Tips for Electric Conversion:Click here to view a RCU thread on electric conversion of a Hurricane This size motor, the E-Flight Power 160 or equivalent is more than enough power for the 80" ESM planes. It can also be used with the 72" ESM planes with smaller batteries.
ESM Grumman F8F Bearcat 71"
The Grumman F8F Bearcat produced by ESM, is yet another top notch RC scale airplane design to excite you with both appearance and performance. ESM of China has been importing RC scale airplanes into the USA and Canada for a few years now, and in that time ESM has become recognized as a new industry leader in highly detailed, great flying, ARF's. Not only are the ESM ARF's highly detailed, and great flying, they are extremely affordable for anyone to enjoy!
The F8F Bearcat, as with all of ESM's RC scale airplanes, come already painted at the factory, have pre-applied decals (which are then covered with a clear coat at the factory), have factory functional flaps (if the full scale version also had flaps), and come with one of the more complete hardware packages anywhere...including screws, rods, fuel tanks...etc.
All ESM planes are painted with a very high quality enamel paint which is resistant to oil, grease, and fuels. The high gloss paints are of course easier to clean than the low gloss. These paints can be painted over for weathering and the like.
Most ESM scale RC airplanes have poly resin fiberglass fuselages, with the wings being typical built up, and then covered with an etched polyester film, which is then painted for a perfect match! While all ESM scale RC planes come from the factory with conventional gear and wheels, ESM also offers a complete line of retracts for each individual plane, adding to the level of scale realism that all scale pilots look for in an ARF. It doesn't end there, ESM offers separately a full line of scale accessories like bombs, gear doors, pilots, external fuel tanks and more, specifically designed to help those builders who want the most realism possible, without having to spend hours designing and building all these extra scale goodies.
Here at TBM we know that things can happen, and because of this, we work very hard with ESM to provide you with many spare parts. Simply refer to your warranty for further information as to parts availability.
The ESM F8F Bearcat, as with all of the ESM line of ARF scale RC airplanes, look and fly so realistically that we are confident that you will be extremely pleased !!! ESM is continually working on producing new RC scale aircraft, and most of these new offerings will be available with wingspans of 80 inches or more so that they will meet or exceed IMAA legal requirements...so be sure to come back often to see what new ARF scale RC aircraft TBM and ESM have coming out!
| Length: |
53” |
| Wing Span: |
73.2" |
| Wing area: |
5.95sq.ft |
| Wing Loading: |
38.5oz/sq.ft |
| Flying Weight: |
14.3lbs *Weight Information |
| Radio: |
6ch & 8servos |
| Gas Engine: |
26cc - 36cc (We highly recommend the PTE-36) |
| Glow Engine: |
1.08 2 cycle or 1.20 4 cycle |
| Prop Recommendation: : |
4-blade is scale. Biela 16x8 or 17.3x8 4 blade for the PTE-36 |
| Servo Recommendations: : |
100 oz-sq-in minimum - HD-1501, Hitec 645MG, Hitec 5645MG, DS-8309TG |
The Grumman F8F Bearcat, as with all of ESM’s scale models, is loaded with features never before found in such low priced ARF's, resulting in highly detailed, great looks, and great flying ARF's!
The detailed fuselage is poly resin fiberglass, with scale panel lines and rivets molded right in. Wings are typical built up construction, include pre-designed cavities and mounting blocks for optional scale retracts, and have factory constructed flaps, all of which is then factory covered with an etched polyester film. All parts are finally expertly painted right at ESM's factory, and once dry, all scale decals are pre-applied, and are then covered with a factory clear coat for protection.
All ESM planes are painted with a very high quality enamel paint which is resistant to oil, grease, and fuels. The high gloss paints are of course easier to clean than the low gloss. These paints can be painted over for weathering and the like.
The ESM Grumman F8F Bearcat comes from the factory with conventional gear and wheels, and one of the more complete hardware packages anywhere...including screws, rods, fuel tanks...etc. ESM also offers a complete line of retracts for each individual plane, adding to the level of scale realism that all scale pilots look for in an ARF.
Designed to intercept enemy aircraft, the F-8F Bearcat was designed to climb quickly and cruise at a high rate of speed. As a naval aircraft, it used a proven engine (the Pratt and Whitney R2800 (from the F6F Hellcat) and was designed to be as light as possible. While marginally slower than the F4U Corsair, it could outclimb the corsair, and was significantly more maneuverable. Its bubble canopy also offered improved visibility over other naval aircraft of the day. The design was heavily influenced by testing of captured German FW-190's.
The design was finished in 1943, and the first squadron was operational by February of 1945, but it did not see combat before the end of the war. It eventually equipped 24 squadrons, including the Blue Angels, and set several piston engine records. It even out performed many early jets, and set a climb speed record of 94 seconds from take off to 10 000 ft., a record that took modern jets to break.
The Bearcat was replaced by jets by the time the Korean war broke out, and so the only combat it saw was in Vietnam during the 1950's, when it was used by the French, and later during the American involvement by the Thai and South Vietnamese airforces, in both cases as a fighter bomber.
