Difference between revisions of "F8F-1B"

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Latest revision as of 06:14, 24 August 2024

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This page is about the American naval fighter F8F-1B. For other versions, see F8F-1 and F8F-1B (France).

F8F-1B

F4U-4B

F7F-1

360://https://wiki.warthunder.com/images/f/f0/Cockpit_f8f1b.jpg

F8F-1B

USA

AB	RB	SB
6.3	6.3	6.3

Class:

Fighter

Naval aircraft

Research:54 000

Purchase:185 000

Show in game

Description

The F8F Bearcat was designed after the Battle of Midway. It was realized that an aircraft's rate of climb was extremely important, so it was decided to use the same Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial used on the earlier F6F Hellcat, but in a lighter airframe, capable of greater speed and climb rate. This came at the cost of range and armour for the pilot; the aircraft also featured a bubble canopy for all-around visibility. However, the fighter was developed too late for WWII. After the war, the introduction of naval jet aircraft like the F2H Banshee forced its early retirement; however, some of these fighters were used by France in Indochina against Viet Minh troops.

It was introduced in Update 1.33. The F8F-1B is truly a worthy aircraft to end the single engine fighter line of the USN branch. Nimble, fast, and with great acceleration, it is sight of fear for the foe's eye. Most of its enemies will be jets and they will shiver as the Bearcat faces them with a 2 km altitude and speed advantage. With WEP running (War Emergency Power), which includes ADI (Water-Methanol Injection) for the big and hungry 2,300 horsepower Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp, and modules maximized, the climb rate is well over 35 m/s. However, its main weakness is the Bearcat's very power source: the hot-running R-2800 Double Wasp, which will quickly overheat if left unattended.

General info

Flight performance

Arrestor gear

Accelerates braking by grabbing the brake cable on the deck of the aircraft carrier

Max speed

at 4 268 m708 km/h

Turn time19 s

Max altitude10 900 m

EnginePratt & Whitney R-2800-34W

TypeRadial

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight6 t

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 4,268 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
Characteristics	AB	RB	Max altitude (metres)	AB	RB	AB	RB	Take-off run (metres)
Stock	672	647	10900	20.1	20.8	19.3	19.3	220
Upgraded	752	708	10900	18.0	19.0	32.8	24.8	220

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
✓	✓	✓	X	✓

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
827	340	616	585	427	~10	~5

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 465	< 466	< 600	> 460

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural827 km/h

Gear340 km/h

8.5 mm Steel - Under cowling engine armour plate
8.5 mm Steel - Fore cockpit protection plate
9.5 mm Steel - Pilots seat and headrest
60 mm Bulletproof glass - Windshield

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB2 505 → 3 354

RB6 019 → 8 059

SB9 105 → 12 191

Total cost of modifications47 100

85 600

Talisman cost1 500

Crew training52 000

Experts185 000

Aces940

Research Aces480 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

110 / 220 / 470 %

166 / 166 / 166 %

Modifications

Flight performance

Survivability

Weaponry

Fuselage repair Research: 2 400 Cost: 4 400 200	Radiator Research: 2 400 Cost: 4 400 200
Airframe Research: 2 600 Cost: 4 700 220	Compressor Research: 2 600 Cost: 4 700 220
Wings repair Research: 2 900 Cost: 5 300 250	Engine Research: 2 900 Cost: 5 300 250
Cover Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 600 260	Engine injection Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 600 260	G-suit Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 600 260

	DGP-1 Research: 2 400 Cost: 4 400 200	bmg50_belt_pack Research: 2 400 Cost: 4 400 200
FRC mk.2 Research: 2 600 Cost: 4 700 220	bmg50_new_gun Research: 2 600 Cost: 4 700 220
LFRC mk.12 Research: 2 900 Cost: 5 300 250	anm3_belt_pack Research: 2 900 Cost: 5 300 250
FLBC mk.1 Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 600 260	anm3_new_gun Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 600 260

The stock ammo belt for the M3 is great. So don't waste research here. Biggest problem early on is the sluggish behaviour and gun jamming. The latter can be resolved with spending crew points in Weapon Maintenance, which by now in Rank 4 should be already at a decent level. If you're trigger happy, there is bad news: "New 20 mm cannons" are a tier 4 upgrade. Instead focus on the engine upgrades. Especially "Engine Injection" which gives the plane a great boost of performance and turns it into a true bear. The new 20 mm cannons turn the weapons from a shotgun-like spread to significantly more accurate grouping. It is worthwhile to skip the 20 mm belt upgrade and focus on engine improvements until unlocking the new 20 mm cannons upgrade, as the default belts are nearly as devastating as stealth ammo, but with a tracer round added into the mix.

