Anyone got some photos or stories to share on this beautiful aircraft ? I have always wanted to talk to a fleet pilot who flew these during the operational days circa 1946 thru 1949. Click to view attachmentClick to view attachment

I posted this just the other day in the Branson thread actually.



Ryan

Here's a shot of my dad's F8F-2 N500B shortly before he sold it in the late 60's
Frank

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One more with me on the wing. I got a few more grey hairs now...

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Here's one taken from a Grumman FF-1 enroute to it's retirement at the Pensacola NAS Museum
(the FF-1)

Great shots, frankster. I have one of myself on the hood of my dad's '51 Studebaker, but that's nothing compared to being on the wing of a Bearcat! It is a graceful machine.

Frankster,
Why is the tail number different between the left and right sides?

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My dad transferred the N500B registration from plane to plane...he had it on a Bonanza before the Bearcat, and maybe some others before my time. Here's a shot of it and another Bear he owned for a short time N7701C.
Frank

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Watch that prop!

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OK, one more...

CAF Bear
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Handyman special....N1028B which became N500B/N5005
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N5171V later became N5555H
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Aha ! Bill and Corky's birds?

Great stuff Frank.

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Actually, I think Corky was still flying their Mustang at the time. Here's a shot of him and his Dad at NAS Patuxent River -I think in '67. I'm not sure when they got the second Bearcat (N700A). I believe my dad copied their scheme for his blue Bearcat. Back before military colors were the thing to put on your warbird. They sure were purdy.
Frank

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Same airshow.

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I had the great honor of seeing the Red Rippers in Roanoke,Va in 1977.I never ever seen anything so amazing as that show.They did opposing passes at each other from altitude and the announcer said prior that the closure rate was 800 mph.I don't know if it was that fast but if it wasn't faster then I was fooled.

Man, I'm feeling old this morning seeing the Blue Angels F11F Tigers and C-54. I forgot about Corky flying the Mustang. Nice pictures.

Frank,
Did your dad fly a Bearcat in the Air Corps or was he just fond of it and decided to get one?

Rick

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He was a flight engineer in B-29's in the Korean war. Later became a f/e with Eastern and moved up to captain. He grew up on a farm right next to Kingsville NAS in South Tx -probably where he got his love of the aircraft. He owned N500B in partnership with a professor from Yale named Russ Hansen. He later bought Hansen out. Hansen owned the F8F-2 N5555H also.
My dad died at the age of 39 from cancer unfortunately, when I was 6 (1970).
-Frank

Sorry to hear of your dad's untimely passing. Your photos bring to memory airshows that I attended in the 60's at Columbus (Mississippi) Air Force Base. Enjoyed the USAF stuff, but they always had a couple of warbirds there too, every year. Most had the civilian paint and looked good.
What happened to the Bearcat?

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John Church's F8F

You're bringing back some fond memories Frank. More please! One of my favorites was Jack Slikers "Escape II " racer.

Wow. How incredible it would be to own one of those beauties.

Frank,
Did N500B become N148F? I searched for John Church and it seems he owned 2 ro 3 different Bears.

Rick

N500B became N5005, crashed in an air race killing the pilot/owner Mike Geren. A/c was destroyed as far as I know.
I think N148F might be still around. I'm not sure though.
Frank

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Here's another shot of Bill Fornof's Bear. Was a fine looking aircraft for sure.
Frank

p.s. c'mon you guys -I'm running out of photos! Dig up some Bear shots!

The Fighter Collections Bear. This beauty quite often flies the "Joker" slot at Flying Legends with Stephen Grey at the controls. Always a favourite of mine. Looking forward to Legends 11/12th July!

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Another angle of the old CAF Bear

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Another angle -N5171V -later N5555H

Tell you what folks,I have only seen a Bearcat fly once and there were 2 of them that day.I believe they were called the Red Rippers.That was WAY back in 1977 at an airshow here in Roanoke,Va.That was the MOST IMPRESSIVE demo I have ever seen.Fast as all get out and some very good formation work.

I'll never forget their opposing pass either for with the mountains surrounding the airport they started with a dive from about ( guess here ) 2000' and if I remember correctly the announcer said their closure speeds were 800 mph.Don't hold me to it for that was 32 years ago but I can remember what I had seen from those guys like it was yesterday.Just fantastic show.Funny part to this story was that way back then the F-14A was here also and had flown prior to them.Before , everyone was hanging around the F-14 and after everyone was hanging around them.Says something don't it.

Now I am going to google the Red Rippers and see what I can dig up.I also hope we see some more pics on here for the Bearcat is one Bad A^# looking airplane that's for sure.