The F11F airframe showcased a running length of 47 feet with a wingspan of 31 feet, 7.5 inches and overall height of 13 feet, 3 inches. Empty weight was approximately 13,800lbs with a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 23,500lbs. The type was powered by the Wright J65-W-18 turbojet engine developing 7,400lbs of thrust (dry) and 10,500lbs of thrust when utilizing afterburner (essentially raw fuel pumped into the exhaust for short bursts of speed). Maximum speed was Mach 1.1, roughly 727 miles per hour with a typical cruising speed of 577 miles per hour. The aircraft could reach a service ceiling of 49,000 feet through a 16,300 feet per minute rate of climb. Operational range was limited to 1,275 miles. Standard armament for the aircraft included 4 x 20mm Mk 12 cannons with 125 projectiles afforded each gun. The airframe was also given four underwing hardpoints for the carrying of high-explosive rockets, fuel drop tanks or the AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missile. As the Tiger was primarily conceived of as a fighter, it lacked any conventional bomb provisions.
The F11F Tiger was formally introduced into USN service in 1956 and formed the standard fighter mount of US Navy groups across seven carriers (including the USS Forrestal). 200 of the type would be built in all and a dedicated camera-armed reconnaissance model - the "F11F-1P" - was ordered in an anticipated 88 examples. The F11F also became the mount of choice for the "Blue Angels" aero-acrobatic performing team, this from 1957 into 1968. Early production F11Fs were noted for their shorter nose assemblies when compared to latter batches. In all, it was expected that the USN would procure approximately 430 F11F Tigers.
Ultimately, seven squadrons were formed on the seven Navy carriers and operations spanned the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Pilots generally enjoyed their Tiger mounts and noted their fair handling qualities while mechanics thought the airframe relatively easy to maintain. However, the Tiger was to live a short operational service life, primarily due to performance issues through their generally unreliable powerplants. Additionally, their afterburning aspect led to unacceptable limited ranges, particularly when carrier groups were expected to operate over vast swathes of open sea. The USN's unhappiness with their new fighters ultimately led to the cancellation of the reconnaissance variant, limiting total production of the fighter types to the several hundred fighter airframes. Despite its rather recent introduction in 1956, the aircraft was quickly retired from frontline service as early as 1961. By this time, the branch has begun utilizing the Vought F-8 Crusader in number and would eventually take on stocks of the excellent McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II fighter. The F11F continued for a short time longer in training roles before being given up for good by 1969.
In 1962, all US aircraft were redesignated under a new naming conventional and this therefore meant that all previous F11F aircraft now became the simpler "F-11" and the original F11F-1 fighter mounts were therefore known as "F-11A".
Grumman intended to shore up the limitations in its F11F series through further development of the airframe around the General Electric J79-GE-3A turbojet engine as the company Model G-98J. However, US Navy interest was minimal and only two of the type - known as the F11F-1F "Super Tiger" - were ever completed.
The F11F/F-11 was never exported.
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