Although everyone wants to see the Bear race again I don't think she should be flown again. She belongs in a museum so everyone can see her. If she was raced again she might crash and then the Rare Bear would be gone forever! No one wants that to happen. However, I would love to see another F8 Bearcat turned into a race plane similar to Rare Bear. Given a catchy name, the plane would be very popular. Of course, there is only one Rare Bear!
My friend, this lovely Race bird IS a Museum (of sorts) and we get to visit her annually at Reno...But I agree with your sentiment. A caged bird never sings though
Reno is at ground level, but WW2 fighters like the Bearcat were designed to fly their fastest at about 30,000 feet, for dogfighting and to escort bombers. So what top speed would Rare Bear be able to reach at 30,000 feet, a/ if no adjustments were made to its current engine and b/ if it were adjusted to give its best at 30,000 feet?
Don't really know. It's current engine has not ran since 2015. The old engine and intake in the wing roots was faster. They set the speed record at 528 in New Mexico in 1989. Don't know the altitude.
According to my T-shirt from Lyle Shelton days,(not Steve Hinton pilotdays).. On August 21st 1989 Las Vegas, New Mexico The bear reached a speed of 528.329!!
Nice engine noises. cracklin' poppity pop. 💨 💨 💨
What a Sound!
Thanks for posting, Tim!
Will she ever race Reno again? There is nothin on earth like her.
Not likely. Owner Rod Lewis has no interest in racing any more.
Although everyone wants to see the Bear race again I don't think she should be flown again. She belongs in a museum so everyone can see her. If she was raced again she might crash and then the Rare Bear would be gone forever! No one wants that to happen. However, I would love to see another F8 Bearcat turned into a race plane similar to Rare Bear. Given a catchy name, the plane would be very popular. Of course, there is only one Rare Bear!
nonsense bs
SHE deserves to fly !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My friend, this lovely Race bird IS a Museum (of sorts) and we get to visit her annually at Reno...But I agree with your sentiment.
A caged bird never sings though
Reno is at ground level, but WW2 fighters like the Bearcat were designed to fly their fastest at about 30,000 feet, for dogfighting and to escort bombers. So what top speed would Rare Bear be able to reach at 30,000 feet, a/ if no adjustments were made to its current engine and b/ if it were adjusted to give its best at 30,000 feet?
Don't really know. It's current engine has not ran since 2015. The old engine and intake in the wing roots was faster. They set the speed record at 528 in New Mexico in 1989. Don't know the altitude.
Also, Reno is around 5,800ft, and in the heat, the density altitude gets to around 9,000ft I believe.
According to my T-shirt from Lyle Shelton days,(not Steve Hinton pilotdays).. On August 21st 1989 Las Vegas, New Mexico The bear reached a speed of 528.329!!
And a world time to Climb record of three thousand meters in ninety one seconds