QB-36
Grumman F8F Bearcat
The Southern California
Wing of the Commemorative Air Force maintains and flies this Grumman
F8F-2 Bearcat (N7825C). 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.
