F-11 Tiger
The F-11 Tiger was a carrier-based jet fighter aircraft used by the US Navy during the Cold War years, from 1956 to 1967. It was designed and manufactured by the American firm Grumman. The first prototype, the XF9F-9, flew on July 30, 1954. Although the aircraft originally received the designation F11F-1 in April 1955, it was redesignated as F-11 Tiger under the 1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system. The F-11 was used by the Blue Angels flight team from 1957 to 1969. Grumman Aircraft Corporation built about 250 units, with the last one being delivered on January 23, 1959.
In addition to the F-11A 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 F-11 airframe. The Navy was sufficiently interested to authorize modification of two production F11F-1s with enlarged air intakes and YJ79-GE-3 turbojets, with the result being designated the F11F-1F, indicating a production F11F-1 with a special engine fit. The aircraft first flew on May 25, 1956, reaching Mach 1.44 in one of the flights.
Specifications (F-11A)
Engine: one Wright J65-W-18 turbojet.
Maximum speed: Mach 1.1 (727 mph, 1,170 km/h) at 35,000 ft.
Range: 1,275 mi (2,050 km).
Length: 46 ft 11 in (14.3 m).
Wingspan: 31 ft 7.5 in (9.6 m).
Crew: one.
Weapons: four 20mm (.79 in) Colt Mk 12 cannons, with 125 rounds per gun; Aero 6A or Aero 7A "Rocket Package" rockets; four AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.
