F8F-2 Grumman Bearcat

lol, the bearcat missed the party so it don't count....

THE GREATEST PLANE EVER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ouJ_WyS9v8

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When I was a little kid, my Dad took to me to my first airshow to see the Navy Blue Angels.
This was early on and they were flying Bearcats before they had the F9F Panther jets. The few things I remember sitting on my Dad's shoulders was the size and the loudness of the Blue Angels.
When they landed they let us walk up to the Bearcats and, at the time, I had no idea what kind of planes they were ( Dad told me many years later), I was amazed at the giant propellers that must have been 12 or 14 feet in diameter !!
They were truly awesome machines...........

Mark Boesen wrote:lol, the bearcat missed the party so it don't count....

THE GREATEST PLANE EVER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ouJ_WyS9v8

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I have to agree with you. P51 is battle tested. The bearcat is one magnificent plane, but never cut its teeth.

....but, The official speed record for a piston plane is held by a modified Grumman F8F Bearcat, the Rare Bear, with a speed of 850.24 km/h (528.31 mph) on 21 August 1989 at Las Vegas, Nevada, United States of America.

This is my Bearcat, built from a Sig Kit I started as a Freshman in high school, it's the oldest surviving "Hangar Queen" in my little fleet. It's carcass-in-progress was hauled to college and through a couple tiny apartments as I started working, and finished in the mid-seventies.

Rather than go with a military scheme, I painted it the way I envisioned my full-scale, personal Bearcat would appear someday...once I made my future millions of course.

Still working on the millions, but looks like it'll have to be a lottery ticket that makes it happen at this point!





A boy can still dream though...

Kim wrote:This is my Bearcat, built from a Sig Kit I started as a Freshman in high school, it's the oldest surviving "Hangar Queen" in my little fleet.  It's carcass-in-progress was hauled to college and through a couple tiny apartments as I started working, and finished in the mid-seventies.

Rather than go with a military scheme, I painted it the way I envisioned my full-scale, personal Bearcat would appear someday...once I made my future millions of course.

Still working on the millions, but looks like it'll have to be a lottery ticket that makes it happen at this point!





A boy can still dream though...

Very COOL!!   As far as "riches" are concerned.. "We're all rich.. every day, in some way". Three questions: What size was that Sig Bearcat? Was it a 3-line "Navy Carrier" model? What did you use for engines?

Roddie

Agreed!  We ARE the fortunate ones.  Still, even though it'd probably have me for lunch, I'd LOVE to get my hands on a Bearcat or Mustang! Years ago, I very nearly blew a ton of money for a half-hour of dual time in "Crazy Horse", but bought a rifle instead. STILL don't know if I regret it or not...

Anyway, THIS Bearcat has never had an engine in it. The kit calls for an .09 to a .19, and spans 26 inches. I THINK it was originally kitted by Berkley for Carrier Events. The sucker is built HEAVY, with an open framework that is planked by laying strips of shaped balsa squares up it's sides, then sanded smooth.

I installed a homemade "Roberts Style" bellcrank, and always intended to put a Fox .15R/C in it, but it never happened.

Here's the plan sheet for the Sig Bearcat: