Thank you, Steve, for your informative video. You are one of a few aviators I would love to "hanger fly" with just to listen to your knowledge and wisdom. Your video of the BearCat restoration brought back some good memories of my visit with a couple of my buddies to Planes of Fame East at Flying Cloud Airport back in the early 1990s. We were on a "self-guided tour" and in one the hangers sat this metallic brown F8F with Steve's name painted on the aircraft just under the canopy. One of my buddies asked who is Steve Hinton and I wanting to impress my friends with who Steve is rambled on about his daring exploits and what it must be like to fly any one of the most iconic aircraft ever built. So after a number of minutes, we turned to leave, and standing right there behind us was the best pilot I ever saw. Steve Hinton. Thank you for keeping the greatest generation of aircraft in the air.
The entire group of pilots, mechanics, support staff, and docents all do such a fantastic job that my kids are always on me to take them back to the museum so they can enjoy those beautiful aircraft up close!
Planes of Fame , I will keep on watching your videos. Those old airplanes me and are what I have dreamed of flying since I was a kid. I visited your museum once and wish I lived close enough to come help out. Currently I volunteer at the CAF near Atlanta. One day, I will visit again.
To Steve Hinton. I believe you guys will do a fantastic job restoring this Grumman Cat. Someone mentioned the skyraider next to that. I agree it's a beaut. Hope to see this Bearcat complete. Great job to all restoring. I wish I was there.👍🇭🇲🦘🐨✌️
Neat history of the plane. Just realized we flew over it when it crashed at Oshkosh. We were in line to use the civilian runway to go home on Sunday. They closed the civilian runway for the airshow and we didn't get to leave. Tower saw we were in a TBM and let us get in line and take off with the other TBMs in the airshow. I didn't see the Bearcat crash but the guy riding in the back saw it on the ground and called it out.
I was there when the Gulfhawk went in, thinking it took off to the south and just never really got very far. Was tragic for sure. So very happy to see the plane is coming back to life to rejoin the fleet of restored vintage aircraft. The Bearcats are amazing for sure. I wish I could see more of them flying. Thank you for the video, great job all.
Such a phenomenal aircraft!! I was at your Museum a couple month's ago and ai was hoping to meet Mr. Hinton. I live in Yuma, AZ and I am a Helicopter Mechanic for Customs and Border Protection. I used to live in Oklahoma and it's taken me 10yrs to finally get to your Museum and I was very impressed!! I hope to make it out there again soon. Keep up the GREAT work. 👍👍
I'll never forget watching two Bearcats fly, years ago at an airshow...breathtaking climb! Always a thrill to watch fly. I did not know that about Grumman & the Fw-190.
In 1969 - City of San Diego 200th Anniversary - I watched Corky Fornoff firewall his Bearcat - suck up the gear - perform a perfect 4-point roll. Miramar. You could hear his R-2800 at full take-off power - - - over the noise of 6 Blue Angels F4 Phantoms!!
Great video! The Hellcat was built for uncompromising Carrier use. Late in war the Bearcat, like newer Japanese AC at that time placed the emphasis on fast climb intercept due to changing war environment requirements. The Hellcat always counted by me and other generations "as one of the more nostalgic and glamorous fighters of the 1940's." The Hellcat is a damn good looking plane, especially from it's best views! I would trade two F8F's to be able to own one F6F Hellcat! I love most of these WWII planes very close to equal though, the F8F Bearcat included!
In the summer of 63 or 64 Dad took me to the Chicago Air and Water Show. There was a Bearcat, gold in color I think, that did some wild aerobatic and speed demonstrations. At one point he was in a steep dive over Lake Michigan and disappeared behind Navy Pier. From our vantage point it looked like he was going to crash, but up he roared from behind the pier. Dad was an old Navy man and was based at Jacksonville and Pensacola in WW2 and Korea. He was used to Hellcats and such so he didn't say much about the Bearcat demonstration.
Another OUTSTANDING profile, wow!!! I heard POF had this one - love the coverage. Steve I have a bit of history on your earlier one you mention you had, now in TX - I have details when it was on it's lid with the Gear sticking up and the Canopy down. I look forward in sharing. OFF SUBJECT - Q: Steve I did not know you (POF) were the flying team for Dennis Earl Moore / Ampersand (sp?) Productions, "Flyers" (mentioned on earlier POF Video within this series). Who flew the Super Stearman and who was the Clown Jumper in the Canyon - the most unbelievable Flying Stunt ever! I spent a long-morning with Dennis in NYC at his Studio discussing many many aspects of that beautiful film. Mitch )
Hope to see it in September at the new show!..I'm really missing the canceled show this weekend!..Been attending since the Anniversary show in '08..I think the September show is going to be a huge success though!..Really looking forward to it!
@pat36a…that’s cool your dad flew SB2c helldivers….thank you for his service fantastic airplanes, unfortunately I don’t believe any flyable versions exist. The plane to the right of the bearcat is either a TBM / TBF Avenger depending if it was made by Grumman or made under license by General Motors, the other plane to the left “409”….is Republic AD4-N Skyraider Navy variant, that had the rear crew compartment for two crewmen either a radio / radar operator and a bombadier / navigator. ( I worked on this very airplane for several years, under a private owner) unfortunately never got to fly in the rear compartment… both incredible airplanes.
Like all Grumman's this one is as ugly as sin but it does seem that some really talented engineers worked very hard to make a plane this fast and furious - but I'm wondering if it ever saw combat (?) and don't say, "Ya, the type shot down 2 Zero's" cause that isn't my idea of making an impact on the war.
I'm so glad you survived Reno in 79 with the Red Baron. I was there.
You should write a book on this great restoration !!
Steve's knowledge and ability to convey that knowledge is freaking awesome. I never miss a chance to hear what he has to say.
Workmanship, wow !
Beautiful! The more F8F's flying the better. Great job PoF!
Thank you, Steve, for your informative video. You are one of a few aviators I would love to "hanger fly" with just to listen to your knowledge and wisdom.
Your video of the BearCat restoration brought back some good memories of my visit with a couple of my buddies to Planes of Fame East at Flying Cloud Airport back in the early 1990s. We were on a "self-guided tour" and in one the hangers sat this metallic brown F8F with Steve's name painted on the aircraft just under the canopy. One of my buddies asked who is Steve Hinton and I wanting to impress my friends with who Steve is rambled on about his daring exploits and what it must be like to fly any one of the most iconic aircraft ever built. So after a number of minutes, we turned to leave, and standing right there behind us was the best pilot I ever saw. Steve Hinton. Thank you for keeping the greatest generation of aircraft in the air.
The entire group of pilots, mechanics, support staff, and docents all do such a fantastic job that my kids are always on me to take them back to the museum so they can enjoy those beautiful aircraft up close!
Great detail in the restoration. Love the safety-wire. (But that's the Mech in me)
Or, anyone who relies on it.
I like the way Steve Hinton talks. Very direct, to the point, and informative!
One of the manliest planes built.
Agreed!
Wow the skyraider next to it looks magnificent ! 😊
Steve Hinton. You are the man. Your bearcat is awesome.
I am a Aviation Mechanic by trade and I love all the WW2 aircraft. Love all your work and vids !
I've had this very conversation with Mr. Hinton years ago at Reno. That man is an encyclopedia of piloting aircraft. SO glad to see him on this site!
you people did an awesome job rebuilding the bearcat
As a kid the Bearcat was always my favorite and still is.
Love hearing Steve talk about these warbirds. Hope to meet him next trip there. Please keep these coming!
Thank you for posting
You're welcome! Thank you for watching!
