Riverside Airshow 2013
Grumman F8F Bearcat
The
F8F is a real climber and can go from a full brake stop to
10,000 feet in 96 seconds! It was designed during WWII for
fleet defense to get off the deck of the carrier, get into the
sky quickly and counter the threat from Kamikaze aircraft.
Because of this more specialized role, the Bearcat's range was
limited. It was en route to the Pacific theater when the war
ended and did not see operational service in WWII. They were
used post-war by the US Navy until as late as 1952. There were
24 Navy Squadrons that flew the Bearcat. The French also
purchased the Bearcats and used them in Indochina.