Hawker Sea Fury & Grumman Bearcat - Bristol Centaurus & Pratt & Whitney R2800 engines together.
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- čas přidán 17. 07. 2024
- Anglia Aircraft Restorations Hawker Sea Fury ISS, SR661, G-CBEL and The Fighter Collection's Grumman F8F-2P Bearcat, G-RUMM, practicing together for their paired aerobatic display, on the Friday before the Flying Legends 2017 Airshow at The Imperial War Museum, Duxford
Hawker Sea Fury ISS (G-CBEL)
Operator: Anglia Aircraft Restorations Ltd
Year of Manufacture: 1953
Powered by: Bristol Centaurus XVIII
Colour Scheme: Royal Navy prototype SR661
This Fury, construction number 37539 was produced by Hawker’s as a Fury ISS - Iraqi Single Seat for the Iraqi Air Force, as part of contract number 53/1/012 for 60 aircraft, and was numbered 315 within this production batch. The aircraft was bought to Orlando, Florida, USA from Iraq in 1979 by Ed Jurist and David C Tallichet. In 1989 the aircraft passed to Laws/Coleman Warbird Museum, Coleman, Texas where it was rebuilt to airworthy condition, before flying again in April 1991, registered as N36SF. The Fury was then shipped to the UK in September 1991, passing into the ownership of John Bradshaw at Wroughton until 2009. During this time the aircraft flew in the markings of a Dutch Navy and latterly Royal Australian Navy aircraft marked as 361 and on the UK Civil Register as G-CBEL. She was then exported to Australia where she was registered as VH-SFW. She was imported back into the UK by her new owners, Anglia Aircraft Restorations Ltd. and was re-registered again as G-CBEL. The aircraft has been refurbished and repainted, by Air Leasing Ltd, in the colours of one of Hawker’s Sea Fury prototypes coded SR661, which was a modified Fury Mk.II with a tail hook fitted, but without the folding wings included on subsequent production Sea Fury’s.
Grumman F8F-2P Bearcat G-RUMM
The Bearcat design was the Grumman response to the US Navy’s request in the latter war years for a fast responsive fighter to be deployed in the Pacific Theatre. The type did not see operational service during the Second World War as the conflict had ended before they saw combat service. It was however used to great effect in French Indo-China by the French Air Force. The Bearcat could out perform many early Jet fighter aircraft of the period.
The Fighter Collection aircraft was built in 1948 and taken on charge in August of that year by the US Navy. She served at a number of Naval Air Stations before undergoing modification to F8F-2P standard in 1952. Following further Navy service she was finally struck off charge in January 1957. She passed through two sets of private owners in the US, the first between 1957 and 1972, and the second until 1981. It was under this second private ownership that she underwent a full overhaul and flew once again in 1975. It was in 1981 that the Bearcat joined what was to become The Fighter Collection and she has gone on to be the longest serving member of their fleet. It's powered by a Pratt & Whitney R2800-73 engine.
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This is it. These two aircraft represent the elite of the radial piston engine naval fighters of WW2.
Loved seeing them fly together. They make a hell of a nice noise.
Both represent the ultimate in piston engine fighters, great to see them flying together in perfect formation aerobatics!
Eric Brown, the pilot who holds then record for the most plane types flow said they were so similar that it would be purely pilot skill who would win a dogfight between the two
*Piston engine naval fighters. The RAF and USAAF had better piston engine fighters. Naval fighters are always limited in their design because they have to be able to takeoff and land from a carrier. Large wings (which lead to more drag and segnifican speed loss during turns) and folding wings are just two examples.
Spitfire Mk24 : Amateurs
@@gliderfs621nope
@@cirian75in
To me, the Sea Fury is simply the most beautiful aircraft of this era. It looks fast sitting still. There’s an undeniable purity to its lines that set it apart.
Did you notice the difference between the takeoff rolls?
No
@@ssgi4059 Bearcat got off much quicker !!! And it set the take off to climb altitude time, that held for years until the high powered jets came into use !!!
Agree
@@ssgi4059No. He started from further back, plus you would be a lot more cautious with the takeoff boost on a valuable rare Centaurus than a common P&W
And the late FAA contra-rotating Spits were faster to altitude than the Sea Fury.
