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Grumman F11-F {F-11A} Tiger "Blue Angel 5"
The F11-F Tiger, a supersonic, carrier-based fighter jet developed in the 1950s for the U.S. Navy, stands out with its unique features. Its origins can be traced back to a privately funded 1952 Grumman concept, aimed at modernizing the F9F-6/7 Cougar. The aircraft's fuselage, implementing the aerodynamic principle known as the "Area rule," was a marvel of engineering. This design procedure was used to reduce an aircraft's drag at transonic speeds between about Mach 0.75 (575mph/925.37kph) and 1.2 (920mph/1,480.59kph). The pinched-waist shape of the fuselage made the airplane narrower in the middle and broader forward and aft, a feature that set it apart from most of its contemporaries.
The Tiger, despite its unique design and supersonic capabilities, was not a popular model. This led to a short-lived production run, with only 199 examples built over a five-year period from 1954-1959. The rapid advancements in aviation technology and the emergence of newer, more superior designs made the Tiger obsolete as a frontline fighter, a fate that was reflected in its limited production and popularity.
By 1959, the Tigers began to be relegated to either training or reserve squadrons. Grumman had developed an improved Tiger variant with a more powerful engine, but only two prototypes of the F11F-1F Super Tiger were ever built. The Super Tiger set altitude and speed records, but engineers questioned the aircraft's overall structural strength, and the project was canceled shortly thereafter. In 1962, the plane became known simply as the F-11 Tiger with the new Tri-Service aircraft designation system.
During its short service, the Tigers operated from several carriers, including the USS Intrepid, Lexington, Hancock, Bon Homme Richard, Shangri-La, Forrestal, Saratoga, and Ranger. However, their career was short-lived, lasting only four years due to their inferior performance compared to the new Vought F-8 Crusaders and the unreliability of the J65 engines. The Tiger's range and endurance were also found to be inadequate, leading to the cancellation of all future orders for the F11F-1P reconnaissance version. In the end, only 199 F11F-1 (F-11A) fighters were ever built.
Although the Tiger was withdrawn from all U.S. Navy carrier operations by 1961, it continued to serve the Navy in a unique way. The U.S. Navy's flight demonstration team, the Blue Angels, flew the Tigers from 1957 until 1968 when the F-4 Phantom II replaced them. Out of a total of 199 F-11Fs that were built, there are 22 examples that still survive today. This aircraft served as Blue Angel No. 5 for two seasons from 1961 to 1963. It was flown by just one pilot, Lt. Lew Chatham. During a test flight on September 21st, 1956, a Grumman pilot shot himself and his plane down, becoming the first aircraft in history to do so. During a dive, he somehow caught up to his own cannon fire, damaging the plane. The pilot survived the ensuing emergency landing.
Grumman F11-F {F-11A} Tiger "Blue Angel 5"
The F11-F Tiger, a supersonic, carrier-based fighter jet developed in the 1950s for the U.S. Navy, stands out with its unique features. Its origins can be traced back to a privately funded 1952 Grumman concept, aimed at modernizing the F9F-6/7 Cougar. The aircraft's fuselage, implementing the aerodynamic principle known as the "Area rule," was a marvel of engineering. This design procedure was used to reduce an aircraft's drag at transonic speeds between about Mach 0.75 (575mph/925.37kph) and 1.2 (920mph/1,480.59kph). The pinched-waist shape of the fuselage made the airplane narrower in the middle and broader forward and aft, a feature that set it apart from most of its contemporaries.
The Tiger, despite its unique design and supersonic capabilities, was not a popular model. This led to a short-lived production run, with only 199 examples built over a five-year period from 1954-1959. The rapid advancements in aviation technology and the emergence of newer, more superior designs made the Tiger obsolete as a frontline fighter, a fate that was reflected in its limited production and popularity.
By 1959, the Tigers began to be relegated to either training or reserve squadrons. Grumman had developed an improved Tiger variant with a more powerful engine, but only two prototypes of the F11F-1F Super Tiger were ever built. The Super Tiger set altitude and speed records, but engineers questioned the aircraft's overall structural strength, and the project was canceled shortly thereafter. In 1962, the plane became known simply as the F-11 Tiger with the new Tri-Service aircraft designation system.
During its short service, the Tigers operated from several carriers, including the USS Intrepid, Lexington, Hancock, Bon Homme Richard, Shangri-La, Forrestal, Saratoga, and Ranger. However, their career was short-lived, lasting only four years due to their inferior performance compared to the new Vought F-8 Crusaders and the unreliability of the J65 engines. The Tiger's range and endurance were also found to be inadequate, leading to the cancellation of all future orders for the F11F-1P reconnaissance version. In the end, only 199 F11F-1 (F-11A) fighters were ever built.
Although the Tiger was withdrawn from all U.S. Navy carrier operations by 1961, it continued to serve the Navy in a unique way. The U.S. Navy's flight demonstration team, the Blue Angels, flew the Tigers from 1957 until 1968 when the F-4 Phantom II replaced them. Out of a total of 199 F-11Fs that were built, there are 22 examples that still survive today. This aircraft served as Blue Angel No. 5 for two seasons from 1961 to 1963. It was flown by just one pilot, Lt. Lew Chatham. During a test flight on September 21st, 1956, a Grumman pilot shot himself and his plane down, becoming the first aircraft in history to do so. During a dive, he somehow caught up to his own cannon fire, damaging the plane. The pilot survived the ensuing emergency landing.