Armaments

Offensive armament

Main article: M3 (20 mm)

The F8F-1B is armed with:

4 x 20 mm M3 cannon, wing-mounted (188 rpg outer + 225 rpg inner each wing = 826 total)

Suspended armament

The F8F-1B can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

	1	2	3
12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns (340 rpg)	2		2
500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs	1		1
1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs	1	1	1
HVAR rockets	2		2
Tiny Tim rockets	1		1

Default weapon presets
Without load 4 x HVAR rockets 2 x Tiny Tim rockets 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (1,000 lb total) 3 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (3,000 lb total) 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns (340 rpg = 1,360 total)

Usage in battles

In Arcade battles the F8F-1B can perform at its prime, which is, accordingly, remarkably. Due to the lack of damage due to overheating and such, the F8F-1B can easily outstrip any piston-engine fighter in a climb once upgraded.

Prior to the "engine injection" upgrade, the 1B performs very well, but not as sublimely as it does with the modification. Thus, climbing and Boom & Zoom match perfectly with the F8F-1B in AB due to its astounding climb rate, speed, acceleration, and weaponry.

Regarding weaponry, fire in very short bursts with the M3 20 mm because they will jam rather quickly. The most ideal belt is "Air targets", as the belt has the most HEF-I shells (together with the stealth belt, but the Air targets belt has an API-T shell instead of a practice shell).

A Bearcat dives towards a formation of Kikka fighter-bombers.

In Realistic Battles, the F8F-1B possesses flight performance, armament, and engine power that are top of its class. However, the F8F-1B's engine tends to overheat after ~2-2.5 minutes of continuous WEP. These poor thermals force the Bearcat to be played more carefully, avoiding long dogfights with enemy aircraft to preserve the engine as much as possible. Another caveat to take note of is the rudder control. Past 680-700 km/h (422-435 mph/367-377 kt), the rudder controls become very stiff and unresponsive. This necessitates careful management of speed, or carefully setting up targets so the rudder's usage is mitigated.

With Air Combat Manoeuvres in mind, the F8F-1B is a surprisingly responsive aircraft. Much like its historical predecessor, the F6F-5, the F8F-1B maintains a competitive turn rate at most speeds below 700 km/h (435 mph/377 kt). That being said, sustained turning engagements are not advised in this aircraft due to the poor elevator response below 350 km/h (217 mph/189 kt). The most ideal tactics to use in Air Realistic battles are Boom and Zoom, combined with wide energy saving manoeuvres in order to pull the opponent into an energy trap.

The F8F-1B will be commonly fighting a range of aircraft from the German aviation tree, which require different methods of engagement to be successful.

Firstly, the Ju 288 C is a frontline bomber with potent defensive armament consisting of four rear-facing MG 131 machine guns in one dorsal and one belly turret, two front-facing MG 131s in a chin-mounted turret, and a single MG 151/20 mounted in a barbette in the tail. Engaging this bomber is best done with head-on attacks at the start of the match, or high speed passes from above - thus minimizing your exposure to the Ju 288 C's gunners.

Against the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D family, the most ideal method of engaging these enemies is to take advantage of the F8F-1B's superior energy retention, combined with superior turn radius at most speeds to bait the Fw 190 D into energy traps. Do not attempt head-on attacks against these, or any other German fighter you face. This is because of the high damage output of their MG 151/20 or MK 108 autocannons. Though the M3 cannon does have superior ballistics, it is much better to not put your aircraft at unnecessary risk.

To engage the Focke-Wulf Ta 152 C-3, it is best to take advantage of the aircraft's largely inferior rudder and elevator response when compared to the F8F-1B. The Ta 152C-3 is able to match the F8F-1B's speed in straight line engagements with ease due to its powerful DB 603 engine, but the German aircraft accelerates more slowly than the F8F-1B despite its good energy retention thus, being easily baited into an unwinnable situation against the F8F-1B. The Ta 152 H-1 requires a similar method to the Ta 152 C-3. However, this variant turns much better than its cousin, at the expense of roll rate, though the issue of poor rudder response remains with this aircraft, as well as worse energy retention due to the much larger wings.

