GRUMMAN F9F-8P  “COUGAR” F-FIGHTER 9- 9TH MODEL F-GRUMMAN -8 MODIFICATION P- PHOTO The Cougar was the swept-swing version of the Grumman F9F Panther series and was produced in the attack, fighter, photo-reconnaissance and trainer version.  The aircraft on display was delivered to the Marines on 21 August 1956 and assigned to VMCJ-3 and spent it’s entire service life with that squadron at MCAS El Toro, CA and MCAS Iwakuni Japan.  After accumulating 1,196 hours it was retired on 19 May 1960 and has been restored in the markings of VMCJ-3. SPECIFICATIONS WING SPAN   34’6” WING AREA   337  SQ FT LENGTH   44’ 9” HEIGHT    12’ 4” GROSS WEIGHT  22,697  LBS ENGINE    1 x PRATT & WHITNEY J-48-P-8 THRUST   6,250  LBS MAX SPEED   732 MPH CRUISING SPEED  584 MPH CLIMB    4,700 FEET PER MINUTE RANGE    1,104  NAUTICAL MILES ARMAMENT   CAMERAS ONLY