The F11F Tiger was the US Navy's first supersonic shipboard fighter but it had the misfortune of being powered by the troublesome J-65 Sapphire engine and competing with the superlative F-8 Crusader. As a result only 200 were built with the last one delivered on 23rd January 1959. The Tiger was initially a privately funded 1952 design effort to modernize the F9F Cougar by applying area rule and other advances such as full span leading edge slats and trailing edge flaps. Roll control was by applying spoilers rather than ailerons. Wing folding was downward and was manual and the tail planes were all moving rather than elevator and stabilizer. The Tiger was originally designated the F9F-8 but it was such a departure from the Cougar that it was changed to F11F in April 1955. It ultimately equipped VF-21 and VF-33 in the Atlantic Fleet and VF-156 (later renamed VF-111), VF-24 (later renamed VF-211), VF-51, VF-121 and VF-191 in the Pacific Fleet. It was withdrawn from carrier operations by 1961 having served in the fleet for only four years due to the F-8 Crusader coming on line. It was perhaps best known for being the mount of the Blue Angels from 1957 through 1969 and being the first plane to shoot itself down, having caught up with its own bullets while diving under them. In 1955 Grumman investigated and proposed an advanced version, the F11F-1F, to be powered by the new General Electric J79. Two were built and performance was significantly improved but not enough to warrant full production.
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