Time Period: World War II
Country of Origin: United States
Type: Fighter Aircraft
Manufacturer: Grumman
Grumman F7F Tigercat Aircraft Overview
The Grumman F7F Tigercat was a twin-engine fighter aircraft developed by Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation during World War II. It was designed to operate from aircraft carriers and was intended to be faster and more heavily armed than existing carrier-based fighters.
The F7F Tigercat was powered by two Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp radial engines, each of which could generate up to 2,100 hp. The aircraft had a top speed of around 460 mph (740 km/h) and a range of up to 1,200 miles (1,930 km). Its armament consisted of four 20 mm cannons and four .50 caliber (12.7 mm) machine guns, as well as the ability to carry bombs or rockets for ground-attack missions.
The F7F Tigercat first flew in 1943, but production was delayed due to technical problems and the demands of the war effort. The first production models were not delivered until 1945, and the war ended before the F7F could see combat. It was instead used primarily as a night fighter and as a reconnaissance aircraft during the post-war period.
Despite its impressive performance and capabilities, the F7F Tigercat was not produced in large numbers, and it was eventually phased out of military service in the 1950s. However, a number of examples have been preserved and are still flown today by enthusiasts and collectors.
Grumman F7F-4N Specifications
- Crew: 2
- Length: 45 ft 4 in (13.82 m)
- Wingspan: 51 ft 6 in (15.70 m)
- Height: 16 ft 7 in (5.05 m)
- Wing area: 455 sq ft (42.3 m2)
- Airfoil: root: NACA 23015; tip: NACA 23012
- Empty weight: 16,270 lb (7,380 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 25,720 lb (11,666 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-34W Double Wasp 18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 2,100 hp (1,600 kW) each
- Propellers: 3-bladed constant-speed fully-feathering propellers
Grumman F7F-4N Performance
- Maximum speed: 460 mph (740 km/h, 400 kn)
- Range: 1,200 mi (1,900 km, 1,000 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 40,400 ft (12,300 m)
- Rate of climb: 4,530 ft/min (23.0 m/s)
Grumman F7F-4N Armament
- Guns:
- 4 × 20 mm (0.79 in) AN/M3 cannon (200 rpg, wing roots)
- 4 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine gun (400 rpg, in nose) (normal fighter versions only; replaced by radar unit in the -3N nightfighter)
- Bombs:
- 2 × 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs, or
- 8 x 127mm unguided rockets under wings and
- 1 x 150 gallon fuel or napalm tank under fuselage, or
- 1 × torpedo under fuselage (day fighter only)
