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The Grumman F8F Bearcat is an American single-engine carrier-based fighter aircraft introduced in late World War II. It went on to serve into the mid-20th century in the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps, and the air forces of other nations. It would be Grumman Aircraft's final piston engined fighter aircraft. Modified versions have broken speed records for piston-engined aircraft, and are popular among warbird owners and air racers.

This fighter plane wasn’t able to make its debut in World War II until the middle of 1945. This is just as World War II, the deadliest war ever, was coming to a close. The carrier-based plane was never sent out in large quantities, however. Just as it was being put into use, it was becoming all too clear that Germany would fall any day and that the war would be over. This plane never got to see much action?

Grumman F8F-2P Bearcat G-RUMM
The Bearcat design was the Grumman response to the US Navy’s request in the latter war years for a fast responsive fighter to be deployed in the Pacific Theatre. The type did not see operational service during the Second World War as the conflict had ended before the type saw combat service. It was however used to great effect in French Indo-China by the French Air Force. The Bearcat could outperform many early Jet fighter aircraft of the period.

The Fighter Collection aircraft was built in 1948 and taken on charge in August of that year by the US Navy. She served at a number of Naval Air Stations before undergoing modification to F8F-2P standard in 1952. Following further Navy service she was finally struck off charge in January 1957. Our Bearcat passed through two sets of private ownership in the US, the first between 1957 and 1972, and the second until 1981. It was under this second private ownership that she underwent a full overhaul and flew once again in 1975. It was in 1981 that the Bearcat joined what was to become The Fighter Collection and has gone on to be the longest serving member of the fleet.

In 1948, the F8F-2 was introduced, incorporating , in addition to the four 20mm cannon arrangement, a revised engine cowling, taller fin and rudder, and other modifications. Grumman built 293 F8F-2s along with twelve night fighter F8F-2Ns and 60 photo reconnaissance F8F-2Ps, an example of the latter on display as part of the Museum collection. A unique feature of the test model was the explosive wingtip. Should the pilot exceed 8.5 gs, explosive charges would blow off the outer three feet of each wing to prevent a total wing failure. Because the wing tips could not be made to break off simultaneously, however, the system was abandoned and never incorporated in production aircraft.

General characteristics
Crew: 1 pilot
Length: 28 ft 3 in (8.61 m)
Wingspan: 35 ft 10 in (10.92 m)
Height: 13 ft 9 in (4.21 m)
Wing area: 244 ft² (22.67 m²)
Empty weight: 7,070 lb (3,207 kg)
Loaded weight: 9,600 lb (4,354 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 12,947 lb (5,873 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-34W "Double Wasp" two-row radial engine, 2,300 hp (1,715 kW)

Performance
Maximum speed: 421 mph (366 kn, 678 km/h)
Range: 1,105 mi (1,778 km)
Service ceiling: 38,700 ft (11,796 m)
Rate of climb: 4,570 ft/min (23.2 m/s)
Wing loading: 39.3 lb/ft² (192.1 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.22 hp/lb (360 W/kg)

Armament
Guns: 4 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) Browning M2 machine guns (F8F-1 and F8F-1N); Four 20mm AN/M3 cannon (F8F-1B)
Rockets: 4 × 5 in (127 mm) unguided rockets
Bombs: 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs

F8F-2
Data from F8F Bearcat in Action
General characteristics
Length: 28 ft 3 in (8.61 m)
Wingspan: 35 ft 10 in (10.92 m)
Height: 13 ft 10 in (4.21 m)
Empty weight: 7,650 lb (3,207 kg)
Loaded weight: 10,200 lb (4,627 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 13,460 lb (6,105 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-30W two-row radial engine, 2,250 hp (1,678 kW)

Performance
Maximum speed: 455 mph (405 kn, 730 km/h)
Range: 1,105 mi (1,778 km)
Service ceiling: 40,800 ft (12,436 m)
Rate of climb: 4,465 ft/min (23.2 m/s)
Power/mass: 0.22 hp/lb (360 W/kg)

Armament
Guns: 4 × 20 mm (.79 in) AN/M3 cannon
Rockets: 4 × 5 in (127 mm) unguided rockets
Bombs: 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs