F8F BEARCAT First Test Flights w/ Steve Hinton | Planes of Fame 

Steve. Your the consummate test pilot. Just another day at the office.....and what an office ! Thankyou very much.

Outstanding job on the bearcat. It’s so good to see such a beautiful bird back in the air.

9 second roll and it's airborne. What a plane! I like the way Steve does his narration. Informative and interesting.

Thank you for sharing !! Love that Cat,...such a little brute. I remember being at the Reno air races in 1969 (I was 11),....and watching Darryl Greenamyer take his white Bearcat and simple go high and fly around everyone like they weren't even there....and win without issue.

Always room for one more Bearcat in this world. Beautiful, even not fully painted.

From a former Grumman employee, it's great to see the outstanding job you did with the restoration and to see this Cat back in the air.

Watched from the barnyard (6:01), grew up here. Watched a lot of first flights over the years, never gets old. Even the mosquito last weekend past through, oh the sounds! The narrative with the bearcat was what's been missing. Now I know a little more of what they're doing up there. By the way, I really do work hard in that cow pasture, looking at aircraft. 👍👍

The Bearcat's always been my favorite war bird going back to Mira Slovak's Smirnoff Special, Darryl Greenamyer's Conquest 1 and later Lyle Shelton's, Rare Bear. My very special friend, Mr. Charles R. Winterrowd, who has since passed away, flew the Bearcat at the very end of WWII and once told me that he could have bought a Bearcat way back then, war surplus for $500! Thanks again, Steve. Wonderful!

Steve, these Planes Of Fame videos are excellent! Your commentary, knowledge and overall description of the process of bringing these awesome aircraft back to life are second to none! Thank you!!!

I saw the Blue Angels flying F8Fs at NAS Los Alamitos IN early 50s, great show‼️

Congratulations on getting the Bearcat in the air!

Thank You Steve and PoF for making these videos, and keeping these aircraft in the air where they belong.

FANTASTIC video with mater-of-fact narration by a towering figure of aviation. Thank you !

Le magnifique matou a sorti ces griffes pour la première fois! Belle restauration il encore plus magnifique en vol! Un abonné de France.😊😸...

Perfect mix of ambient audio and commentary... because as a fellow pilot who will be doing the first flight in my own aircraft soon, I could listen to Steve Hinton talk details for hours! Thanks again to Planes of Fame and Steve Hinton for all you do... I'm a loyal fan for life.

Great job Steve and team! Twelve years later, thanks for the dedication and perseverance. We who could not dream of doing this live vicariously through you people!! Thanks again!

Beautiful… And a great narration. I’ve been flying roughly 40 years, but I’ve never had an opportunity to do the wonderful kind of flying you do for a living my friend. Ive always owned my own personal aircraft while flying different gigs for others, to keep myself doing what I call “real” flying. I fly a V tail Bonanza I owned for about 20 years. haha. But being considered by most an “old timer” now, I still just have that passion for flying I had 45 years ago. I enjoy just flying, no autopilot, no flight plans, hell, I shut of my comm radios when I’m remote flying and enjoy music etc or just taking in the scenery without all the BS I deal with all the rest of the time. What I’ve considered but probably won’t happen, is I’d love to have an old Stearman or maybe a Waco. Flying has changed so much in the last 15 to 20 years, and I think young pilots are missing out on a lot of things that used to make aviation so personally rewarding. With everything having GPS and even trainers having coupled autopilots, it seems to me that some young pilots are loosing that almost “intimacy” we used to acquire during our training back in the 1970’s and early 80’s. I’ve met some young pilots who aren’t even able to read a paper sectional chart, much less use one in the cockpit while flying. Perhaps it’s a bit of a case of rose colored glasses on my part as well, but it seems to me that much of the “romance” of flying (if I may use that term) is now gone. And I think that’s a shame in a way. It’s also why I think what you’re doing with those old war birds is fantastic work. Thanks to you and the entire team of people that are making that happen. 👍👍👍👍

I am really enjoying the narration!! Everytime I watch one of these videos I am learning something!! Awesome!!

Thank you Steve Hinton and POF. I remember somewhere in the back of my mind this was Neil Armstrong 's favorite plane to fly. Considering all the aircraft he flew that is some compliment.

Awesome work and great flying. Love Bearcats, my son and i have had a few RC Bearcats, he has one with a 7 cly 77cc gas 4 stroke radial engine. Cant wait to see how you all paint it up,and to see Steve fly some air show aerobatics .

What a smooth and powerful sound,

I flew with you in Ho Hun in 1986 when you were flying with Bob Hoover. I remember that flight like it just happened.

