Grumman F8F Bearcat

Grumman F8F-2P Bearcat G-RUMM/121714/B-201Grumman F8F-2P Bearcat G-RUMM/121714/B-201 US Navy

The Grumman F8F Bearcat (nicknamed “Bear”) was a single-engine American fighter aircraft introduced in late World War II.

  • Role: Fighter aircraft
  • Manufacturer: Grumman
  • First flight: 21 August 1944
  • Introduction: 1945
  • Retired: 1961
  • Status: Retired
  • Number built: 1,265
  • Primary users: United States Navy
    United States Marine Corps
    French Air Force
    Royal Thai Air Force

Specifications

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1 pilot
  • Length: 28 ft 3 in (8.61 m)
  • Wingspan: 35 ft 10 in (10.92 m)
  • Height: 13 ft 9 in (4.21 m)
  • Wing area: 244 ft² (22.67 m²)
  • Empty weight: 7,070 lb (3,207 kg)
  • Loaded weight: 9,600 lb (4,354 kg)
  • Max. takeoff weight: 12,947 lb (5,873 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-34W “Double Wasp” two-row radial engine, 2,300 hp (1,715 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 421 mph (366 kn, 678 km/h)
  • Range: 1,105 mi (1,778 km)
  • Service ceiling: 38,700 ft (11,796 m)
  • Rate of climb: 4,570 ft/min (23.2 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 39.3 lb/ft² (192.1 kg/m²)
  • Power/mass: 0.22 hp/lb (360 W/kg)

Armament

  • Guns: 4 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns (Four 20mm M3 cannon F8F-1B)
  • Rockets: 4 × 5 in (127 mm) unguided rockets
  • Bombs: 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs