Grumman-Dornier F-11D 'Super Tiger'

[Spinners 15,986]

Grumman-Dornier F-11D 'Super Tiger' - MFG1, Marinefliger, 1964

Grumman’s disappointment with the Wright J65 engine in their promising F11F (Tiger) led to them following a similar path to Lockheed and designing an improved aircraft based around the outstanding General Electric J79 engine. As an interim measure, and mainly at their own expense, Grumman modified two F11-F1’s and fitted J79-GE-3A engines to them and the performance and reliability was so greatly improved that Grumman were soon issuing brochures to anyone in the US Navy who would listen.

 

However, with the F8U-1 Crusader running on a similar timescale and the McDonnell F4H-1 in the pipeline, the US Navy politely declined Grumman’s offer. Undaunted, Grumman studied the market that was opening up in Europe and looked beyond any possible small-scale orders from the Royal Navy and the French Aeronavale. In particular, West Germany appeared to be a whole and potentially lucrative market in itself with the Luftwaffe and Marineflieger possibly requiring 600+ aircraft. Grumman knew that their design was a more flexible aircraft than the compromised ‘straight-line’ Lockheed F-104 and the under-developed English Electric Lightning whilst Dassault did not appear to want to hang bombs on his beautiful delta-winged Mirage III!

 

Grumman’s ‘Super Tiger’ proposal to the Federal German Government was for a multi-role fighter with good air-to-air capability. During late 1958 their proposal was keenly studied by Federal German officials but against Lockheed’s F-104G the Super Tiger looked a bit austere and appeared to be out of contention. However, in January 1959 the Federal German Government stirred the pot by suggesting that they were considering authorising the purchase of two ex-British aircraft carriers for the Marine which allowed Grumman to remind Federal German Government officials that their proposal was carrier capable whereas the others were decidedly not. Sensing a breakthrough, in February 1959 Grumman teamed-up with Dornier to develop the Super Tiger and manufacture any Federal German orders. In March 1959 an order was placed for 400 Super Tigers to be jointly built by a Grumman-Dornier consortium.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[+JonathanRL 974]

I always liked the F-11 :)

[MAKO69 186]

I am surprised the NAVY didn't hang on to them as a light strike fighter for the reserves.

[Stratos 3,188]

Cool jet. French Aeronavale Tiger would look cool too, after all they used Hellcats and Bearcats and they ordered Wildcats before WW2.

[Spinners 15,986]

Grumman F-11D Super Tiger - 154° Gruppo 6° Stormo, Aeronautica Militare, 1966