As others have said, these two aircraft, along with several others represent the pinnacle of piston power aircraft technology at the end of the WW II development. The Bearcat was designed as a carrier based interceptor around one of the largest aircraft engines available. The goal was to fit the smallest airframe around the biggest engine without losing too much agility or combat performance.
I wish CZcams had a "love" button and not just a "like" button. I love these aircraft!
This is a fantastic display of flying skill, and so much better without the awful music and tannoy in the background. Well done for capturing this display!
Problem is though aerobatic formation flying like that in warbirds eventually always leads to plane loss, it's not worth it for any crowd.
Need more blood and guts pilots killed.
Phil Douglas that’s discusting
@@philipferris720
*disgusting
@@phildouglas9086
Always some weirdo pitches up.
Get back in your cage.
Oh I wish I'd been there! My dad flew Furies in the 50s! :) Thanks for the post!
Watching it makes me pretty emotional; my dad's gone passed on now and left me his log book, and squadron flying scarf. It means everything to me.
When he used to enthuse about flying some of the manoeuvres as demonstrated above, his eyes would shine. Seeing this video makes me appreciate the skill involved, and the freedom he must have felt piloting such a beautiful machine. Wow.
Tim, It's my pleasure and I'm pleased that this has heralded good memories and thoughts of your father. His log book and squadron scarf are in the right hands, as he must have treasured them so much himself.
Bearcat: I'm an absolute bad ass of the sky!
Sea Fury: 'old my beer, Mate.
How refreshing to not have to hear on-site narration or 'theme' music in the background.... Thanks to you for posting and to the show presenters.
Thankyou. It was filmed on the Friday prior to Flying Legends Airshow 2017, which was one of the practice sessions for the airshow - fortunately such days are commentator, music and crowd free!
My father served for 5 years one of the 2 Canadian aircraft carriers called the HMCS Magnificent. The other was the Bonaventure. He was the guy that paddled the Hawker Seafuries onto the carrier deck. I have a binder of amazing pictures of them taking off, landing and crashing into the deck. My father also helped rescue the pilots from the aircraft on the deck and with helicopters in the water. It lead him into air traffic control when he remustered into the Airforce where he served for another 35 years. He was so impressed with the Sea Fury!
Wow, thanks for that excellent personal story and connection. I'd love to see those pictures (but realise it's not possible), but do please cherish them for yourself and future generations as a valuable historical record. If you haven't already I would suggest that you take digital pictures or photocopies of the originals as a 'back up'? There's an interesting film of HMCS Magnificent operations on CZcams here - czcams.com/video/JxQ1CBHQZ4k/video.html - there's a piece in it where a Sea Fury gets 'arrested' on take off on the deck and the ground crew are working on it and pushing it back with that massive prop still running. Talk about dangerous! Salute to your Dad and all who served.🙃👍
I was part of the flight deck crew on the Maggie for three different cruises in the 1950's. Was your Dad Dinger Bell? When the government disbanded naval aviation I got out when my hitch was up. Sad times for sure.
Some of the best formation flying from old war birds I've ever seen. 90% of the flight looked like both planes were controlled by one pilot. So clean. Wonderful sounds too ,thank you for no music
Kind of emblematic of how the 2 countries have stuck together through the years.
Yes, perceptive and true. Long may such friendship continue.
William Gruff Special relationship, what a load of bollocks. Yanks would sell us out in a flash if it benefited them. They wanted to attack the Royal Navy in the Suez crises.
William Gruff Special relationship, what a load of bollocks. Yanks would sell us out in a flash if it benefited them. They wanted to attack the Royal Navy in the Suez crises.
Ron Timcke You have EVIDENCE of that?
True they pressured us to break off the action Britain took but ATTACK THE RN!
So please give us your evidence.
Ron Timcke I am a Brit who has lived in the USA for 49 years.
With the current SCUMBAG OCCUPANT OF THE WHITE HOUSE ALL BETS ARE OFF.
Now THAT is music to my ears! What a duet!
