Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation

Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation. . , The Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation (as it was originally known) played a key role in the design of U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aircraft. The Grumman aircraft on display here provide excellent examples of post-World War II (1939-45) jet age naval aircraft from the F9F Cougar and F11F Tiger of the 1950s to the A-6 Intruder and F-14 Tomcat of the 1970s., Founded by Leroy Grumman in 1929, this Bethpage, New York aerospace manufacturer became famous as the "Iron Works," creating rugged naval aircraft from 1931 through 1994. It developed its reputation for tough, durable aircraft during World War II, particularly with its carrier-based F4F Wildcat, F6F Hellcat, and TBF Avenger aircraft. Grumman was one of the first large wartime aviation employers to hire women, African-Americans, and workers with disabilities. The company's postwar work included numerous Navy and civil aircraft, as well as the Apollo Lunar Module. In 1994, the company merged with Northrop to become Northrop Grumman. The current firm continues aerospace as well as naval aviation work., [Captions:] , The variable sweet angle of the F-14 Tomcat's wing enhances the aircraft's performance both in slow and high speed flight. Here the Tomcat's wings are at about the halfway point between full forward (slow flight) and full sweep back (high speed flight). (U.S. Navy), A prototype F11F Tiger, similar to this one, has the distinction of shooting itself down. While firing the 20mm cannons in a shallow dive, the fast flying aircraft caught up to the projectiles as their speed decayed. The pilot successfully crash landed the aircraft. (U.S. Navy), The twin-jet engined A-6 Intruder had a long and distinguished career with the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps beginning in 1963. Advanced electronic-countermeasure versions served through 2012. (U.S. Navy), Modified versions of the F9F-8 Cougar were employed as unarmed photoreconnaissance aircraft. Notice the enlarged nose with windows for cameras on this Cougar flying over the Mediterranean island of Malta in 1958. (U.S. Navy)