Planes of Fame , I will keep on watching your videos. Those old airplanes me and are what I have dreamed of flying since I was a kid. I visited your museum once and wish I lived close enough to come help out. Currently I volunteer at the CAF near Atlanta. One day, I will visit again.
Just awesome!!! Steve's knowledge and stories are absolutely phenomenal!
Agreed!
To Steve Hinton. I believe you guys will do a fantastic job restoring this Grumman Cat. Someone mentioned the skyraider next to that. I agree it's a beaut. Hope to see this Bearcat complete. Great job to all restoring. I wish I was there.👍🇭🇲🦘🐨✌️
Any new videos coming soon. I could listen to Steve all day. Watched these ones at least 5 times 😂
Neat history of the plane. Just realized we flew over it when it crashed at Oshkosh. We were in line to use the civilian runway to go home on Sunday. They closed the civilian runway for the airshow and we didn't get to leave. Tower saw we were in a TBM and let us get in line and take off with the other TBMs in the airshow. I didn't see the Bearcat crash but the guy riding in the back saw it on the ground and called it out.
We love that you guys love doing projects. Keep up the amazing work.
Thanks - will do!
I was there when the Gulfhawk went in, thinking it took off to the south and just never really got very far. Was tragic for sure. So very happy to see the plane is coming back to life to rejoin the fleet of restored vintage aircraft. The Bearcats are amazing for sure. I wish I could see more of them flying. Thank you for the video, great job all.
Steve, you know your Bob Hoover's replacement. Great to meet you up in Wasington.
Such a phenomenal aircraft!! I was at your Museum a couple month's ago and ai was hoping to meet Mr. Hinton. I live in Yuma, AZ and I am a Helicopter Mechanic for Customs and Border Protection. I used to live in Oklahoma and it's taken me 10yrs to finally get to your Museum and I was very impressed!! I hope to make it out there again soon. Keep up the GREAT work. 👍👍
I'll never forget watching two Bearcats fly, years ago at an airshow...breathtaking climb! Always a thrill to watch fly. I did not know that about Grumman & the Fw-190.
In 1969 - City of San Diego 200th Anniversary - I watched Corky Fornoff firewall his Bearcat - suck up the gear - perform a perfect 4-point roll. Miramar. You could hear his R-2800 at full take-off power - - - over the noise of 6 Blue Angels F4 Phantoms!!
Great video! The Hellcat was built for uncompromising Carrier use. Late in war the Bearcat, like newer Japanese AC at that time placed the emphasis on fast climb intercept due to changing war environment requirements. The Hellcat always counted by me and other generations "as one of the more nostalgic and glamorous fighters of the 1940's." The Hellcat is a damn good looking plane, especially from it's best views! I would trade two F8F's to be able to own one F6F Hellcat! I love most of these WWII planes very close to equal though, the F8F Bearcat included!
In the summer of 63 or 64 Dad took me to the Chicago Air and Water Show. There was a Bearcat, gold in color I think, that did some wild aerobatic and speed demonstrations. At one point he was in a steep dive over Lake Michigan and disappeared behind Navy Pier. From our vantage point it looked like he was going to crash, but up he roared from behind the pier. Dad was an old Navy man and was based at Jacksonville and Pensacola in WW2 and Korea. He was used to Hellcats and such so he didn't say much about the Bearcat demonstration.
That was absolutely wonderful hearing and watching this video,all i can say is thank you so much for sharing.
Fantastic!!!
Thanks for sharing and the wonderful history lesson.
I would always see it in the hangar and was wondering about it. The bearcat is my favorite grumman cat.
It hasn't gotten any attention in over two years but we're on the home stretch now!
@@planesoffame Hope to see it airborne in May 2021
I was once involved in a Bearcat restoration project. One of my tasks was to change out all the descent plugs every week.
Love those videos, please keep them coming. Bearcat is one of my favorite airplanes, would LOVE to fly one. Thanks again for sharing.
Man do I wish I lived closer. I would LOVE to visit!