This is basically sensory overload for me. My two favorite planes ever (my favorite being the F8F. I use to help take care of one at the air museum in Camarillo, CA. Still airworthy)
I'm always much impressed by the propeller diameter on the Fury.
When the tail lifts on the take off run if you can see the runway you've dinged the prop as with the P-51
2 absolutely gorgeous fighters! What a sight to see together!
God I love the sound of a Bristol Centaurus. Those pistons are so damn loud compared to a P&W.
not realy noise lever difference between a PW and a Bristol only a bit different sound, but i did known better the Hercules because did fly on Noratlas...
Great video mate, thank you for posting!! For the Sea Fury to have the title of "fastest piston engined fighter" is truly remarkable, carrier aircraft are bigger and more sturdy than land based aircraft so you wouldn't think that it could reach those speeds.
Fantastic to see the BearCat in the air as well, there's not many of them left flying. 🇬🇧🇬🇧✌✌
Maybe not, the de Havilland Sea Hornet could out-climb and out-dive the Hawker Sea Fury.
The Hawker Fury was originally manufactured for the RAF near war's end. However, the RAF wanted to get into jet aircraft so the Royal Navy took it over and it was converted to carrier flying. (deck hook, folding wings.) It's only weakness for carriers was the tail wheel. It broke off on a hard landing which was quite common trying to land on a rolling deck.
Big plane, big Centaurus - beast
One would not even see that bear cat coming at speed in combat back in the day,AWESOME
This comment is a joke or a wind up, taking the pisss or what? everyone here sees two aircraft you see one! why?
"the three of us didn't see the black brick with wings but we did see the sleek arrow panted with a sky camouflage"
please let me know your comment was a dig at the yanks!
Excellent video, NO music and the sound is brilliant.
Jeff - Thankyou. It was a great opportunity to capture this display without crowds, commentary and many of the unwelcome noise distractions that you get at airshows.
Two great fighters, representing the pinnacle of piston engine technology, both heavily influenced by FW-190.
Don't you just love Wehraboos...
Presumably by having wings and an engine?
@@Tuberuser187not sure about F8F, but the Sea Fury was indeed heavily influenced by the FW-190, from engine cowling design, to pilot seating position, to cockpit layout, to control rod and electric system design.
Thanks you for NOT clouding up this beautiful video with nonsense music the only music that matters is whats generated by the engines and props!!! Nicely done
Karl - Thank you. I do of course agree - who needs music and commentary when the plane and engine/s can make the noise!
Hawker Sea Fury & Grumman Bearcat love louis shirley
Graceful. The synchronicity of each manouvre was excellence. A very well performed aerial dance. Great credit to the camera operator, who kept the two in frame all the while!
What a true joy. Two of my favourite propeller aircraft post WWII, both beautiful. I've only seen the sea fury up close. It struck me with awe. The propeller size was astonishing. 👏👏👏👏👏👏
no way to describe that except to say, "outstanding". I had 4 eargasms with no cigarette breaks. As a side note, I had no idea the Sea Fury was so much larger than an F8.
I think the design philosophy for the Bearcat was much like when Kelly Johnson later designed the Lockheed Starfighter, How do we put the minimum airframe around this enormous engine and it's required components.... oh ya don't for get the pilot! lol
The bearcat is more or less an engine with wings.
The Sea Fury was gigantic from everything I've seen. And one of the best prop fighters the Brits likely ever built, during the Korean War there are confirmed cases of them severely damaging or even bringing down a MiG-15 jet. Truly incredible.
The Bearcat seems to be slightly quicker (depending on how they turn etc) it does seem to catch up to the Sea Fury on several occasions. It's a bit smaller (and therefore lighter) and I think that's what helps the Bearcat.
They aren't going full speed here, for what it's worth.
Also, the Fury was literally the fastest piston engined aircraft.
@@phillydelphia8760 It was the fastest? I thought that was the Dornier 335 (or something 337?)
@@SgtSteel1 I should have clarified, the Fury was the fastest single engined piston prop plane.
Even considering that, the Dornier only had about 20 kph advantage with 2 engines.
@@phillydelphia8760 ah ok, thanks.
