Watch for the skilful 16 point hesitation roll! (5'28"5"40") Pete Kynsey flying The Fighter Collection's Grumman F8F2P Bearcat, GRUMM, initially in company with their Goodyear FG1D Corsair, at the Imperial War museum, Duxford during 'The Americans' Flying day 2023. B17 Preservations Boeing B17G 'Sally B' is displaying in the background while the Bearcat and Corsair run up for take off.

The Bearcat design was the Grumman response to the US Navy’s 1943 request for a fast responsive fighter for the Pacific Theatre, as a successor to the Grumman Hellcat that would be capable of outperforming the Japanese A6M Zero as well as the Zero's anticipated improved replacement, which fortunately never materialised. In October 1944 the US Government ordered 2023 F8F1 Bearcats from Grumman and 1876 F3M1s from General Motors (GM), but on VJ Day in August 1945 the GM contract was cancelled and the Grumman orders, which had reached over 6000 by then, were reduced to 770. The US Navy's first combat unit to equip with the Bearcat was VF19 (Fighter Squadron 19), based at Santa Rosa , California, who received their first Bearcat on 21st May 1945. The squadron sailed aboard USS Langley in July 1945. By August two more squadrons had also equipped with Bearcats, but before any could be used in combat, Japan surrendered.
By 1948 the US Navy had 24 Bearcat squadrons. It also served with the US Marine Corps. Development continued and from the 771st airframe 126 F8F1Bs were introduced with four M2 20mm cannon, instead of four 0.5inch machine guns.
It was one of the besthandling pistonengine fighters ever built, able to outperform many early jets. Its capability for aerobatic performance is illustrated by its selection as the second demonstration aircraft for the navy's elite Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron in 1946.The Blue Angels flew the Bearcat until the team was temporarily disbanded in 1950 during the Korean War.

The Bearcat was used to great effect by the French Air Force, who had nearly 200, in French IndoChina (Vietnam) between 1946 and 1954. The Bearcat could outperform many early Jet fighter aircraft of the period.

Bearcats have long been popular in air racing. A stock Bearcat flown by Mira Slovak won the first Reno Air Race in 1964. Rare Bear, a highly modified F8F owned by Lyle Shelton, went on to dominate the event for decades, often competing with Daryl Greenamyer, another famous racer with victories in his own Bearcat (Conquest I, now at the Smithsonian's NASM) and holder of a pistonengined aircraft world speed record in it. Rare Bear also set many performance records, including the 3 km World Speed Record for pistondriven aircraft (528.33 mph), set in 1989, and a new timetoclimb record (9,800 ft in 91.9 seconds, set in 1972, breaking the 1946 record.

The Fighter Collection (TFC) aircraft was built in 1948 as an F8F2P 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 F8F2P standard in 1952. The F8F2 was an Improved version, equipped with a redesigned engine cowling, taller fin and rudder, armed with four 20 mm cannons, powered by a Pratt & Whitney R280030W radial piston engine. The F8F2P was a further modified Photoreconnaissance version of the F8F2, fitted with camera equipment, and reduced armament of only two 20 mm cannons. 60 were built.
Following further Navy service she was struck off charge in January 1957 and then passed through two private owners in the US; the first from 1957 to 1972, and the second until 1981. The second owner fully overhauled and flew her once again in 1975. In 1981 the Bearcat joined The Fighter Collection and is now the longest serving member of their fleet.
Shge wears the markings of Grumman F8F2 Bearcat BuNo.95318, '201B', flown by Lieutenant Commander Caldwell the Air Group Commander of VF19, on board USS Boxer (CV21) in 1947.
Grumman Bearcats were operated by the US Navy, US Marine Corps, French Air Force, Royal Thai Navy and Republic of Vietnam Air Force. 21 Bearcats survive of which 15 are currently airworthy. This is currently the only airworthy F8F2P and the only airworthy Bearcat in the UK and Europe.

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