When engaging any of the Messerschmitt Bf 109 G/K variants with the F8F-1B, it is best to bait them into higher speed energy fights, this is due to the Bearcat's superior control response between 450-700 km/h (280-435 mph/242-377 kt), much more powerful radial engine, and superior power-to-weight ratio. These advantages make vertical engagements against the Bf 109 family the most desirable, as the German aircraft will lose more energy attempting to stay in steep climbs with the Bearcat. However, engaging in sustained turning engagements that go below 450 km/h (280 mph/242 kt) is not advised. This is because the Messerschmitt's leading edge slats allow the aircraft to pull higher angles of attack than the F8F-1B at those speeds and thus turn inside of it.

Engaging the Dornier Do 335 B-2 is arguably the most straightforward. The Do 335 B-2 is a far inferior aircraft to the F8F-1B in every aspect, only really being a danger to the American fighter in direct head-on engagements. This is because the Do 335 B-2 is unable to match the flight performance of the Bearcat and is thus will be a sitting duck in most situations.

Engaging the He 162 A-2 and Ar 234 B-2 require different methodologies however. The tactics against them will become far more prevalent when facing later jets in uptiers. The Bearcat faces little danger from the Arado, as it has no offensive or defensive armaments, however can only catch it in an extended chase at low altitude, or in a head-on pass. Be careful of being caught in its bombs' explosive splash range at low altitudes. To engage the He 162, it is advisable to bait the aircraft into a low energy state, due to the poor acceleration and throttle response from early jet-powered aircraft. It is not advisable to run from the Heinkel either, as the He 162s can catch the F8F-1B in an extended straight line engagement.

Soviet and Chinese aircraft can also be commonly seen in battles.

The Yak-3U and Yak-3 (VK-107) can pose significant threat to the F8F-1B. These aircraft are incredibly manoeuvrable, and retain energy as well as the F8F-1B, so are easily able to match it in any engagement that doesn't involve straight-line speed. However, their major weakness is their low redline speed, which allows the F8F-1B to dictate the engagement, and escape if need be. The Yak-9UT is similar to the Yak-3s listed, however it is less manoeuvrable and more heavily armed. The Yak-15 is essentially a Yak-3 VK-107 in regards to performance and redline.

The Mikoyan I-225 is less capable than the F8F-1B by far, and is best engaged in a similar manner to engaging the Bf 109 family. This aircraft is more manoeuvrable than the Bf 109, and has incredibly good high altitude performance, so is best engaged below 5,000 metres (16,400 feet).

Engaging the Tupolev Tu-2S and Tu-1 is best done in a similar manner to engaging the Ju 288 C, with the addition of avoiding direct head-on passes due to their powerful frontal armaments.

Commonly seen Japanese and Italian aircraft are largely similar to the previously mentioned aircraft, with one major exception: the A7M2.

The Mitsubishi A7M2 is much slower than any other aircraft mentioned but is extremely manoeuvrable. It has a great power to weight ratio and is able to turn inside of the F8F-1B at any speed. Engaging this aircraft is a matter of speed management.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
Mixer	Pitch	Oil	Water	Type	Supercharger	Turbocharger
Controllable	Controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Auto control available	Separate	Controllable 2 gears	Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

Excellent dive speed
Excellent manoeuvrability in moderate to high speeds
Fast acceleration
High rate of fire
High ammo count
Can support high G's in sharp turns and has a G-suit upgrade available
Combat flaps can't break, the wings will break first
Double the burst mass of the first F8F-1 Bearcat and in general powerful armament
Great roll rate compared to planes such as the BF-109
Respectable climb rate up to 5 km
Excellent bomb capacity

Cons:

Engine overheats quickly
With the unbreakable combat flaps deployed, wings can rip in a high speed turn
M3 cannons jam in barely three seconds unless they are upgraded
Not the fastest plane, so lots of planes can catch up
Ground loops if landing with full brakes
Sluggish controls at speeds less than 300 km/h
Dumps velocity in high-G turns
Rudder compresses to the point of uselessness over 600 km/h

History

The first idea for the creation of the Grumman F8F Bearcat was pitched after the Battle of Midway. Many pilots who took part in it remarked that one of the most important parts of naval air warfare was an aircraft's rate of climb. This of course meant that an increase in power was necessary. In 1943 the design work on the new aircraft began. The outline called for a fighter-interceptor, capable of operating even from small escort carriers. While the engine – the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial – was the same model used on the earlier F6F Hellcat, the new fighter would be lighter which also meant an increase in speed and climb rate. The concession was limiting the range of the new aircraft. The F8F would also feature a bubble canopy for better all around visibility. The first prototype, the XF8F-1, first took to the skies on the 21st August 1944. Further tests proved the aircraft's reliability and ruggedness, and the F8F was accepted into mass production. The first serial models rolled off the assembly line in February 1945 and were delivered to VF-19 fighter squadron, which began operating flights with the Bearcats in May 1945.

