Article 4982 of rec.aviation.military:
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From: jfb@usgp1.ih.att.com (Joe Baugher)
Subject: Grumman F-9 Panther/Cougar (12 of 13)
Message-ID: <CyKI5x.E3F@ssbunews.ih.att.com>
Summary: F9F-8T two-seat Cougar
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Date: Tue, 1 Nov 1994 02:41:57 GMT
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The F9F-8T was a two-seat trainer version of the F9F-8.  Work on a 
two-seat trainer version of the Cougar began in November of 1953 under 
the company designation of Design 105.  This was a company-initiated 
project intended to meet anticipated future Navy requirements for a 
combat-capable two-seat trainer to serve in fleet squadrons alongside 
single-seat Cougars.  It was anticipated by Grumman that the two-seat 
Cougar could also serve as a carrier-landing trainer and as a trainer 
to familiarize crews with inflight refuelling.  It was to retain the 
same armament as the single-seat version.  

Initially, the Navy envisaged no requirement for the Grumman Design 
105, believing that the Lockheed T2V-1 SeaStar would fill all its 
requirements for a carrier-capable two-seat trainer.  Nevertheless, 
Grumman was authorized to complete an F9F-8 airframe (BuNo 141667) as 
a two seater under the designation YF9F-8T.  To provide space for the 
second cockpit, the forward fuselage was extended by 34 inches.  The 
two crew members (student in front, instructor in rear) sat in tandem 
under a large rearward-sliding canopy.  An auxiliary windshield was 
provided internally ahead of the instructor's seat, which enabled the 
aircraft to be flown with a partially-open canopy.  To save weight, 
two of the four cannon were removed and the ammunition capacity was 
reduced.  The first flight of the YF9F-8T took place on April 4, 1956 

In the meantime, the T2V-1 Sea Star had run into lots of problems with 
its boundary-layer control system, a feature which was in the 
mid-1950s still a relatively new innovation.  In addition, the T2V-1 
was unarmed and could not be used as a weapons delivery trainer.  This 
led the Navy to take a fresh look at the two-seat Cougar, and they 
eventually acquired 399 production F9F-8Ts between July 1956 and 
February 1960.  The production F9F-8Ts featured some structural 
strengthening, and most were fitted with a inflight refuelling probe 
in the nose, which increased overall length from 44 feet 4 1/4 inches 
to 48 feet 8 3/4 inches.  Late production F9F-8Ts were equipped at the 
factory with the capability of carrying two Sidewinder missiles under 
each wing, but this capability was seldom retained in service.  

The F9F-8T entered service with the Naval Air Training Command in 
1957.  They equipped five squadrons.  The F9F-8T played an important 
role in training most of the pilots who were later to fly combat 
missions in Vietnam.  

The F9F-8T was used for the first demonstration of the Martin-Baker 
ground level ejector seat when Flight Lt Sydney Hughes of the RAF 
ejected on August 28, 1957 from the aft cockpit of an F9F-8T while 
flying at ground level at 120 mph.  Later, F9F-8Ts were operated by 
the Naval Parachute Facility at NAS El Centro, California for ejector 
seat tests.  For these tests, they were operated with the rear section 
of their canopies removed.  

A radar-equipped night fighter version of the F9F-8T was proposed by 
Grumman in 1955.  It was to have carried an AN/APQ-50 radar and was to 
have been equipped with an all-missile armament.  However, the 
performance was considered insufficient to warrant production.  

In 1961, Grumman proposed a modernized version of the F9F-8T with 
updated systems and a Pratt & Whitney J52 turbojet in place of the 
J48.  However, the Navy selected the Douglas TA-4F instead, and the 
updated two-seat Cougar project was abandoned.  

In 1962, the F9F-8T was redesignated TF-9J in accordance with the new 
Defense Department Tri-Service designation scheme.  

In 1966-67, four TF-9Js of H&MS-13 were used in the airborne command 
role to direct airstrikes against enemy positions in South Vietnam.  
This marked the only use of the Cougar in combat.  

The two-seat TF-9J continued to serve with the Navy long after its 
single-seat relatives had been retired to the boneyards.  The last 
squadron to use the TF-9J was VT-4, which finally relinquished its 
last TF-9J in February 1974.  

F9F-8T BuNo 147276 is on display at the USN Pensacola Air Museum.  

Serials of the Grumman F9F-8T Cougar:

141667			Grumman F9F-8T Cougar
142437/142532		Grumman F9F-8T Cougar
142954/142999		Grumman F9F-8T Cougar
143000/143012		Grumman F9F-8T Cougar
146342/146425		Grumman F9F-8T Cougar
147270/147429		Grumman F9F-8T Cougar

Specification of Grumman F9F-8T Cougar:  

One Pratt & Whitney J48-P-8A turbojet rated at 7250 lb.s.t. dry and 
8500 lb.s.t. with water injection.  
Performance:  Maximum speed 642 mph at sea level, 647 mph at 2000 
feet, 593 mph at 35,000 feet.  Cruising speed 516 mph.  Landing speed 
132 mph.  Initial climb rate 5750 feet per minute.  An altitude of 
20,000 feet could be attained in 4 minutes.  Service ceiling 42,000 
feet.  Combat ceiling 42,500 feet.  1050 miles normal range.  1209 
miles combat range.  1312 miles maximum range.  
Internal fuel was 1063 US gallons.  With two 150-gallon drop tanks, 
total fuel load was 1363 US gallons.  
Dimensions:  wingspan 34 feet 6 inches, length 44 feet 4 1/4 inches 
(48 feet 8 3/4 inches with refuelling probe), height 12 feet 3 inches, 
wing area 337 square feet.  
Weights:  11,866 pounds empty, 20,098 pounds loaded, 24,763 pounds 
maximum takeoff.  
Armament:  The armament consisted of two 20-mm cannon in the nose plus 
two underwing racks for 1000-pound bombs or 150-US gallon drop tanks.  
Two AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles could be carried underneath 
the wings.  

Sources:

    United States Navy Aircraft Since 1911,  Gordon Swanborough and
    Peter M. Bowers, Naval Institute Press, 1990.

    The American Fighter, Enzo Angelucci and Peter Bowers, Orion, 1987.

    Grumman Aircraft Since 1929, Rene J. Francillon, Naval Institute
    Press, 1989.

    American Combat Planes, 3rd Enlarged Edition, Ray Wagner,
    Doubleday, 1982.


Joe Baugher			  **************************************
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