The Grumman F9F/F-9 Cougar was an aircraft carrier-based fighter aircraft for the United States Navy. It was based on the earlier F9F Panther which had a straight wing. The Cougar got a swept wing. The Cougar prototypes were quickly produced by modifying Panthers, and the first (XF9F-6) flew on 20 September 1951. The aircraft was still subsonic, but was a bit faster. Some versions were developed.
Its armament was four 20 mm (.79 in) M2 cannons in the nose and provision for two 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs or 150 US gal (570 l) drop tanks under the wings.
Over 600 Cougars of which the F9F-6 was the most produced, were delivered for the US Navy from mid 1952 through July 1954.
F9F-6 Cougar
This aircraft, serial 128109 is on display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation at NAS Pensacola, Florida
Photographed Januari 2012 by Cees Hendriks (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland
F9F-8P "Photo Cougar"
This Cougar was converted to photo-reconnaissance aircraft by adding a special nose fitted with cameras. This one is painted as "141675" VFP 61 with a gull grey over white camouflage. It is on display at Yanks Air Museum at Chino, California USA.
Photographed 2015 by Cees Hendriks (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland
TAF-9J Cougar
This aircraft, serial 147349 in a high visibility scheme of VT-10 is on display outside at the Pima Air Museum near Tucson (AZ). The cockpit is covered by a protecting foil.
Photographed November 2016 by Cees Hendriks (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland
In 1/72 scale, the Hasegawa kit was the only one and not bad but now the Hobbyboss kit is better.
The old Revell /Monogram kit and reboxed Hasegawa as well as Fonderie, Hobbycraft and also KittyHawk have a 1/48 scale Cougar fighter. In 1/48 CollectAire and GoldenWings had a Photo Cougar but now also a nice kit from KittyHawk.
In 1/32, FISHER model and Pattern has a good resin kit. For a photo Cougar, Falcon had a vacuform conversion set in 1/72.
This walk around page was first published March 2012 by M. de Vreeze