cost: 10 000 350	FRC mk.2 Research: 5 300 Cost: 8 600 290 anm3_belt_pack Research: 4 500 Cost: 7 300 240 FMBC mk.1 Research: 4 500 Cost: 7 300 240 FLBC mk.1 Research: 6 700 Cost: 11 000 360 anm3_new_gun Research: 6 500 Cost: 10 000 350 LFRC mk.12 Research: 6 500 Cost: 10 000 350

The primary modules that will need to be unlocked are flight performance, handling (New boosters), and Offensive 20 mm belts. After unlocking these high priority improvements, then the focus is secondary weaponry. Without the New 20 mm Cannons module the plane tends to have a high spread when firing its primary armament.

Armaments

Offensive armament

The F9F-2 is armed with:

• 4 x 20 mm M3 cannons, nose-mounted (190 rpg = 760 total)

Suspended armament

The F9F-2 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs	1*	1	1	1	1	1	1	1*
250 lb AN-M57 bombs	1*	1	1	1	1	1	1	1*
500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs		1*	1	1	1	1	1*
1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs				1	1
HVAR rockets	1*	1	1			1	1	1*
Tiny Tim rockets				1	1
Maximum permissible loadout weight: 1,460 kg Maximum permissible wing load: 730 kg Maximum permissible weight imbalance: 450 kg
* 500 lb bombs on hardpoints 2/7 cannot be equipped with ordnance on hardpoints 1/8

Default weapon presets
Without load 6 x HVAR rockets 2 x Tiny Tim rockets 8 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (800 lb total) 8 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (2,000 lb total) 6 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (3,000 lb total) 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)

Usage in battles

The F9F-2 is best described as a support fighter. It is often outclassed by more powerful enemies such as the MiG-15, but as a support to allies, it shines nonetheless. In this play-style, the Panther can leverage its desirable dive characteristics to prey on distracted opponents. A Panther pilot may often find themselves with an enemy on their six. In such a defensive situation, the F9F-2 provides an excellent roll rate with which to dodge enemy fire. However, to dispatch the opponent, it is often necessary to employ the help of teammates.

The Panther has a wide selection of ground-attack ordnance options and can use either bombs or rockets to destroy ground targets very effectively in ground realistic battles. In air battles, the Panther is in almost all cases better suited for an air-to-air role, but even when ordnance is not mounted, the internal 20 mm cannons are able to destroy lightly armoured ground targets. When using HVAR rockets, the aim is especially important, as the six rockets are fired in pairs. With only three shots, it is important to maximize the rockets' effectiveness by aiming slightly to the side of the target. Since the rockets are wing-mounted, this will result in one of them hitting the target directly and causing the maximum possible damage.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Decent manoeuvrability at higher speeds
• Excellent roll rate
• Decent suspended armament
• Good low altitude performance
• Powerful armament with a high rate of fire
• High ammo capacity
• Large fuel capacity in comparison with other fighter jets

Cons:

• Poor high altitude performance
• Poor low-speed manoeuvrability
• Poor top speed
• Very fragile tail
• WEP runs out very quickly
• Battle rating puts the Panther against planes like the MiG-15bis, the MiG-17 and the Hawker Hunter, all of which outperform it
• Cannons are horribly inaccurate when stock

History

The Panther was born during a time when the jet engine was beginning to make its appearance into service. The United States Navy commissioned a jet-powered fighter for its carrier decks. Grumman began work on the XF9F-1 Prototype (Grumman designation G75). The airframe would carry two crewmen and implement four turbojet engines. At the time, four of them were planned to be used due to the low power output by early turbojet engines. This ran into several issues including taking up too much space on American carriers. Eventually, the design was dropped in favour of the XF9F-2 prototype, Grumman's Model G79, that utilized 1 crew member and eventually a single-engine. The British Rolls-Royce Nene turbojet engine was used for basic testing. Pratt & Whitney were eventually able to produce the engine and it was designated "J42". As the Panther moved along the creation process, items like wingtip fuel tanks were added to increase its range. Carrier trials with the prototypes were completed in March of 1949. The F9F-2 entered US Navy service in May of 1949.

The F9F-2 is the first production variant of the Panther. It is powered by a Pratt & Whitney J42-P-8, a license-built version of the Rolls Royce Nene engine. The F9F-2B was a new variant of the F9F-2 which allowed it to carry 2,000 lbs of ordnance under its wings. Once all F9F-2s were upgraded to the B standard, the B designation was dropped and the aircraft was simply referred to as F9F-2.

The Panther entered combat during the Korean War. It was the primary jet fighter used by the U.S. Navy and Marines. It played a significant part in the ground attack role and flew over 78,000 sorties. It secured the first U.S. Naval air to air kill against a Yak-9. Famous F9F pilots included astronaut John Glenn and Boston Red Sox player Ted Williams. Panthers were pulled from front-line service in 1956 in favour of the swept-wing "Cougar". F9F Panther was the first jet used with the US Navy's Blue Angels aerobatic team.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the F9F-2 from live.warthunder.com.

See also

• F9F-5
• F9F-8

External links

• Official data sheet - more details about the performance

Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation
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