The new fighter, was, however, too late for any combat in World War II. After the war the situation of this propeller aircraft got even more complicated thanks to the introduction of naval jet aircraft. Even though the F8F was one of the fastest propeller-driven aircraft of its time, it was clear that the jet age was dawning. The F8F was replaced in US Navy and USMC service by the F9F Panther and the F2H Banshee jet aircraft. Some Bearcats saw combat service with the French in French Indochina in 1951, when they were used in the CAS role against the Viet Minh troops. Thailand also received a shipment of Bearcats which were then operated by the Thai Air Force. The F8F found a new life – thanks to its speed and acceleration - it was and still is widely used as a racing aircraft. One of the most famous racing Bearcats is the Rare Bear – a specially modified F8F, which holds many propeller aircraft speed and climb records.

Media

Skins

Skins and camouflages for the F8F-1B from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

The Shooting Range #239 - Metal Beasts section at 00:28 discusses the F8F-1B.

Last piston fighters discusses the F8F-1B at 5:28 - War Thunder Official Channel

Best naval fighters discusses the F8F-1B at 2:24 - War Thunder Official Channel

External links

Standard Aircraft Characteristics of the F8F-1

Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation
Aircraft
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F3F	F3F-2 · Galer's F3F-2
F4F Wildcat	F4F-3 · F4F-4
XF5F Skyrocket	XF5F · XP-50
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F7F Tigercat	F7F-1 · F7F-3
F8F Bearcat	F8F-1 · F8F-1B
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P-51 Mustang	P-51 · P-51A (Thunder League) · P-51C-10 · P-51D-5 · P-51D-10 · P-51D-20-NA · P-51D-30 · P-51H-5-NA
P-63 Kingcobra	P-63A-5 · P-63A-10 · P-63C-5 · ␠Kingcobra
Prototypes	XP-55
F2A Buffalo	F2A-1 · Thach's F2A-1 · F2A-3
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Difference between revisions of "F8F-1B"

