GRUMMAN F8F BEARCAT
BEARCAT SERVICE
| Manufacturer: | The Grumman Aircraft Engr. Corp., Bethpage, Long Is., New York, USA |
| Model: | G-58 |
| Designations: | F8F; F3M |
| Name: | Bearcat |
| First official flight: | (XF8F-1) 31/08/1944 |
| Factory production period: | 1944 - 1949 |
| Primary service period: | 1945 - 1953 |
| Last official flight: | (F8F-1D / -2D) 1956 |
BEARCAT VARIANTS
| 1944 | Model G-58 | XF8F-1 | 2 | |
| 1945 | Model G-58 | F8F-1 / -1B / -1N | 770 | |
| 1947 | Model G-58 | F8F-1B | 126 | Total: 0898 |
| 1948 | Model G-58 | F8F-2 / -2N / -2P | 365 | Total: 0365 |
| 1947 | Model G-58A / B | Model G-58A / B | 2 | Total: 002 |
|
Grand Total: 1265 |
BEARCAT PRODUCTION
Military Aircraft
XF8F-1
Prototype single seat, carrier-based fighter.
Produced 1944
Grumman Bethpage, New York (F)
| BuNo.90460, 90461 | D-01, D-02 |
Total: 0002 |
F8F-1 /
-1B /
-1N
As XF8F-1, engine upgrade, dorsal fin,
minor changes.
658 as F8F-1 fighters.
100 as F8F-1B wing cannons.
12 as F8F-1N night-fighters.
Produced 1944 - 1947
Grumman Bethpage, New York (F)
| BuNo.90437 / 90459 | D-1 / D-23 | |
| BuNo.94752 / 95498 | D-24 / D-770 | Total: 0770 |
| 5253 additional airframes cancelled. | ||
F8F-1B
As F8F-1, four 20mm wing cannons.
Original designation was F8F-1C.
Produced 1947 - 1948
Grumman Bethpage, New York (F)
| BuNo.121463 / 121522 | mixed D-837 to D-1261 | |
| BuNo.122087 / 122152 | D-771 / D-836 | Total: 0126 |
F8F-2 /
-2N /
-2P
As XF8F-2, four 20mm wing cannons.
293 as F8F-2 fighters.
12 as F8F-2N night-fighters.
60 as F8F-2P photo reconn. version.
Produced 1948 - 1949
Grumman Bethpage, New York (F)
| BuNo.121523 / 121792 | mixed D-867 to D-1186 | |
| BuNo.122614 / 122708 | mixed D-1143 to D1261 | Total: 0365 |
Model G-58A / G-58B
Civil demonstration version.
NX120IV: G-58A Gulfhawk IV (F8F-1),
later to
civil reg.: NL3025.
N700A: G-58B Redship (F8F-2),
later to
civil reg.: N7700C.
Produced 1947, 1949
Grumman Bethpage, New
York
| NX120IV (civil reg.) | D-739A | |
| N700A (civil reg.) | D-1262 |
Total: 0002 |
F3M-1 - 1945, General Motors Corp. order for 1876 cancelled.
|
Grand Total: 1265 |
BEARCAT CONVERSIONS
US Navy
| F8F-1D | 1+ | F8F-1, 1949, drone director conversions. |
| F8F-1DB | 1+ | F8F-1B, unofficial designation for cannon armed French aircraft. |
| F8F-1E | 1 | F8F-1, 1945, night-fighter prototype, APS-4 radar. |
| XF8F-1N | 2 | F8F-1(94812, 94819), 1945, night-fighter prototypes, APS-19 radar. |
| F8F-1P | 1 | F8F-1, 1946, photo reconnaissance conversion. |
| XF8F-2 | 2 | F8F-1(95049, 95330), 1947, engine upgrade, revised engine cowling, taller tail. |
| F8F-2D | 1+ | F8F-2, drone director conversions. |
FOREIGN MILITARY / CIVILIAN SERVICE
- Bearcats in service with the air forces of France, S. Vietnam and
Thailand.
- Several sold on the civil market as circuit racers and Warbirds.