In article . uk,
Kulvinder Singh Matharu writes:
I was at a speech last week given by an ex-pilot who talked about how
he went supersonic in a Navy jet (their first jet that could break
the sound barrier). The aircraft would need to be put into a dive
though...approaching MACH 1 the plane would shake like crazy with the
helmet banging against the canopy. Once through MACH 1 the shaking
would stop. It was a really great story about how scared he felt with
his helmet smashing against the canopy and then the elation at going
supersonic...and then the sudden realisation that he was rapidly
approaching the ground!

LIke I said, it was a great story. What I didn't catch was the name
of the aircraft. Does anyone know?

In terms of when they entered operational service, the most likely
candidates are the Grumman F9F-6 Cougar (The version with the swept
wings), and the North American FJ-2 Fury.
The Fury doesn't get much press - It was a carrier vapable version of
the land-based F-86 Sabre. There were 4 airplane types designated as
the FJ - the very earlt straight-wing FJ-1, ordered during World War
2, and with, like all early jets, some severe problems with landing on
an aircraft carrier - the one attempt to take then to sea resulted in
the entire squadron (VF-5, maybe) being grounded due to accidents.
Think of it as a step between the P-51 and the F-86. DUring the
Korean War, when the Navy realized that it needed swept wing fighters
so that it could operate in the same airspace as MiG-15s, they
requested that North American build a carrier version of the F-86.
The first result was the FJ-2, which was pretty much an F-86F with a
blue paint job, stronger landing gear, and a tailhook. It worked
pretty well, but needed more power when in the landing pattern (Not
enough acceleration to pull off a missed approach tp a straight-decked
carrier) It was a good fighter, though, and most were used by the
Marines. To overcome the troubles of the FJ-2, North Amercan designed
a version with a new fuselage, and using a Wright J65 engine (7200#
thrust), vs. the FJ-2's J47 (6000# thrust). This was quite
successful, and was very popular as a fighter. FJ-3's served all
through the 1950s as Day Fighters. FJ-3s in service after December
1962 wer reddesignated as F-1Cs The success of the FJ-3 led North
American to produce a nother redesigned version, with a new lower drag
fuselage with more fuel, and a new, much thinner wing for less drag at
transonic speeds. This went into service as the FJ-4, and, again,
proved rather successful. THe FJ-4 spawned a dedicated
Fighter-Bomber/Attack version, the FJ-4B, which was deployed in much
the same role as the A4D Skyhawyk. Post 1962, FJ-4s were redesignated
F-1Es, and FJ-4Bs were redesignated as AF-1Es. For the life of me,
the different models of the airplane were so different, I'll never
understand why they weren't designmated FJ (For teh straight wing),
F2J, F3J, and F4J. There weren't a whole lot of parts in common
between them.
The Furies all proved to be effective aircraft (Well, the FJ-2 most
effective from land bases), and enjoyable to fly. They provided most
of the Navy's Day Fighters until the introduction of the F8U Crusader.
(rec.aviation.military.naval has a thread going for what would be the
best airframe/engine combination, I haven't dipped my foot into that
pond, but for my money, the best would be an FJ-4 with the J52 engine
from a later A-4. Not only would it be an amazing performer, it's
practical, too.)

The description of the airplane's behavior would fit a number of
others, as well - most notable the Vought F7U Cutlass (Tailless twin
jet, not exactly successful), the McDonnell F3H Demon (delayed into
service due to the failure of Westinghouse to produce a useful engine
larger than a J34), which mainly saw service as a radar-equipped Night
Fighter, and the Douglas F4D F-6A after 1962) Sky Ray, which was also
delayed in going into service due to Westinghouse engine problems).

Sorry I douldn't narrow it down, but there's you list of suspects.

--
Pete Stickney
A strong conviction that something must be done is the parent of many
bad measures. -- Daniel Webster