Nicce work there, everyone! CAn't wait to see her on the airshow circuit.

Cheers to all who gave life to this beautiful warbird. I hope she has a long life teaching others the concepts of aviation and the consequences of war.

Just beautiful! Congratulations she looks amazing! Looking forward to see her at the shows, Great Job!!!

Impressive plane! Can’t wait to see it painted or polished!

Love that round sound!

Hello guys. I watched the engine runs before you completed this beauty of a Bearcat. Looks great with the prepainted look. I wish i could see one face to prop face so to speak. Its superb looking welll built rugged machine. Im a fan of this as i have many model kits to build. I love all the Grumman Cat Aircraft. Well wishes keeping this tough metal cat alive.love that engine sound.👍✌️🇭🇲🦘🐨❤️

Thanks for sharing what its like flying the models I put together as a kid. Really lived n breathed WW2 stuff when young on our ranch. The draft put me manning for awhile an out post miles out side Tuy Hoa air base Nam with the 101st. Was at the extreme end of the approach so I had a daily air show with jets n props n rotors. Nam cured me of my fascination with war stuff. Not so cool as when young.

Congratulations on your restoration. I can’t wait to see her at your next airshow.

good to see another one in the air!

Sounds wonderful, looks wonderful. Vicious bird. Have y'all decided what livery you're gonna paint on her?

What a beauty of a plane! Some people have the nicest jobs.

This is such cool content, it can't be found anywhere else... tailwheel touching down first is the mark of a good tail dragger pilot! (doing a full stall landing of course) I love it

Please make another video of the bearcat if you could , thank you for this one .

Boy I've been waiting for this. Since I was a kid and the "Professor" had his F8F he flew out of Meriden, Ct. I've loved the B-Cat. Then Lyle and "The Bear" it never ended. P-47 is still my all time favorite. But Steve Hinton & and a F8F! Can't get better.

BearCat looks like a racer. Fully packed.;

I didn't realize until now that this was Elmer Ward's Gulfhawk. What a beautiful airplane and such a sad story. But it's great to see it flying again.

Met you in Middlesboro with Glacier Girl. Great to see you fly. Hope all is well.

A beautiful looking AND sounding aircraft.

wow it really climbs out ! thanks !

Thanks for keepin' 'em flying!!

Congratulations Steve and all you rivet drivers. Looks and sounds great guys.👍👍👍👍👍🇺🇸

Very nice! Thank you for sharing.

Cool, remember you from your early days at Reno.

Thanks so very much for sharing that with us Steve! Awesome job on the restoration and really love to see those beautiful airplanes put back in the air. You guys ROCK! Can’t wait to see what see her after paint!

Thanks Steve for the details and POF for the video!

Looks beautiful , sounds Great. Please send more video's of her. Mr. Steve Hinton you fly her well, YOUR A GREAT PILOT thank you.

Well done for all involved! Way to "keep them flying"

What a great aircraft and flown by a great pilot.

You have one of the greatest jobs in the world!!

Thanks for taking me the cockpit, CAM member

Awesome video thanks for your time and consideration love from England 🇬🇧🇺🇸🇨🇦

Great video, liked the commentary during flight test **

yeah, that is really something!

Thank you for sharing I appreciate it

I got to see you on one of the test flights. Was doing pattern work and told to taxi back on 26L. Held and got to watch one of my favorite airplanes land right in front of me.... super cool ! Really excited to see it in its new paint

Great to see it saved... I thought on 1st flights the landing gear stays down and locked open .. just in case of hydraulic problems. I'm sure it was on jack stands for a gear test but?? Nice to see POF still saving old planes. I remember seeing their P-38 in the old shack getting rebuilt years and years ago. Great video Steve and POF.

I love that the Bearcats 'reduced power take off' at 1600hp is the same as the Mustangs full power.

Steve Hinton. Thanks for this review of the Bearcat. One of my favorites the Bearcat to me is the Ferrari of the fighters of that era. It’s a very intriguing airplane. I been following you since Glacier Girls first flight and appreciate your reviews. Hey please tell Chris Fahey hello. I closed my Facebook account and haven’t corresponded with him in a while. Having visited POF twice while I was driving over the road and one of the many people who you’ve no doubt met I was really impressed with POF and don’t hesitate to recommend it to any who are interested. All the best to you. Blue skies.

Steve, thanks so much for all your great videos. I think I've watched them all. Roaring Glory Warbirds is still my favorite series. I have a lot on old VHS. Again, thanks.

Nice three-point Landing.

Great to watch

Outstanding restoration!

