Grumman F9F-8P Cougar

Modifications of F9F-8 to convert to F9F-8P:
The modification made to eliminate the guns and related equipment and incorporate the photographic equipment and automatic pilot, plus their controls and instruments has resulted in the following changes:


 * 1) Rearrangement of electronics equipment installed in the area enclosed by the fuselage nose section, lengthening of this section by 12 inches, and shortening of the sliding nose section.
 * 2) Rearrangement of the left and right consoles and the main instrument panel to provide space for the controls associated with the additional equipment.
 * 3) Some minor changes of the fuselage structure and equipment installations to provide for the necessary ducting control for hot air from the engine compressor, which is used for defrosting the camera windows and heating the camera compartment.
 * 4) Removal of all armament and the Armament Control System, removal of AN/APG-30 system and installation of an additional armor plate bulkhead.

Records
Despite missing combat action in the Korean war, the Navy put the F9F Cougar to good technical use by setting the transcontinental crossing record on April 1, 1954. Three pilots from fleet squadron VF-21 completed the 2,438-mile flight in under four hours with LCdr. F.X. Brady setting the quickest time of 3 hours 45 minutes and 30 seconds. This was the first time the distance had been covered in under four hours. The three F9F-6 aircraft refueled over Kansas from a North American AJ Savage, using an experimental refueling probe mounted on the nose.

The Cougar was the first jet to break the sound barrier in Argentina.

USA
Usage in the USA began with the USN and then later with the USN's Blue Angels display team.

Argentina
The only foreign air arm to use the F9F Cougar was the Argentine Naval Aviation, who also used the F9F Panther as well. Two F9F-8T trainers were acquired in 1962, and served until 1971. The Cougar was the first jet to break the sound barrier in Argentina. One aircraft (serial 3-A-151) is on display at the Naval Aviation Museum (MUAN) at Bahía Blanca, while the other was sold to an owner in United States. The Argentine were greatfull for the significant upgrade to their air force these plains provided.