F9F-8P Cougar

For better performance, the earlier F9F Panther was modified with swept wings to become the Cougar. The F9F-8P was the photo-reconnaissance version, employing an extended nose which housed both vertical and oblique cameras to better render images from above. The Cougar also featured an early form of in-flight refueling with the long boom extending out front. However, this proved challenging to line up with fuel tanker drogues, so the shorter, cranked booms on later aircraft were developed.

Specifications

Crew	1
Length	40 ft 11 in (12.47 m)
Wingspan	34 ft 6 in (10.52 m)
Height	12 ft 4 in (3.76 m)
Wing area	300 ft² (27.87 m²)
Empty weight	11,483 lb (5,209 kg)
Powerplant	1 × Pratt & Whitney J48-P-8A turbojet, 7,250 lbf (38 kN)
Maximum speed	654 mph at loaded weight[60] (568 knots, 1,051.9 km/h)
Range	932 mi (810 nmi, 1,500 km) without additional tanks
Service ceiling	44,500 ft (13,564 m)
Guns	4 × 20 mm (0.79 in) AN/M3 cannon, 190 rounds per gun
Rockets	6 × 5 in (127 mm) rockets
Missiles	4 × AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles[18][note 1]
Bombs	2 × 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs on inboard pylons plus 2 x 500 lb (227 kg) bombs on outer pylons[18]