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In 1956, a fighter plane shot itself down because it was faster than the bullet it shot

The Fighter Plane That Shot Itself Down

In 1956, the Grumman aircraft corporation was testing its new fighter, the F-11 Tiger, off the coast of New York state.

The pilot fired a long burst from its guns and moments later suffered mysterious, catastrophic damage that caved in the windshield and mortally wounded the engine.

What happened? The pilot had shot himself down.

The F-11 Tiger, like all Grumman aircraft, was named after a cat. Fast and nimble, the F-11 was only the second supersonic fighter in the Navy’s inventory, capable of 843 miles per hour (Mach 1.1).

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The plane was actually Grumman’s… Continue Reading (2 minute read)

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