No parachute in test flights, or even in general?

Beautiful, the Bearcat has been a favourite since I built the Hawk 1/48 model when I was home sick as a youngster. Impeccable lines and terrific performance made her the fighter she was... but can we talk about being the guy to chase that first flight in a P-51? Gives me goosebumps thinking about seeing two of the grand dames of propellor driven aerial combat aloft together.

Congrats! Keep'em flying gents!

cool design feature with the canopy sides vs say the P-51 D method, although that may be quite an edge

Now that is a fabulous bird of prey.

Another fine restoration, congratulations.

Thanks, Steve. I feel like you brought me along on your shoulder on that hop, telling me what you know. That doggone Bearcat is the most MACHO manliest thing ever to fly. Even a P-47 or P-38 would recoil a little bit if you parked it next to the stubby little Kamikaze-Killer !

...Yes, good to see it back in the air :)...what worries me, though, is the seeming lack of interest by younger people, and the shift from interested collectors of these warbirds, to the "investor-type -collector", and the daunting costs of restoration and operation(compounded by said lack of interest by people willing to contribute/pay to see these birds)....I hope there's enough interest to keep these planes in the skies into the future. Steve has got to be the most talented/experienced warbird pilot alive today..I doubt if anyone has close to as many hours in so many different and unique types...Be careful, though, Steve, and don't ever become complacent or let you guard down!..the recent loss of Dale Snodgrass just reminds me that no matter how good or experienced you are, you have to keep your guard up all the time!...we've lost far too many of these irreplaceable guys in recent years :(

Great job!

Excellent. Thank you for posting

Great stuff and now emblazon the F8F with its "Bearcat" namesake....Arctictis binturong (Binturong)...!

That's a great looking fw190

Oh my good god, what a beauty. Who needs those underweight supermodels (Spitfire, Mustang etc) when you can fly a beauty like that

Love that airplane. Thanks for making and sharing this.

Nice video! What's the history of this airframe? Thanks

Very cool! Just the sort of aircraft that I'd like!

Grumman’s most pugilistic kitty cat! An R-2800 with wings and a tail, the Hellcat with all the fat trimmed off. Shame it came just a tad too late, would have trounced the Japanese Divine Wind.

Can't wait to see it fly in person when the annual air show gets back in operation. It has been way too long..

The best piston engine fighter ever built IMO. Nice job, Steve!

Wow Steve!!! New to channel and subscribed, I fly these in the RC versions and love them, can’t imagine flying a real one or even riding in one, this is very close though, thanks for the ride and can’t wait to see more!!👊🏼👊🏼👍🏼👍🏼

Can't imagine transitioning from your run-off-the mill GA trainer to a F-8F. Must be terrifying just flying it, less alone trying to land it.

1) Bearcat 2) Tiger Cat 3) Tomcat 4) Corsair 5) P-38 are my faves, in order.

Just awesome!! I have often wondered how the Bearcats would have faired in combat. The Japanese were having enough trouble with the Jellxat and Corsair. This plane would have had a very high kill ratio I bet.

Hat's off to those dedicated and fortunate enough to get these war birds back in the air. No better way to honour those brave men that flew them in mortal combat. Lest we forget.

very good narative as usual, thanks steve from china lake dave.....cfto....

Huge respect 🙏 such humility 👏

Gorgeous plane!

Strong work Steve.

Awesome, just awesome.

Ok I understand that this bird is not strictly a F8F but is actually A G-58A, one of two civilian planes built. In fact I've heard it refereed to as a Gulfhawk as Gulf Oil was the original owner. Is that correct? If so I can see that some liberties could be taken with the configuration of the restoration. Great plane!

I absolutely love these videos, keep em coming

What will the final paint livery be ?? I hope the French in Vietnam since they used it the most !!!

Just beautiful guys!

Honest mature commentary, so un-RU-vid. Thank you.

Looking into the stats on the F8F...I knew it was the biggest engine into the smallest air frame, but I never realized it was shorter in length and wingspan than a Wildcat!

Steve. I have been watching you for years since my first Air Classics Magazine back in 1983, I believe. I was a young teenager then. April 1st I'll have been retired from the Navy five years. How time flies! (No pun intended) Aviation is in my blood. It has always amazed me the dedication to what true Warbird folks have to keep our history alive and well for generations to come. My bones was mostly the Lockheed P-3C Orion / T56-A-14. So many man hours goes into keeping out birds FMC, only to fly them one day to the bone yard. Anyways, it's good to see aviation at it's best. God Bless and KEEP 'EM FLYING! ADC(AW) Sean B. Riley, (Ret)