Latest revision as of 06:14, 24 August 2024

Contents

Description

General info

Flight performance

Details

Survivability and armour

Modifications and economy

Armaments

Offensive armament

Suspended armament

Usage in battles

Manual Engine Control

Pros and cons

History

Media

See also

External links

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Specs-Card
-|code=f8f1b
-|cockpit=cockpit_f8f1b.jpg
-}}
 {{About
 | about = American naval fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
@@ Line 9: / Line 5: @@
 | link-1 = F8F-1
 | link-2 = F8F-1B (France)
+}}
+{{Specs-Card
+|code=f8f1b
+|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
+|cockpit=cockpit_f8f1b.jpg
 }}
 == Description ==
 <!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
-[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
+The F8F Bearcat was designed after the Battle of Midway. It was realized that an aircraft's rate of climb was extremely important, so it was decided to use the same Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial used on the earlier [[F6F-5|F6F Hellcat]], but in a lighter airframe, capable of greater speed and climb rate. This came at the cost of range and armour for the pilot; the aircraft also featured a bubble canopy for all-around visibility. However, the fighter was developed too late for WWII. After the war, the introduction of naval jet aircraft like the [[F2H-2|F2H Banshee]] forced its early retirement; however, some of these fighters were used by France in Indochina against Viet Minh troops.
-{{break}}
-The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American naval fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.33]].
-The F8F-1B is truly a worthy aircraft to end the single engine fighter line of the USN branch. Nimble, fast, and with great acceleration, it is sight of fear for the foe's eye! ''Most'' of its enemies will be jets and they will shiver as the Bearcat faces them with a 2 km altitude  and (sometimes with) speed advantage! With WEP running ('''W'''ar '''E'''mergency '''P'''ower, includes ADI(Water-Methanol Injection) for the big and hungry 2,300 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp) and modules maximized, the climb rate is well over 35 m/s. However, its main weakness is the Bearcat's very power source- the hot-running R-2800 Double Wasp.
+It was introduced in [[Update 1.33]]. The F8F-1B is truly a worthy aircraft to end the single engine fighter line of the USN branch. Nimble, fast, and with great acceleration, it is sight of fear for the foe's eye. Most of its enemies will be jets and they will shiver as the Bearcat faces them with a 2 km altitude and speed advantage. With WEP running (War Emergency Power), which includes ADI (Water-Methanol Injection) for the big and hungry 2,300 horsepower Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp, and modules maximized, the climb rate is well over 35 m/s. However, its main weakness is the Bearcat's very power source: the hot-running R-2800 Double Wasp, which will quickly overheat if left unattended.
 == General info ==
-=== Flight Performance ===
+=== Flight performance ===
+{{Specs-Avia-Flight}}
 <!-- ''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.'' -->
-{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
-|-
+! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
-! colspan="8" | Characteristics
-|-
-! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
-|-
 ! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 4,268 m)
-! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(meters)
+! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(metres)
 ! colspan="2" | Turn time<br>(seconds)
-! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(meters/second)
+! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(metres/second)
-! rowspan="2" | Take-off run<br>(meters)
+! rowspan="2" | Take-off run<br>(metres)
-|-
-! AB
-! RB
-! AB
-! RB
-! AB
-! RB
-|-
-| 671 || 652 || 10,900 || 20.4 || 20.9 || 15.4 || 18.6 || 220
-|-
-! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
 |-
-! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 4,268 m)
+! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
-! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
-! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
-! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(meters/second)
-! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
 |-
-! AB
+! Stock
-! RB
+| 672 || 647 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 20.1 || 20.8 || 19.3 || 19.3 || rowspan="2" | 220
-! AB
-! RB
-! AB
-! RB
 |-
-| 750 || 708 || 10,900 || 18.4 || 19.0 || 38.9 || 24.8 || 220
+! Upgraded
+| 752 || 708 || 18.0 || 19.0 || 32.8 || 24.8
 |-
 |}
-====Details====
+==== Details ====
-{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 |-
 ! colspan="5" | Features
 |-
-! Combat flap
+! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear
-! Take-off flap
-! Landing flap
-! Air brakes
-! Arrestor gear
 |-
 | ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || X || ✓     <!-- ✓ -->
@@ Line 78: / Line 52: @@
 |}
-{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 |-
-! colspan="5" | Limits
+! colspan="7" | Limits
 |-
-! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed<br>(km/h)
+! rowspan="2" | Wings (km/h)
-! rowspan="2" | Gear limit<br>(km/h)
+! rowspan="2" | Gear (km/h)
-! rowspan="2" | Combat flap<br> (km/h)
+! colspan="3" | Flaps (km/h)
 ! colspan="2" | Max Static G
 |-
-! +
+! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
-! -
-|-
-| 830 || 300 || 910 || ~12 || ~6
-|-
-|}
-{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
-|-
-! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
-|-
-! Ailerons<br>(km/h)
-! Rudder<br>(km/h)
-! Elevators<br>(km/h)