The Bearcat is nearly one ton lighter than the Sea Fury, and about 700 kg lighter than the F4U. So the difference is obvious in maneuverability. But the Sea Fury's engine has the same capacity and power as the R3350.
Couple of big round motor brawlers! Great vid!
The F8F (Bearcat) looks like a cartoon plane with that large cockpit and huge engine and compairatively small fusulage.
In case you are curious: Grumman was constantly changeing and upgrading the F6F hellcat threwout its production run but the navy would have none of it because they needed standardization so they standardized on the F6F-3 and F6F-5 and told grumman that he should continue working on the F6F. When it was upgraded so far that the performance difference between it and the F6F-5 was large enough the navy would adopt it.
So grumman continued working on the F6F untill it turned into the F8F.
Two beautiful aircraft - both designed for similar roles yet looking so different. I saw the bearcat at Duxford a few years back and I could feel the sound of that engine in my chest.
Agreed, nice capture of an unusually good display of big iron. One of the best formation flights I have ever seen.
How did I not know the awesomeness of the sea fury? Knew all about the bearcat for decades and kept seeing that they raced sea fury’s too but never made the connection Thank you internet.
Neil Armstrong flew post WW2 for the Navy, jets in the Korean War and landed on the moon.
His favorite aircraft? “Bearcat”.
Sea Fury was incredible in the Korean War as well. Just the two best piston driven fighters ever created.
Fantastic sound! Two brilliantly flown plsnes. Well captured
Thanks for posting!
Brilliant flying by 2 of the best warbids ever!!
The bearcat looks great
What a beautiful display. Thanks for sharing.
Beautiful pair of rare war birds, glad you both got down safely.
Talk about two awesome hotrods! Love 'em both!
Glorious sound!
Great display of precision flying.
What wonderful footage of two superb Warbirds. Thank you.
Thankyou, it was a pleasure to film.
Two ultimate piston engined fighters...so graceful...
Both my favorites
Kudos to the 2 pilots !
Shutter speed is perfect!
1/50
Friggin awesome..all kinds of hp's there..
These 2 are most beastly fighter/interceptors of all time.
yeah! maxamen dooking all directions at radial piston magic!
Together, this is great flying!
Amazing sounds
Beautiful sound 😀
Love it. Both terrific planes and a great video. Well done.
Thankyou.
Beautiful
Those are awesome planes.❤️
Beautiful aircraft..
Graceful beauty.
Just the best of the best fantastic
Majestetic!!!
sencillamente hermosos....👍
My father flew the Sea Fury with the RCN in the 50's. By far his favorite aircraft he ever flew including the Harvard, Avenger, Banshee and Tracker.
The Bear was clearly out climbing the Fury picking up good speed at the top of the loops. Scary power to do that to a Fury. Dam.
@soaringtractor She has a rare visual articulation of ability, yes, I see it as clear as day. I just noticed she has the laminar flow airfoil of the P-51 and a more drag efficient, high speed prop. I originally thought it was a power difference but I now see she is far more light and slippery than the Fury. I was not aware of her records, I thank you for sharing that. I had the impression she must have noteworthy achievements with such noticeable flight characteristics. Beautiful to watch them both.
Living out near the old secret airfield at Tarrant Rushton (UK). There used to be someone who, in the summers, flew a sea fury over the airfield area doing various acrobatics and flybys. Always could hear it coming, I'd rush out stand and watch and i waved when he got low enough.
It was special to be able to see an almost private airshow.
I haven't seen it for years now, which is a huge shame.
Was owned and flown by Paul Morgan founder of Ilmor racing engines. He was killed in it in 2001 when it turned over in landing accident at Sywell, very sad
@@peterbrown7130 oh no! I always wondered what happened that suddenly I never saw it around anymore.
All I can say is, from my spot on the ground, he must have really loved flying it. I'm glad I got to see him putting it to the best use possible.
Thank you for commenting and letting me know. Despite that sad news.
Those are two good pilots, sticking right with each other during their manuevers.
That was tight! Made me a little nervous!
The Sea Fury did not need cannon. It intimidated stuff into submission.
I’m halfway through watching this and I’m orgazmitizing. I love the pairing of these two birds.
