Drawing - Paul Matt - Grumman F11F

The Grumman F11F/F-11 Tiger was a supersonic, single-seat, carrier-based U.S. Navy fighter aircraft, which was operational during the 1950s and 1960s. Designated the F11F Tiger in April 1955 under the pre-1962 Navy designation system, it was designated as F-11 Tiger under the 1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system.

The F11F/F-11 was used by the Blue Angels flight team from 1957–1969. Grumman Aircraft Corporation made 200 Tigers, with the last aircraft being delivered to the U.S. Navy on January 23, 1959.

The F11F (F-11) Tiger origins can be traced back to the F9F-6/7 Cougar. The F-11 Tiger's wings folded downwards, while the tailplane was all-moving. The aircraft was designed for the Wright J65 turbojet.

The F-11 Tiger is noted for being the first jet aircraft to shoot itself down. On September 21, 1956, during a test-firing of its 20-mm (.79-in.) cannons, pilot Tom Attridge fired two bursts midway through a shallow dive. As the velocity and trajectory of the cannon rounds decayed, they ultimately crossed paths with the Tiger as it continued its descent, disabling it and forcing Attridge to crash-land the aircraft; he survived.

In the late 1950s, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) evaluated the F11-1F as a replacement for the F-86 Sabre, then its primary jet fighter. World War II Spitfire pilot, and later honorary colonel, R.G. (Bob) Middlemiss, W/C (Ret) DFC, CD, SSM, and RCAF test pilot Jack Woodman, proceeded to California to evaluate the top two contenders, the Lockheed F-104 and the Grumman F-11F-1F, at Edwards AFB. As a result of their recommendations, the Canadian government selected the F-104.

In addition to the F-11A (F11F-1) fighter, Grumman also proposed a more advanced version of the airframe known as the F11F-1F Super Tiger. This was the result of a 1955 study to fit the new General Electric J79 engine into the F11F-1 airframe.

Specifications

• Crew: 1
• Length: 46 ft 11 in. (14.3 m)
• Wingspan: 31 ft 7.5 in. (9.6 m)
• Height: 13 ft 3 in. (4.0 m)
• Wing area: 250 ft² (23 m²)
• Empty weight: 13,810 lb (6,277 kg)
• Loaded weight: 21,035 lb (9,561 kg)
• Max. takeoff weight: 23,459 lb (10,663 kg)
• Powerplant: Wright J65-W-18 turbojet
• Dry thrust: 7,400 lb (32.9 kN)
• Thrust with afterburner: 10,500 lb (46.7 kN)
• Maximum speed: Mach 1.1 (727 mph, 1,170 km/h) at 35,000 ft (11,000 m)
• Cruise speed: 577 mph (929 km/h)
• Range: 1,275 mi (1,110 nmi, 2,050 km)
• Service ceiling: 49,000 ft (14,900 m)
• Rate of climb: 16,300 ft/min (83 m/s)
• Wing loading: 84 lb/ft² (411 kg/m²)
• Thrust/weight: 0.50
• Guns: 4 - 20 mm (.79 in) Colt Mk 12 cannon, 125 rounds per gun
• Rockets: Aero 6A or Aero 7A "Rocket Package"
• Missiles: AIM-9 Sidewinder
• Other: 150 gal drop tank

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