Thursday, December 19, 2019

Very tight


6 comments:

  1. They used to call the F8F "an engine with a saddle."

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  2. an example of design to utilize the absolute minimum of magnesium and aluminum in order to streamline an R-2800 radial engine. weapons carrying ability and carrier ops were also a bonus. I can only imagine the torque roll and p-factor at very low airspeeds during a go-around. the landing gear is pure mechanical engineering artistry.

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  3. Designed to provide first-line fighters for Escort and Light Carriers.

    Basically condensing all the goodness of the F6F into a smaller, lighter platform. Less guns, less wing mounted armament, but all fight.

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  4. Step-dad (Korean War Naval Aviator) was put into the F8F in advanced training (NAVCAD Program) after CarQual in the SNJ (T-6 Texan). Somewhere in the neighborhood of 180 total hours and an instructor standing on the wing pointing out stuff. Sink or swim young eagle, sink or swim.

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  5. Some racing Bearcats.
    I saw Conquest 1 race at the Mohave air races in 1973
    Last time I saw Rare Bear was at Reno in 2015
    https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/grumman-f8f-2-bearcat-conquest-i
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rare_Bear

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  6. "Last time I saw Rare Bear was at Reno in 2015"

    Wow! I haven't been to the air races in nearly 30 years and Rare Bear was racing then.

    Paul L. Quandt

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