Excellent video love the sound of those big radials thanks for shsring liked and subbed
Thanks. Lots more to be added including Flying Legends Full program and 4 days of RIAT, which may take some time!
High Flight look forward to seeing those.
VERY GOOD SHOW 👍👍👍 🇧🇷
Que lindos estes aviões, espero um dia ainda poder velos voar ao vivo. Muito legal!!!!!
Obrigada. Se você realmente quiser, planejar e trabalhar duro, com um pouco de sorte também, você consegue. Os alunos de hoje são os pilotos de amanhã!
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Finest radial engine ever built, the Bristol Centaurus.
What about the Napier Sabre?
2400hp not too shabby.
What is a centaurus ....sounds like some kinda Roman dinosaur equipped with a short sword and sandles
Napier Sabre was a Sleeve Valve engine like the Centaurus, but it was a 24 cyl "H" pattern engine of a highly complex design. None are operating at this time but there is a plan to fly a Hawker Typhoon fitted with a restored Sabre. Centaurus is from Greek Mythology.
@@marcconyard5024 The Centaur was the mythological half man/half horse creature.
John Tempest Sabre is in-line tho, not radial
Cool
Kurt Tank taught the world how to build a proper radial engined fighter with his sensational FW 190. You can readily see the influence of its design in these two beautiful examples of British and American design. The Grumman F8F has long been my favorite piston engine fighter of all time.
It has a radial engine ,that dictates the shape.Does anyone say an FW190 copies a P47 or any of the prewar radial Curtis Hawks? or Beoing pursuit craft.No.Technology converges and parallels An inline watercooled V12 has its shape a bloody great aircooled radial the same.What could have been different.
The Fury was a development of the Tempest and Typhoon that came before. The 190 gave everybody such a fright when one was captured and evaluated www.airvectors.net/avcfury.html The 190 had an inline power plant from fairly early on anyways so......
Except the FW190 with a 45-liter radial engine was outperformed by the Spitfire IX with the 1,700 hp 27 liter Merlin 65. The Spit could outclimb the 190 with ease, and the 190's BMW radial engine ran out of breath at higher altitudes where the Spit was outstanding. Kurt Tank was forced to replace the radial engine with various DB in-lines in later models. The Merlin was rightly labeled "The Engine That Won WWII." It turned the Allison-engined P51A from a nice low-level fighter into an outstanding one, able to escort USAAF bombers to any target in Europe and outfight any German fighters on the way there and back. Without it, the US would have had to stop daylight bombing for an indefinite time due to losses as high as 35% on a raid because no other US fighter could escort them far. The relatively small (27-liter) Merlin that started out at 900 h.p. ended making 2,200 h.p. reliably - with 2,500 available for short periods - by far the most incredible development of any piston aero engine. It also powered the Lancaster and Halifax heavy bombers (including the Lanc carrying the 10-to Grand Slam bomb, the heaviest and most powerful non-nuclear bomb of the war), the Mosquito - without doubt the most outstanding single warplane of WWII - and even the Twin Mustang used in Korea. (The Seafire version of the Spit also took part in the Inchon landing.) For full info. about the Merlin you could look up my article in Aviation History online: "The Magnificent Merlin."
@@nickodell3950 The engine that won WWII? Not in the pacific theater.
Sure would love for the Sea Fury to have the cool five bladed prop but no matter what a gorgeous machine.
It does have a five bladed prop - czcams.com/video/5Rs_SYEdo4I/video.html
those are some really big dogs
Funnily enough the F8F is quite small compared to the Fury. I have models of the Bearcat and Sea Fury and the Bearcat is dwarfed by it!
Both brilliant aircraft for their era! A Sea Fury got lucky and bagged a Mig15 and damaged another during a fleeting encounter during the Korean War.
@soaringtractor Ah there you are. For a moment I thought that we had an unpolluted comment section.
They make good dancing partners.
That "loopty doo" flight tho
Exhilarating yet disgusting. The beauty of human destruction. I hate it yet I’m still allured by it’s romance. Save me Lord.
Except they are now incapable of destructing anything intentionally, no longer used for their full original purpose, so perhaps you are saved?
