Check out this Bear Cat
- Thread starter mjg407
- Start date
mjg407
Well-Known Member
I doubt it....yet. He's in Redding still, I'm doing the CP thing and "popping" in where I can with the Grumman. Today I'm VIPng some of our owners down to Sactown.
Tld
Waffles Brah.
I can't wait to see it, maybe I'll fly over in the next few weeks but otherwise I probably wont be there until the races in september...speaking of which, we need a reno air race M&G this year.
Orange Anchor
New Member
Yep. HIGHLY modified F8F with the -3350 replacing the original -2800 and according to the site, the newer engine is pumping out over 4000hp.
http://www.rarebear.com/rarebear/about_Rare_Bear/
http://www.rarebear.com/rarebear/about_Rare_Bear/
High_Alpha
Well-Known Member
Nice!
Look at the deck angle, fwd visibility, and prop diameter with respect to wingspan. And no flaps. Yikes.
Look at the deck angle, fwd visibility, and prop diameter with respect to wingspan. And no flaps. Yikes.
mjg407
Well-Known Member
Funny, they state that it is a P-3 prop, but it's a hell of a lot thinner than any P-3 prop I've ever seen..... Check out the stats
re Bear
Grummman FBF-2 Bearcat
Modification List Stock Bearcat Rare Bear Weight, Lbs.9000 8500 Wing Span, ft.35 30.5 FlapsYes No Oil Consumption0.5-5 gph High MPH, Closed Course330 490 Top Speed @ 5000 ft. 370 540 Final Approach, Knots85 120 Touchdown, Knots65 110 EngineP&W R-2800 Wright R-3350 Max HP 2400 4000+ RPM2800 2900+ Boost SystemsADI, Water Inj. ADI, Water Inj. & NOx Propeller13.5 ft. dia.
Aeroproduct P3 Orion Ham-Std. Fuel Consumption300 gph @ 370 mph 600 gph @ 540 mph TailhookYes No Fuel Capacity, Gallons180 180 Oil Capacity, Gallons40 40 Armament4x50 Cal. Small Thermonuclear Device
re Bear
Grummman FBF-2 Bearcat
Modification List Stock Bearcat Rare Bear Weight, Lbs.9000 8500 Wing Span, ft.35 30.5 FlapsYes No Oil Consumption0.5-5 gph High MPH, Closed Course330 490 Top Speed @ 5000 ft. 370 540 Final Approach, Knots85 120 Touchdown, Knots65 110 EngineP&W R-2800 Wright R-3350 Max HP 2400 4000+ RPM2800 2900+ Boost SystemsADI, Water Inj. ADI, Water Inj. & NOx Propeller13.5 ft. dia.
Aeroproduct P3 Orion Ham-Std. Fuel Consumption300 gph @ 370 mph 600 gph @ 540 mph TailhookYes No Fuel Capacity, Gallons180 180 Oil Capacity, Gallons40 40 Armament4x50 Cal. Small Thermonuclear Device
High_Alpha
Well-Known Member
Oil consumption: HIGH 
Oh, and 600 gph. (!)
Oh, and 600 gph. (!)
WacoFan
Bigly
Pretty much with you here. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, would turn my crank than for a homebuilt, non-military design to take the unlimited class at Reno. The old days (20's and 30's) featured civilian, purpose-built racers that regularly kicked the ass of the fastest pursuit ships the military had (Travel Air Mystery Ship, Weddell-Williams racers, Howards, Gee Bee's, Lairds). I would love to see something new that would start the innovation away from cutting up old warbirds. Rare Bear is famous in its own right as a racer, but many of the racers are being reverted to "stock" configuration. I would really love to see a marriage of newer airframe/wing technology with the large displacement radials and V-12's so that the sound is preserved! I had high hopes for the old Pond racer, then I had high hopes for the Thunder Mustang when they developed the Supercharged Falconer V-12, but neither of those did it. If there would be one wild thing I could do in aviation it would be to develop a winning unlimited racer that was not a warbird.
ladder360
Well-Known Member
High_Alpha
Well-Known Member
OhioStatePilot
Well-Known Member
I'm with you there, Waco... I'd love to see a homebuilt take the gold and the strange thing, is that I'd think it could be done easier than converting an old warbird. Considering all of the weight/drag/excess structure concerns, I would think a purpose-built design would easily hold a winning edge!
trafficinsight
Well-Known Member
Provided they can get some main bearings together...
Apparently they're non-existent at the moment.
The paint looks awesome, but I still miss the three blader
If you've never heard it down low and turning left you're missing out.
So what you're trying to say is that this wouldn't be the optimum camo config for low level over southeast Asia doing CAS?