Code: HM-HA7204 Quantity in Basket: none Status: NOV 2008 PRE-ORDER Click "Add to Basket" to pre-order this item now or Request to be notified when this item is in stock FREE Shipping* Price: $67.99
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Hobby Master 1:48 Air Power Series HA7204 F9F Panther Diecast Model USN Blue Angels, #1, R.E. "Dusty" Rhodes, 1949 Limited Edition 1:48 Scale     Length     Width Grumman F9F Panther     9.75"     9.5" PLEASE NOTE: This item has a planned release date of November 2008 and is only available for PRE-ORDER at this time. Orders are not shipped until complete. If you wish to receive in-stock items prior to pre-ordered items, you must place separate orders. Release dates are subject to change. Consider them to be estimates as manufacturers frequently revise them. Credit Cards are not billed until time of shipment. Check or PayPal payment (not recommended) is required at time of order. The F9F Panther entered service in 1949. It was the first Grumman jet fighter, first Carrier-Borne Navy jet fighter in combat, first USN jet to shoot down an enemy airplane, first jet aircraft used by the Blue Angels. A total of 1,382 F9Fs were made. VF-781 was the first squadron to volunteer for combat in Korea and were 100% volunteers earning them the name “Pacemakers”.Ironically Russia was making the same engine under license from Rolls-Royce for their Mig-15 that would be one of the F9F’s main Korean adversaries. The F9F flew 78,000 sorties with VF-781 flying 2,721 of them without a single loss of life. The US Marines flew the Panther until 1957 with some Reserve Units continuing to fly them a few years longer. Some aircraft were used for advanced pilot training and some became drones. 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 BA 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 BA moved to its first jet aircraft the Grumman F9F-2 Panther. Limited Edition of 1200 pieces worldwide. Hobby Master 1:48 Air Power Series The Hobby Master "1:48 Air Power Series" presents highly-detailed, ready-made diecast models of military aircraft. Hobby Master "1:48 Air Power Series" diecast airplanes feature: Diecast metal construction with some plastic components. Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details. Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals. Opening canopies, revealing detailed cockpit interiors. Hinged extending/retracting landing gear. Presentation stand to display the aircraft "in flight". Authentic detachable ordnance loads complete with placards. Accurately detailed underside with concealed screwheads. [See more Hobby Master 1:48 Air Power Series products] Grumman F9F Panther Designd as carrierborne fighter-bomber, the F9F was first flown on Novermber 24th, 1947.[See more Grumman F9F Panther products]