Warplanes of the USA: Grumman F11F Tiger

Grumman F11F Tiger

(USN Photo)

Grumman F-11 Tiger (BuNo. 138620), 1956.

The Grumman F11F/F-11 Tiger is a supersonic, single-seat carrier-based fighter aircraft designed and produced by the American aircraft manufacturer Grumman. For a time, it held the world altitude record of 76,939 feet (23,451 m), as well as being the first supersonic fighter to be produced by Grumman.[2]Work on what would become the Tiger commenced in 1952 as a design study, internally designated G-98, to improve the F9F-6/7 Cougar. However, the resulting design produced had little association with the Cougar by the end of the project. The U.S. Navy Bureau of Aeronautics placed order for two prototypes, initially designated XF9F-8. On 30 July 1954, the first prototype performed its maiden flight, during which it almost achieved Mach 1; the second prototype became the second U.S. Navy aircraft to exceed the speed of sound. On 21 September 1956, the Tiger became the first jet aircraft to shoot itself down. Originally designated the F11F Tiger in April 1955 under the pre-1962 Navy designation system, the aircraft was redesignated as F-11 Tiger under the 1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system. A total of 199 Tigers were produced for the United States Navy, with the last aircraft being delivered to the service on 23 January 1959.

The Tiger entered service with the U.S. Navy during 1956, and was flown from the carriers Intrepid, Lexington, Hancock, Bon Homme Richard, Shangri-La, Forrestal, Saratoga and Ranger. Frontline use of the Tiger was relatively brief, largely due to its performance being inferior to the competing Vought F-8 Crusader, such as its limited endurance, while its Wright J65 turbojet engine had also proved to be somewhat unreliable. Through to the late 1960s, the aircraft used flown by the Naval Air Training Command in South Texas at NAS Chase Field and NAS Kingsville, to give students experience of supersonic flight. Between 1957 and 1969, the Tiger was used by the Blue Angels flight team, being eventually replaced by the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. The last examples were withdrawn from U.S. Navy service during 1969, although a handful of aircraft remained operational and were conducting test flights as late as 1975. (Wikipedia)

(USN Photo)

Two U.S. Navy Grumman F11F-1 Tiger fighters (BuNos 141818, 141819) of Fighter Squadron VF-33 "Astronauts" in flight in 1960. VF-33 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 6 (CVG-6) (tail code "AF") aboard the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid (CVA-11).

(USN Photo)

A U.S. Navy Grumman F11F-1 Tiger (BuNo 138618) is positioned on the deck edge elevator of the airdraft carrier USS Forrestal (CVA-59) during operations off the Atlantic Coast, 4 April 1956.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Grumman F11F Tiger, VA-156, at NAS Moffett Field on a rainy day in May 1957.

(USN Photo)

A U.S. Navy Grumman F11F-1 Tiger fighter (BuNo. 138614) from the Naval Air Test Center at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, 1956.

(USN Photo)

A U.S. Navy Grumman F11F-1 Tiger (BuNo 138628) in flight. Note that this aircraft, although being part of the earlier "short nose" F11Fs, has been fitted with a longer nose section.

(USN Photo)

U.S. Navy Grumman F11F-1 Tiger fighters of attack squadron VA-43 Challengers, c1960.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

USS Bon Homme Richard.

(USN Photo)

U.S. Navy Douglas AD-6 Skyraiders (BuNo 137519, left) of Attack Squadron 65 (VA-65) "Tigers" are on the catapults of the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid (CVA-11) while the pilot of a Grumman F11F-1 Tiger (BuNo 141842) of Fighter Squadron 33 (VF-33) "Astronauts" awaits the signal to taxi his aircraft onto the catapult on 18 November 1960. Both squadrons were assigned to Carrier Air Group 6 (CVG-6) aboard the Intrepid for a deployment to the Mediterranean Sea from 4 August 1960 to 17 February 1961.

(NMNA Photo)

Two U.S. Navy Grumman F11F-1 Tiger's (BuNo 141859, 141880) from to Fighter Squadron 211 (VF-211) "Checkmates" in flight. VF-211 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 21 (CVG-21) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Lexington (CVA-16) for a deploment to the Western Pacific from 25 April to 3 December 1959.

(USN Photo)

A U.S. Navy Grumman F11F-1 Tiger (BuNo 141757) of Figther Squadron 21 (VF-21) "Mach Busters" is launched from the aircraft carrier USS Ranger (CVA-61) during operations off Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. VF-21 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 8 (CVG-8) on Ranger's shakedown cruise from 4 October to 6 December 1957. The F11F wears the tail code "AM" of Air Task Group 181 (ATG-181), as CVG-8 flew a mix of squadrons from different air groups. This would be the last deployment of VF-21. It became a training squadron and was redesignated Attack Squadron 43 (VA-43) "Challengers" on 1 Jul 1959. On the same day VF-64 "Free Lancers" was redesignated as the "new" VF-21.

