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Team Leader Blue Angels, 1949
- 1/48 scale
- Professionally painted
- Pad applied markings
- Opening canopy
Pre-production image, actual model may differ (Hobbymaster are aware that the blue and yellow are not the right shades and are looking into.
Limited edition expected to be 1200
The F9F Panther was Grumman Aircraft’s first venture into jets. The US Navy received
the first F9F-2s in May 1949 and used them until October 1958. With the speed of the
Panther it meant that in Korea it could get to the target faster than the old Corsairs. The
greater speed also meant less chance of being shot down. Pilots enjoyed a pressurized
cockpit and extra fuel carried in wing tip tanks. The Navy liked the fact the wings folded
for storage.
In June 1946 the “Blue Angels” first leader was LCDR Roy “Butch” Voris and they flew 3
Grumman F6F Hellcats. Voris chose “Blue Angels” after seeing an ad for a New York
nightclub of the same name. Only two months later the team transitioned to the F8F
Bearcat. In 1947 Dusty Rhodes joined the Blue Angels along with a new leader LCDR
Robert Clarke. Clarke added a 4th aircraft to the team. On January 9, 1948 Rhodes
became the leader until January 11, 1950. During his tenure the Blue Angels moved to its
first jet aircraft the Grumman F9F-2 Panther.
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