The Grumman F9F (AF-9J) Cougar was unveiled Saturday as the newest plane to join the elite collection of aircraft on public display at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.
 
In a short ceremony, the plane was wheeled out of the aircraft restoration tent, where its transformation took place, to take its place among the Intrepid’s collection of other aircraft that reside on the Museum’s flight deck. Curator of Aviation and Aircraft Restoration Eric Boehm was on hand to answer questions and catalogue the history of this particular plane.
 
The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum began restoring the Cougar in 2009 with a team of experts and volunteers and, after 2,000 hours on the project, will display it for the first time as part of Intrepid’s collection. 
 
The Cougar was built at Grumman’s Bethpage, NY factory and delivered to the Navy in September 1955.  The aircraft served with fighter squadrons in California and later acted as a chase plane at a training center in Texas.  The aircraft was retired from active service in 1965 and was displayed at Airplane Park in Wall Township, NJ for nearly 30 years before being acquired by the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.