(USN Photo)

A U.S. Navy Grumman F11F-1 Tiger fighter (BuNo 141811) of Fighter Squadron VF-33 Astronauts aboard the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid (CVA-11). VF-33 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 6 (CVG-6) abord the Intrepid for a deployment to the Mediterranean Sea from 4 August 1960 to 17 February 1961. In the background are Douglas A4D-2 Skyhawk fighters from Attack Squadron VA-66 Waldos (AF-3XX) and VA-76 Spirits (AF-5XX).

(USN Photo)

A U.S. Navy Grumman F11F-1 Tiger (BuNo 141797) from Fighter Squadron VF-191 "Satan's Kittens" launching from the aircraft carrier USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31). VF-191 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 19 (CVG-19) aboard the Bon Homme Richard for a deployment to the Western Pacific from 21 November 1959 to 14 May 1960. The F11F is armed with two AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles.

(USN Photo)

Twelve Grumman F11F-1 Tigers of fighter squadron VF-21 Mach Busters. On 1 July 1959 VF-21 was redesignated VA-43 Challengers and became a fleet replacement squadron with the tail code "AD". VF-21 had had the tail code "AF" previously. Therefore the photo may have been taken around the time of the redesignation.

(USN Photo)

U.S. Navy Grumman F11F-1 Tiger fighters of Fighter Squadron VF-111 Sundowners in flight over Japan, in 1959. VF-111 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 11 (CVG-11) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Shangri-La (CVA-38) for a deployment to the Western Pacific from 9 March to 3 October 1959.

(USN Photo)

Grumman F11F-1 Tiger fighters from with the U.S. Navy "Blue Angels" aerobatics team at Naval Air Station North Island, California, c1961.

(NASA Photo)

Grumman F11F Tiger, Langley Research Center, 7 Sep 1957.

Grumman F11F-1 Tigers preserved in the USA.

(ZLEA Photo)

138608 -Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum, Titusville, Florida. Previously located at the Admiral Farragut Academy, St Petersburg, Florida.

(Doug Campbell Photo)

(Kon Karne Photo)

138619 – Stricklands Surplus in Wilmington, North Carolina. 3L, VT-26.
138645 – NAF El Centro in Imperial County, California.

(Alan Wilson Photos)

(kitmasterbloke Photo)
141735 – Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California. AU 1735.

(Thomas R Machnitzki Photo)

141760 - Naval Support Facility, Millington, Tennessee.

(Hector Vazquez Photo)
141783 – USS Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, New York.

(Chris Light Photo)
141790 – Grissom Air Museum at Grissom Air Reserve Base near Peru, Indiana. Blue Angel No. 1.

(Author Photos)

141796 - Grand Junction, Colorado. Blue Angels 1, mounted on a pylon at Walker Field Airport.

(Lance Cpl. Tyler J. Bolke Photo)
141802 – Lawson Creek Park in New Bern, North Carolina. C/N 119, Blue Angel No. 5, mounted on a concrete pylon.
141803 – Port of South Louisiana Executive Regional Airport in Reserve, Louisiana.

(Eric Friedebach Photo)
141811 – Combat Air Museum in Topeka, Kansas. Blue Angel No. 5.

(kitmasterbloke Photo)

141821 - Alameda, USS Hornet Museum, California, 205, nose section.

(kitmasterbloke Photo) PASM.

(Ad Meskens Photo)

(Ad Meskens Photo)
141824 – USS Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, New York. C/N 141, painted as (BuNo. 141884), C/N 201, Blue Angel No. 5. Previously on display at the Pima Air and Space Museum, Tucson, Arizona, and No. 6.

(Greg Goebel Photo)
141828 – National Museum of Naval Aviation at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. C/N 145, 217.

(Ad Meskens Photo)

(Mike Peel Photo)
141832 – Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City, New York. C/N 149, Blue Angel No. 5, suspended from the ceiling.

(94RedRover Photo)
141851 – NAES Lakehurst, New Jersey. Blue Angels No. 4, mounted on a pylon.

(Author Photos)
141853 – Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum in Pueblo, Colorado.

(Tony Wessel Photo)
141859 – Veteran's Memorial Park in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. Blue Angel No. 6, mounted on a pylon.

(Author Photos)
141864 – Mount Pleasant, Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum, USS Yorkstown, South Carolina. Photographed here when it was on dispaly aat NAS Oceana Aviation Historical Park, Virginia. C/N 181 (F-11F).

(Tony Hisgett Photos)
141868 – Planes of Fame Air Museum in Valle, Arizona. C/N 181, Blue Angels No. 2.

(scrambler390 Photo)

141870 - Reserve, American Military Heritage Foundation Museum, St. John Baptist Airport, Louisiana, Blue Angel 6, mounted on pylons.

(Michael Barera Photo)
141872 – Air Zoo in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Previously with the Triangle, National Museum of the Marine Corps, Virginia.

(Hector Vazquez Photo)
141882 – Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum in Titusville, Florida.
141869 – Discovery Park of America in Union City, Tennessee.

(Author Photo)

Grumman F-11 Tiger fuselage and cockpit. San Marcos,Central Texas Wing (Centex Wing), Commemorative Air Force, Texas.

‍Warplanes of the USA: Grumman F-11 Tiger