Great video
620 airplanes a month out of ONE factory during WW2!? That's is efficiency and proficiency defined.
So awesome, love these walk arounds!
NAS Glenview! Thanks for that.
Great video! Here’s hoping there’ll be a video on Wrong Way Corrigan’s Curtiss Robin. I’m dying to see the Bearcat do a flyby at next year’s airshow.
Another OUTSTANDING profile, wow!!! I heard POF had this one - love the coverage. Steve I have a bit of history on your earlier one you mention you had, now in TX - I have details when it was on it's lid with the Gear sticking up and the Canopy down. I look forward in sharing. OFF SUBJECT - Q: Steve I did not know you (POF) were the flying team for Dennis Earl Moore / Ampersand (sp?) Productions, "Flyers" (mentioned on earlier POF Video within this series). Who flew the Super Stearman and who was the Clown Jumper in the Canyon - the most unbelievable Flying Stunt ever! I spent a long-morning with Dennis in NYC at his Studio discussing many many aspects of that beautiful film. Mitch )
Thank you!!! I'll pass along your comments to Steve! :)
Hope to see it in September at the new show!..I'm really missing the canceled show this weekend!..Been attending since the Anniversary show in '08..I think the September show is going to be a huge success though!..Really looking forward to it!
Awesome plane. How about the Hispano Buchon project?
Thank you for the suggestion! We're hoping to do more restoration project updates soon.
Awesome vid!! Would we be able to get a walk around on the tiger cat? Those things are the cats meow
June 16, 2020----Thanks for the video, but wished you'd shown what it had looked like when you first got it.
Agree. And also, how about identifying all those loose parts laying around; more technical information!
Great video!
I would love to work on these A/C some day !
Neil Armstrong's favorite plane. Somewhere he is smiling.
👍 👍 👍
Return as the G-58 Gulfhawk!
Wasn't this plane done up like the G-58 Gulfhawk IV? Do you plan to repaint it like the Gulfhawk?
Is this the airplane from the Oshkosh ‘99 runway collision with the Corsair?
Is this the one flying around now in shows
Any parts from 7701C in there?
F8F-1 or -2?
PS R.I.P., Howard Pardue.
An R-2800 with a pair of wings
That's all you really need :)
@@planesoffame Thank you for the upload and for views and the information you fit in.
I prefer that method versus videos of 'frosting, no cake'.
Is that engine a CB16?
I spy an SB2C off to the side. My father flew rear seat off the Bow of the FDR in 46. Vee Bee 75.
@pat36a…that’s cool your dad flew SB2c helldivers….thank you for his service fantastic airplanes, unfortunately I don’t believe any flyable versions exist.
The plane to the right of the bearcat is either a TBM / TBF Avenger depending if it was made by Grumman or made under license by General Motors, the other plane to the left “409”….is Republic AD4-N Skyraider Navy variant, that had the rear crew compartment for two crewmen either a radio / radar operator and a bombadier / navigator. ( I worked on this very airplane for several years, under a private owner) unfortunately never got to fly in the rear compartment… both incredible airplanes.
@Marc Wesley CAF has 1 Helldiver flying, the only 1, I believe. Side note, I believe 1 of the chapters has a dive bomber from his airgroup VB-75
@@pat36a thanks for the update, that’s great there still one flying.
Is this 204?
Hey you be interested in selling it after your test fly and get it flying? Thanks
i guess this was elmer ward,s plane.
1:46 make up some fake wing tips and call it the "extremely" clipped bearcat.
The speaker's diction leaves much to be desired. The sounds from his mouth are coming as if he's scrambling to move his jaws.
Jesus, you're a complete Dicktion.
Like all Grumman's this one is as ugly as sin but it does seem that some really talented engineers worked very hard to make a plane this fast and furious - but I'm wondering if it ever saw combat (?) and don't say, "Ya, the type shot down 2 Zero's" cause that isn't my idea of making an impact on the war.