F9F-8

F9F-8

F9F-5

F3H-2

F9F-8

F9F-5

F3H-2

USA

V Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
8.3	8.3	8.3

Class:

Fighter

Jet fighter

Naval aircraft

Research:61 000

Purchase:340 000

Show in game

This page is about the American naval jet fighter F9F-8. For other uses, see F9F (Family).

Description

The F9F-8 Cougar is a rank V American naval jet fighter with a battle rating of 8.3 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.63 "Desert Hunters".

General info

Flight Performance

Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at 610 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
1,019	988	12500	33.7	34.3	17.4	15.9	500
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 610 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
?	?	12500	??.?	??.?	??.?	??.?	500

Details

Features
Combat flap	Take-off flap	Landing flap	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
X	X	✓	✓	✓

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flap (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
1127	410	620	~??	~?

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 950	< 790	< 510	> ???

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
0 m	3120 kgf	No WEP

Survivability and armour

• 9.5 mm steel - in front of cockpit
• 8.5 mm steel - behind pilot
• 60 mm steel - armoured windscreen

Armaments

Offensive armament

The F9F-8 is armed with:

• 4 x AN/M3 20 mm cannon (190 RPG = 760 total)

Suspended armament

The F9F-8 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 4 х 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
• 2 х 1000 lb AN-M65A1 Fin M129 bombs (2,000 lb total)
• 4 х AIM-9B Sidewinder air-to-air missiles

Usage in battles

First of your objective when you purchase this plane is to research as fast as you can the 20 mm cannons modifications. The F9F-8 default cannons get jammed in a quick burst.

This said don’t expect to defeat MiG-15 and MiG-17A very easily. The F9F-8 performs great defensing maneuvers and can keep up in turns with the MiGs (beware that doesn’t have the great acceleration that MiGs have).

This is not an air superiority aircraft, its main purpose is to support ground vehicles and planes.

The best tactics if you are new to this plane is to fly it like a F9F-2 or F9F-5 so stay near some allies and give them support.

• Never roll too hard over 750 km\h (466 mph) or the wings will explode
• Never execute maneuvers over –2 G or the wings will explode

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage repair	Compressor
II	New boosters		Airframe	Offensive 20 mm	FLBC mk.1
III	Wings repair	Engine		New 20 mm cannons
IV	G-suit		Cover		AIM-9B

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Good bombload options
• Four 20 mm cannons can shred enemy aircraft and light ground targets
• Slightly better top speed than on the F9F Panther
• Can equip with AIM-9 Sidewinder guided missiles.
• Good roll rate over 800 km/h (497 mph)
• Faster than its predecessors

Cons:

• Bad turn time overall; even the Hawker Hunter can turn tighter in some scenarios
• Top speed is not great, but is not terrible either
• Can't equip rockets
• Cannot turn over -2G.
• Rips very very easily in turns and rolls
• Not good at retaining energy, have to be very strict in order to keep it
• Poor acceleration
• Guns tend to jam quickly without New 20mms upgrade

History

Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ History" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under === Encyclopedia Info ===, also if applicable).

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

• [Devblog] F9F-8 Cougar - A Perfect Predator