HOME      Grumman F8F Bearcat
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NOTE: RADIO CONTROL AIRPLANES ARE ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE PAGE.
Overview:
Grumman F8F Bearcat aircraft were the last piston engine fighters produced by Grumman.
 
The small Grumman F8F Bearcat aircraft was built around the largest, most power per weight, and most reliable aircraft engine of the time, the P & W R2800.
The first US Navy Grumman F8F Bearcat squadron became operational on May 21,1945, just before WW II was over. They never saw combat. Eventually 24 fighter squadrons would be equipped with Grumman F8F Bearcat aircraft. Many pilots regarded them as the most maneuverable and fastest accelerating U. S. piston engine fighters ever built.
 
Grumman F8F Bearcat aircraft were originally fitted with "Safety Wing Tips", the outer 40 inches of which were designed to break off cleanly in case of the wing being over stressed in a dive or other maneuver. After several incidents where one or both wing tips unintentionally tore off, this feature was eliminated from later production Grumman F8F Bearcat aircraft.

The Grumman F8F Bearcat features a low single wing design, all metal construction, a bubble canopy, folding wings for carrier operations, self-sealing fuel tanks, four 50 caliber machine guns, pilot armor, a retractable tail wheel, and an eighteen cylinder Pratt & Whitney engine that the fuselage was designed around.
 
After World War II,  Grumman F8F Bearcat aircraft were the primary U.S. Navy carrier fighter aircraft. A total of 24 squadrons of the Navy flew Grumman F8F Bearcat aircraft into the early 1950's.

The U.S. Navy Blue Angels started flying the Grumman F8F Bearcat for their demonstrations in 1946.

In the 1950's both the Thai and French employed the Grumman F8F Bearcat. They were used primarily as fighter bombers against the Viet Minh.
 
An unmodified production Grumman F8F Bearcat set a 1946 time to climb record to 10,000 feet in 94 seconds, after a run of 115 ft. The record stood for 10 years until a jet fighter broke it. However the jet could not take off in only 115 ft.

The Grumman F8F Bearcat was the first US Navy fighter to feature a full "bubble" canopy.

The Rare Bear, a modified Grumman F8F Bearcat racer owned by Lyle Shelton, holds the record for the fastest single engine propeller driven aircraft in the world with an average speed of 528.33 mph over a 3 km (1.864 mile) course.

The only propeller driven aircraft faster than the Grumman F8F Bearcat Rare Bear is the four engine Russian Tupolev Tu-95 Bear.


Specifications

    Primary Function:
    Crew:
    Engine:
    Horsepower:
    Weight Empty:
    Max. Weight:
    Ordnance:
    Machine Guns:
    Length:
    Wingspan:
    Cruise Speed:
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    Date Deployed:

fighter/bomber
one
P & W R28000
2,100 hp
7,070 lbs.
12,947 lbs.
2,000 lbs.
4- .50 caliber
28' 3"
35' 10"
185 mph
421 mph
4,600 fpm
38,700 feet
1,435 miles
8/21/44
19454
945


Not a Radio Control Airplane
 The Grumman F8F Bearcat Rare Bear racer.

Radio Control Airplanes:
 
We have seen a .90 size F8F Bearcat RC from Frontier Models.

Nick Ziroli Plans has a 86" wing span rc F8F Bearcat, pictured immediately below, for 3.7 c.i.d. or larger engines.

Jim Ryan Aircraft has a 30" wing span F8F Bearcat rc airplane kit for speed 400 size motors.

American Eagle Models has an 86" wing span rc F8F Bearcat for 4.2 and up engines.

You will find a RC F8F Bearcat Rare Bear radio control airplanes from Thunder Tiger.  The EP RC airplane ARF has a 34" wing span. The rc airplane is powered by a 370 geared motor.

For those who like a larger, gas powered F8F Bearcat RC airplane, Thunder Tiger has a 63" w/s ARF radio control airplane for .61 - .91 engines.

Looking for a 40 size rc F8F Bearcat airplane? Dymond Modelsport has a 57" span radio control airplane for gas or electric power.

Marutaka Model Co. (Heljan) has a F8F Bearcat rc airplane.  The ARF radio control airplane has a 62" wing span and can be flown with .60 - .80 engines.

Please email us if you know of any other rc F8F Bearcat radio control airplanes. We value your experiences.
 
Tommy Parmaglia of Norco, CA writes:
I have been flying my RC Ziroli F8F Bearcat radio control airplane for a little over a year. The  RC Airplane has a 86" wing span, weighs 28 lbs. ready to fly, and is powered by a Zenoah 62.

Ground handling of the Ziroli rc F8F Bearcat radio control airplane is excellent. Advancing the throttle of the RC Airplane slowly on take off brings up the tail in a very short distance. More power and slight back pressure gets the F8F Bearcat rc airplane airborne. Only a little right rudder trim is added to achieve straight and level flight.

The F8F Bearcat RC Airplane is well behaved, and immediately comfortable to fly. Loops for the rc airplane should be done at about 3/4 throttle from level flight, with full power applied upon entry.

Stall turns and inverted flight of the F8F Bearcat rc airplane are easier than expected. The radio control airplane can even perform a decent knife edge, although a moderate amount of elevator compensation is required to keep the rc F8F Bearcat from pitching up. Low speed rolls are more barrel type, but at higher speeds the radio control airplane rolls more axially.

Landings with the F8F Bearcat RC are easy. With full flaps deployed it slows remarkably. There is a mild pitching up of the radio control airplane as the flaps are lowered, which is to be expected. Setting up the approach, reducing throttle, the rc F8F Bearcat comes in smooth and slow, with no tendencies to fall off.


Radio Control Airplane
 RC F8F Bearcat by Wilfred Steinhorst.

Radio Control Airplane

 RC F8F Bearcat from Nick Ziroli Plans.