Grumman F11F Super Tiger

F11F Super Tiger
An F11F-1F "Super Tiger" prototype, with the General Electric J79-GE-3A engine, in 1956
Role Fighter aircraft
Manufacturer Grumman
First flight 25 May 1956
Status Canceled
Primary user United States Navy
Number built 2
Developed from Grumman F-11 Tiger

The Grumman F11F Super Tiger (company designation G-98J) was a single-seat fighter aircraft originally developed for the United States Navy (USN). Based on the USN's F-11 Tiger, the F11F did not proceed beyond the two F11F-1F prototypes.

Contents

Design and development

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 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 25 May 1956, reaching Mach 1.44 in one of the flights. After addition of 60° wing root fillets, a 13.5 in (35 cm) fuselage extension, and an uprated J79 engine, the F11F-1F reached an impressive Mach 2.04. This was a surprise even to Grumman, which had expected a top speed of only Mach 1.4 at altitude.[1] By comparison, the F11F-1 with the Wright J65 had had difficulty exceeding Mach 1.1. However, the U.S. Navy did not order the Super Tiger into production.

Operational history

Marketing efforts

Having failed to secure the Navy contract, Grumman marketed the Super Tiger to foreign customers. The Super Tiger outperformed the Saab Draken, Lockheed F-104 Starfighter, Dassault Mirage III and Fiat G.91 in a tender to equip the Swiss Air Force. The Mirage III was finally chosen as a cheaper and more secure alternative, yet a close second in terms of performance.[2][3]

The German Luftwaffe, Japan Air Self Defense Force and Royal Canadian Air Force showed considerable interest but eventually the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter was chosen. This outcome, however, was marred by the Lockheed bribery scandals, in which huge sums were paid by Lockheed to influential politicians in those countries to ensure the adoption of the Starfighter.[4]

Survivors

The first F11F-1F (BuNo 138646) was used for fire-fighting practice and destroyed in the 1980s. The second prototype (BuNo 138647) was retired on 10 January 1961 and used as a ground training aircraft. It is preserved on outdoor display at the Naval Museum of Armament & Technology at the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California (USA).

Variants

F11F-1F Super Tiger (G-98J)
F11F-1 fitted with the J79-GE-3A engine, two built (BuNos 138646, 138647).[1]
F11F-2
Intended designation of the production F11F-1F.
XF12F
Semi-official designation for a developed version of the F11F-1F/-2.[5]
F-11B

Operators

 United States

Specifications (F11F-1F)

Data from Secret Projects: Fighters & Interceptors 1945-1978 [6]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Related lists

References

Notes
  1. ^ a b Buttler 2008, pp. 114–115.
  2. ^ "Die Besten: Supertiger und Mirage III (The Best Ones: Supertiger and Mirage III) (German)." Schweizer Luftwaffe. Retrieved: 1 July 2010.
  3. ^ "Le Supertiger et le Mirage III surclassent leurs concurrents (Supertiger and the Mirage III outclass their competitors) (French)." Forces Aériennes Suisses. Retrieved: 1 July 2010.
  4. ^ Baugher, Joe. "Grumman F11F-1/F-11A Tiger." Joe Baugher's Encyclopedia of American Military Aircraft, 30 January 2000. Retrieved: 26 July 2010.
  5. ^ Buttler 2008, p. 126.
  6. ^ Buttler 2008, p. 135.
  7. ^ a b c d Angelucci and Bowers 1987, pp. 250–251.
Bibliography
  • Angelucci, Enzo and Peter M. Bowers. The American Fighter. Sparkford, UK: Haynes Publishing, 1987. ISBN 0-85429-635-2.
  • Bowers, Peter M. United States Navy Aircraft since 1911. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1990, pp. 183–185. ISBN 0-87021-792-5.
  • Buttler, Tony. American Secret Projects: Fighters & Interceptors 1945-1978. Hinckley, Leicestershire, UK: Midland Publishing, 2008, First edition 2007. ISBN 978-1-85780-264-1.

External links