Grumman F9F Panther Dutch Navy / demo team

[Paper Kosmonaut]

Up until the mid- sixties the Dutch navy actually had an aircraft carrier. After the independence of all the East-indies colonies we had (yeah I know, we were bad people too) the Dutch government saw no use in maintaining an air force section on a carrier so the ship was sold to Argentina (it played a small roll in the Falklands war) and the Dutch navy flew Neptunes - later P3 Orions - and other planes from a naval base in Zuid-Holland. Now they only have a couple of helicopters left and that's it.

But in their heydays the Dutch navy had Sea Furies and later Hawker (Armstrong Whitworth) Seahawks. And that what I always didn't like. I wanted a more powerful and agressive looking fighter on the deck of the Karel Doorman.
So I opted for the Grumman F9F Panther. The straight winged version, because I prefer it aesthetically above the later swept-winged Cougar. There actually is not a good background story involved here; I just really liked the Panther a lot and I wanted to give it the Dutch treatment like I do with a lot of my models (More to follow later).

This is the Dutch Navy's photo reconnaissance version. Flown from 1952 to the mid-sixties. This is actually one I built long before I came up with my elaborate what-if story on the Dutch air force after WWII. In that story the Netherlands are a republic again. (see the TRS2 I built) - This model however, bears the signs of the Royal Dutch Navy. Wouldn't do that now.









The model is the Revell F9F Panther 1/48 scale. Hand-painted with the classic hairy stick, decals are from Dutch Decals, using the decals originally meant for the Seahawk. I also used some of the Panther decals that came with the model.

But the plane also is incorporated in the what-if story:
The Dutch government decides to buy one jet fighter for both the air force and navy (and the newly formed marines) to make common maintenance easier. The UK promotes its Sea Hawk, the US does the same with the Panther. While the Dutch are tempted to buy European, the Panther comes cheaper with aid of the Marshall Plan and therefore the F9F is chosen. The land-based planes aren't any different from their sea-going colleagues and the are actually interchangeable.

The Navy and the Dutch Air force are royally equipped with the planes (also two seaters) and not long after that, the idea of a combined forces demo team is suggested. There has never been a team before and all three flying branches are enthusiastic about it. The formed team is called "De Heeren 17", after the illustrious company of gentlemen that led the VOC, the Dutch East-Indies Company. Seventeen planes are recruited for the job, pilots from the marines, the navy and the air force are selected. After their introduction at the European air shows, the team soon becomes very popular.
During demo's, the team enters as a whole, seventeen planes in a big formation, to introduce itself to the audience. Right after that, it splits up into three sections of five and two solo performers. This means there is something to watch the whole time, wih one section performing a manoeuvre for the audience, while the others either reform at the back or immediately follow up. The two soloists have a lot of daring manoeuvres and play around the group formations. the DH17 as they informally are called are soon amongst the most popular demo teams in Europe.
This is the F9F in its classic DH17 livery, dark blue top, white belly, orange accents on the nose and tip tanks. Also Revell but 1/72.
Decals are leftovers from my kitbashbox. This one is also hand painted.







Hope you like it!

[zenrat]

Both look good.  Nice work.

[DogfighterZen]

Both look good.  Nice work.

I'll second that, Nice work on both!

[TomZ]

Nice

TomZ

[Dizzyfugu]

Pretty! 

[NARSES2]

Both look good.  Nice work.

I'll second that, Nice work on both!

Thirded 

[b29r]

Fourthed.  The Panther is just a cool early jet, and she looks right in her Dutch markings.  Very nice work, love both birds!

[Captain Canada]

Nice work for sure. I really like the operational look, but the display a/c would look great in the air !

[SPINNERS]

Great work. And well done on that smooth curve on the upper surfaces in front of the windscreen.