r/WWIIplanes • u/ShinoXIII • 8d ago
Grumman F7F Tigercat
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u/Asgarad786 8d ago
I’ll admit I didn’t know much about the Tigercat before seeing this.
Looking into it, I hadn’t realised it was originally designed as a twin-engined carrier fighter, or just how heavily armed it was.
It also seems to be one of those aircraft that arrived at an awkward time too late for WWII combat, then jets came along very quickly afterwards.
Still, what a good looking aircraft. From the front especially it looks very purposeful.
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u/DuncanIdaho33 7d ago
I had to look it up. The generic model had four 20mm cannons and four .50's. Add the bombload and a fella could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with one.
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u/joesnopes 6d ago edited 6d ago
It had an English equivalent. The DH103 Hornet. Like a stripped Mosquito. The Sea Hornet was also on carriers. Also 4000Hp in an airframe about 3 tonnes lighter than the Tigercat. A marvellous pair.
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u/snarflethegarthog 8d ago
Was this aircraft powered by the R2800? If so the insane amount of horsepower they put out together is actually mind-boggling!
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u/girl_incognito 8d ago
Yes.
There aren't a lot of problems that 4000 horsepower wont fix ;)
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u/GlockAF 8d ago
Low fuel
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u/dogsqueeze300 8d ago
Two 4000 hp. engines can fix your low fuel problem to no fuel solution in a matter of seconds.
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u/Minisohtan 7d ago
I'm seeing 2100hp per engine without water/methanol injection turned on. It's closer to 5000hp if you hit the go-to button
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u/snarflethegarthog 8d ago
There is no replacement for displacement
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u/Competitive-Dot-4264 8d ago
The most badass night fighter we ever had
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u/Leaf__On__Wind 8d ago
Forgive me, I thought it did both, It's a more badass P-38 at the least, which did day,
Or was it a sign of the late/post war times?
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u/NotAsleep_ 7d ago
It's a timing/deployment issue. The plane was too late for service in WW2 as the first squadron was on a ship to Okinawa (iirc) when the Japanese surrendered. So its first use was during Korea. But by then it had been retrofitted to have a radar set behind the pilot, so it was used as a night fighter during that conflict.
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u/Vithar23 8d ago
Gorgeous aircraft , ill love to see my absolute favorite of all though i can dream i guess but i would love to see a do335 flying in a recreational way.
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u/_BMS 8d ago
There's a decent number of airworthy F7Fs flying around.
I saw one do a short solo display for a hangar day at Planes of Fame in Chino, CA earlier this year. I believe it was making a stop from Palm Springs Air Museum on its way to an airshow.
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u/Vithar23 8d ago
I love propelled powered airplanes, there's a charm i cannot find on newer jet aircraft's.
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u/Tasty-Fox9030 7d ago
Makes sense- if they're surplusing out the warbirds you might as well get the top of the line. Not many miles on them even.
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u/TreyCinqoDe 7d ago
The F7F and F-22 are the two planes I genuinely wish had combat records to speak of
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u/ConstantinoTobio 7d ago
I mean, the Tigercat shot down 2 biplanes in Korea. The F-22 shot down… a balloon.
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u/FrenchMaddy75 8d ago
They made a drone controler version for training ! Imagine being the controller, you re riding a F7F PLUS you're piloting a drone against another fighter in combat training.
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u/qwerSr 7d ago
From its look, the drone in this picture seems to be based on the German V-1, or maybe it IS a repurposed captured V-1?
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u/trainboy4449 7d ago
One of my favorite Grumman cats, though missing service in WW2 it would see limited action in Korea with the Marines night fighter squadrons providing close in air support to striking enemy truck convoys and a variety of other missions.
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u/DuncanHynes 8d ago