Planes of Fame Flight Demo Grumman F8F Bearcat Startup

#aviation #aviationphotography #aviationhistory #grumman #bearcat #flight (yes it is long, and if that bothers you just giving a heads up, but if you want the highlights: Hit below:) 0:30 Preparation 1:00 Entering Cockpit and performing checks 3:30 Initial Crank of engine 4:08 Full start up of engine 6:45 Taxi out Captured the full setup and start up from Planes of Fame's Flight Demo day in Chino, CA The Grumman F8F Bearcat was a carrier-based fighter aircraft designed and built by Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation during the late World War II era. It was one of the fastest piston-engined fighters of its time, with a top speed of 421 mph (678 km/h). The Bearcat was designed to be an improvement over the earlier F6F Hellcat, with a lighter and smaller airframe, a more powerful engine, and better maneuverability. The F8F Bearcat entered service in 1945, towards the end of World War II, but saw limited combat action during that conflict. It continued to serve with the US Navy and the US Marine Corps in the post-war period, and was also exported to several other countries. The Bearcat was used in multiple roles, including as a fighter, fighter-bomber, and reconnaissance aircraft. The aircraft was powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp radial engine, which provided a maximum 2,250 horsepower. It had a wingspan of 35 feet (10.7 m) and a length of 28 feet (8.5 m). The F8F Bearcat was armed with four 0.50-inch (12.7 mm) machine guns or two 20mm cannons and could carry up to 2,000 pounds (900 kg) of bombs or rockets. The F8F Bearcat remained in service with the US Navy and US Marine Corps until the early 1950s, when it was gradually replaced by newer jet-powered fighters. Some Bearcats continued to be used by other countries into the 1970s. Today, several F8F Bearcats are preserved in museums and private collections around the world, and a few are still flown regularly at airshows and other aviation events.