Sea Fury красивее, и наверно, он устойчивей в полете и послушнее. А у F8F обзор хороший.
Both took exactly 9.5 seconds from rev up to wheels off ground.
British style, US brute :-)
Two great fighter designs . The Bearcat just failed to see combat in WWII. The Sea Fury was just a bit later in development yet it saw service in the Korean War with later Corsair variants but not with the Bearcat. Grumman was now doing jet aircraft and as far as they were concerned, prop was dead. Vought, North American and Douglas proved them wrong though.
R.I.P., Howard Pardue.
The Bearcat is substantially smaller and lighter than the Fury. the Bearcat was designed in WW2 when the Hellcat could not land on escort carriers. So, the Bearcat was meant to replace both the hellcat and the FM-2. So, it had to be light enough to get off the smaller carriers.
The advantage of the small design and weight was, of course, the fabulous climb and maneuverability of the Bearcat. Still holds record from takeoff to 10,000 feet. The drawback was primarily range. The Bearcat was a short range interceptor
The RN flew Hellcats from Escort Carriers.
@soaringtractor I was being ironic, obviously went over your head. in fact the Royal Navy used Hellcats from escort carriers.
@@bazwalk He doesn't do ironic. He just does hate. He knows more than anyone else in the whole world about aviation. He acted as chief advisor to Packard during the war years and also advised the U.S.A.A.F. against using Spitfires and Mosquitos for reconnaissance work but to his chagrin he was ignored.
@@PenzancePete please tell me soaring tractor is 95 years old stinks of piss and is soon to going in a care home Jesus the man spoils all these lovely aircraft with vile comments
Need a Corsair in there too
Lovely footage. Is it just me or does every other piston engined fighter look a tad weedy next to the Sea Fury.
I think not,old chap!
Nah, the bear is chonky as it should be. She's got claws too. Hate to have a bearcat chasing me down in any of the lesser aircraft of its time, you know the inevitable...
Wonder how many more Bearcats than Seafurys and carrier could fit?
Awesome video. These aircraft look so similar because they were both designed after the FW-190.
@soaringtractor No dumbass, you are quite mistaken. First of all, it's called the F8F not F7F. And of course it is a follow-up to the F4F and F6F(duh), with lessons learned, and also a new objective: time-to-climb speeds and a focus on interception. However the design clearly took many features from the FW190. You'd have to be blind not to see it. People have been commenting on this for the last 75 years, so no need to attack me now for mentioning it.
The Centaurus was about 20 percent more fuel efficient than the P&W.
Corsair says ..” wait for me”…and then passes them both…all three are awesome fighters…but the P-51 did it all…1000 mi range with drop tanks…escort the bombers…and then back home…and much smaller….turns tighter….lands slower…and sounds better….P-47 passes all of them in a dive…approaching the speed of sound…P-38 …just pain cool…and at the end of the day…J3 Cub is the most relaxing to fly…😀
Hawker Fury 1. La610 powered by the Sabre 7 . 3000 plus HP
Look it up ?.
Sea Fury looks so sleek, even when taxiing.
There is one radial engine fighter that did not make into production which IMO would have been the ultimate piston engined fighter. And that's Republics P-72 powered by the Pratt & Whitney R-4360. That would have been an absolute beast
You're right. Another, not as powerful but full of potential, was the Martin Baker MB5. All of these high performance pistons were of course made obsolete by the jet engine!
Yes...basically a P-47 with a 3500 hp 36 cyl radial strapped in. 490 mph and a 45,000 foot ceiling and 5,200 fpm climb. It would have been the most extreme single engine piston fighter of all time, but the war ended and it was cancelled.
Look at what those silly Wright Brothers started!
The hawker looks like the bear cats slightly older sibling playing chase. well shot vid. Thank you.
Tacatacatacataca..... (Battle of britain movie reference)
There is the opinion that the Bristol Centaurus was a superior design to the PRATTS and WRIGHTS...!!! I would have to opine that it was uniquely different with the complexity of the sleeve valve mechanism ,but not necessarily better...!!!
there was definately a movement toward sleeve valve engines in reciprocrafting aero engines in an effort for more horsepower, but ofc jet engines changed all that.