F9F-2
| This page is about the naval fighter F9F-2. For other planes of the family, see F9F (Family). For other uses of the nickname, see Panther (Disambiguation). |
Contents
Description
The F9F-2 Panther is a rank V American naval jet fighter with a battle rating of 8.3 (AB/SB) and 8.0 (RB). 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 at the Fighter-bomber role due to its optional payloads.
General info
Flight performance
| 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 | Empty mass | Wing loading (full fuel) | ||||||
| Pratt & Whitney J42-P-8 | 1 | 4,650 kg | 318 kg/m2 | ||||||
| Engine characteristics | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) | Max Takeoff Weight | |||||||
| Weight (each) | Type | 19m fuel | 20m fuel | 30m fuel | 45m fuel | 60m fuel | 64m fuel | ||
| 600 kg | Centrifugal-flow turbojet | 5,467 kg | 5,509 kg | 5,935 kg | 6,573 kg | 7,211 kg | 7,381 kg | 9,636 kg | |
| Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB) | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP) | ||||||||
| Condition | 100% | WEP | 19m fuel | 20m fuel | 30m fuel | 45m fuel | 60m fuel | 64m fuel | MTOW |
| Stationary | 2,260 kgf | 2,599 kgf | 0.48 | 0.47 | 0.44 | 0.40 | 0.36 | 0.35 | 0.27 |
| Optimal | 2,260 kgf (0 km/h) |
2,599 kgf (0 km/h) |
0.48 | 0.47 | 0.44 | 0.40 | 0.36 | 0.35 | 0.27 |
Survivability and armour
- 9.5 mm Steel - Fore cockpit armour plate
- 9.5 mm Steel - Armor plate behind pilot's seat
- 60 mm Bulletproof Glass - Windshield
Modifications and economy
| Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
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:
- Without load
- 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
- 6 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (3,000 lb total)
- 6 x HVAR rockets
- 8 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (800 lb total)
- 6 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (600 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 air-frame 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 ordinance 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
Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.
See also
External links
| Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation | |
|---|---|
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| Naval Vehicles | |
| Patrol Gunboat Hydrofoil (PGH) | USS Flagstaff |
| USA jet aircraft | |
|---|---|
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| F9F | F9F-2 · F9F-5 · F9F-8 |
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