Grumman F8F Bearcat

Grumman · United States · first flew 1944 · fighter

The Grumman F8F Bearcat was the final and fastest piston-engine fighter produced by Grumman for the US Navy, designed for rapid climb and interception of Japanese aircraft. Its exceptional power-to-weight ratio made it the most agile US naval fighter of the war era.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	Very wide Pratt & Whitney R-2800 cowling on short fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Compact radial-engine naval fighter with bubble canopy
Very wide Pratt & Whitney R-2800 cowling on short fuselage
Race-circuit staple — many survive in airworthy condition

A very compact naval fighter with a large-diameter radial engine cowling, bubble canopy, folding wings, and a squared-off fin — shorter and rounder than the Corsair.

Specifications

The Grumman F8F Bearcat has a length of 8.61 m (28 ft).
It has a wingspan of 10.92 m (36 ft).
Its maximum speed is 678 km/h (421 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Designed as a response to lessons of the Guadalcanal campaign, the Bearcat prioritised climbing speed over range. It arrived too late to see combat in the Second World War but served with the US Navy into the early 1950s. France's Armée de l'Air used the Bearcat extensively in Indochina.

Variants

The F8F-1 was the initial version; the F8F-1B added 20 mm cannon in place of .50 cal guns; the F8F-2 introduced a taller fin and other improvements.

Where you'll see it

Served post-war with the US Navy and Marine Corps, and operationally with the French Armée de l'Air in Indochina (1950–1955); also supplied to Thailand and Vietnam.

Related aircraft

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