F7F Tigercat .FIRE BOMBERS
The Grumman F7F Tigercat was designed to meet a 1941 Navy requirement for a twin-engine fighter that could climb quickly, have a long range, and firepower. The first flight was in December 1943, but the aircraft failed landing tests due to low-speed stability problems when operating on a single engine. This was corrected with the F7F-3 in 1945 with an enlarged vertical stabilizer and rudder, but by then the Navy preferred the Corsair and Hellcat fighters. A late variant (the F7F-4N) was certified for carrier operations.
The Marine Corps preferred the firepower of the F7F for close air support: four 20 mm cannons and four .50 cal. machine guns, as well as hard points under and under the fuselage for bombs and torpedoes. Two squadrons of Marine F7Fs were in training when Japan surrendered.
A separate contract produced 60 more F7F-3Ns and 13 F7F-4Ns, with production ending in late 1946. Both models were night fighters, equipped with radar in an elongated nose and a larger wing. The first combat operations were during the Korean War, when night fighters targeted enemy convoys and also served as reconnaissance and ground support aircraft.
F7F Tigercat .FIRE BOMBERS colors
| ANA | ||||
| FS 11136 | Insignia Red | Interiors | ANA 509 | |
| FS 28913 | Fluorescent Red Orange | Hi-viz marks | – |
| FS 37038 | Black | Anti-glare | ANA 604 |
| ANA 511 | Insignia White | FS 17875 | 4.2GY 8.93/0.6 |
X-15 North American nasa
