F8F Southern California Wing
| F8F Specs | |
|---|---|
| Role | Fighter |
| Manufacturer | Grumman |
| Introduced | 1945 |
| Power | 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-30W radial engine, 2,250 hp |
| Length | 27 ft, 8 in |
| Height | |
| Wingspan | 35 ft, 6 in |
| Range | 865 mi |
Smaller than the Wildcat and more powerful than the Hellcat, the F8F Bearcat was designed with the largest reliable engine available at the time fitted to the smallest possible airframe. It was designed to be fast climbing to take on new fighters the Japanese were expected to introduce. Although too late to see combat with the U.S. Navy, 24 squadrons were flying the F8Fs by the end of 1948.