-! Radiator<br>(km/h)
 |-
-| < 540 || < 540 || < 500 || > 250
+| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 616 || 585 || 427 || ~10 || ~5
 |-
 |}
@@ Line 109: / Line 69: @@
 {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 |-
-! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
+! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
-|-
-! colspan="3" | Setting 1
-|-
-! Optimal altitude
-! 100% Engine power
-! WEP Engine power
-|-
-| 995 m || 2,120 hp || 2,826 hp
-|-
-! colspan="3" | Setting 2
-|-
-! Optimal altitude
-! 100% Engine power
-! WEP Engine power
-|-
-| 5,090 m || 1,700 hp || 2,244 hp
 |-
-<!--! colspan="3" | Setting 3
+! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
 |-
-! Optimal altitude
+| < 465 || < 466 || < 600 || > 460
-! 100% Engine power
-! WEP Engine power
 |-
-| ?,??? m || ?,??? hp || ?,??? hp
-|- -->
 |}
 === Survivability and armour ===
+{{Specs-Avia-Armour}}
 <!-- ''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.'' -->
-* 8.5 mm Steel - Under cowling engine armor plate
+* 8.5 mm Steel - Under cowling engine armour plate
 * 8.5 mm Steel - Fore cockpit protection plate
 * 9.5 mm Steel - Pilots seat and headrest
 * 60 mm Bulletproof glass - Windshield
+=== Modifications and economy ===
+{{Specs-Economy}}
+The stock ammo belt for the M3 is great. So don't waste research here. Biggest problem early on is the sluggish behaviour and gun jamming. The latter can be resolved with spending crew points in Weapon Maintenance, which by now in Rank 4 should be already at a decent level. If you're trigger happy, there is bad news: "New 20 mm cannons" are a tier 4 upgrade. Instead focus on the engine upgrades. Especially "Engine Injection" which gives the plane a great boost of performance and turns it into a true bear. The new 20 mm cannons turn the weapons from a shotgun-like spread to significantly more accurate grouping. It is worthwhile to skip the 20 mm belt upgrade and focus on engine improvements until unlocking the new 20 mm cannons upgrade, as the default belts are nearly as devastating as stealth ammo, but with a tracer round added into the mix.
 == Armaments ==
+{{Specs-Avia-Armaments}}
 === Offensive armament ===
+{{Specs-Avia-Offensive}}
 <!-- ''Describe the offensive armament of the aircraft, if any. Describe how effective the cannons and machine guns are in a battle, and also what belts or drums are better to use. If there is no offensive weaponry, delete this subsection.'' -->
-{{main|AN/M3 (20 mm)}}
+{{main|M3 (20 mm)}}
 The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:
-* 4 x 20 mm AN/M3 cannon, wing-mounted (188 rpg outer + 225 rpg inner each wing = 826 total)
+* 4 x 20 mm M3 cannon, wing-mounted (188 rpg outer + 225 rpg inner each wing = 826 total)
 === Suspended armament ===
+{{Specs-Avia-Suspended}}
 <!-- ''Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.'' -->
-{{main|Tiny Tim|HVAR|AN-M65A1 (1,000 lb)|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)}}
-{{main|Browning M2 (12.7 mm)}}
 The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
+{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
+|-
+! !! width="13%" | 1 !! width="13%" | 2 !! width="13%" | 3
+| rowspan="6" width="30%" | <div class="ttx-image">[[File:Hardpoints_F8F-1.png]]</div>
+|-
+! [[M2 Browning (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2 Browning]] machine guns (340 rpg)
+| 2 || || 2
+|-
+! [[AN-M64A1 (500 lb)|500 lb AN-M64A1]] bombs
+| 1 || || 1
+|-
+! [[AN-M65A1 (1,000 lb)|1,000 lb AN-M65A1]] bombs
+| 1 || 1 || 1
+|-
+! [[HVAR]] rockets
+| 2 || || 2
+|-
+! [[Tiny Tim]] rockets
+| 1 || || 1
+|-
+|}
+{{Navigation-Start|Default weapon presets}}
+{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
 * Without load
-* 2 x 297 mm Tiny Tim rockets
+* 4 x HVAR rockets
-* 4 x 127 mm HVAR rockets
+* 2 x Tiny Tim rockets
-* 4 x 127 mm HVAR rockets + 1 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (1,000 lb total)
+* 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (1,000 lb total)
-* 1 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bomb (1,000 lb total)
-* 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs + 1 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bomb (2,000 lb total)
 * 3 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (3,000 lb total)
-* 4 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, suspended (340 rpg = 1,360 total)
+* 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns (340 rpg = 1,360 total)
+{{Navigation-End}}
 == Usage in battles ==
-<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in an aircraft, the features of using vehicles in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
+<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
-In Arcade battles the F8F-1B can perform at its prime, which is, accordingly, remarkably. Due to the lack of damage due to overheating and such, the F8F-1B can easily outstrip any piston-engine fighter in a climb '''once upgraded'''.
+In Arcade battles the F8F-1B can perform at its prime, which is, accordingly, remarkably. Due to the lack of damage due to overheating and such, the F8F-1B can easily outstrip any piston-engine fighter in a climb once upgraded.
-Prior to the engine-injection upgrade, the 1B performs very well, but not as sublimely as it does with the latter modification. Thus, climbing and Boom & Zoom match perfectly with the F8F-1B in AB due to its astounding climb rate, speed, acceleration, and weaponry.
+Prior to the "engine injection" upgrade, the 1B performs very well, but not as sublimely as it does with the modification. Thus, climbing and Boom & Zoom match perfectly with the F8F-1B in AB due to its astounding climb rate, speed, acceleration, and weaponry.
-Regarding weaponry, fire in very short bursts with the M3 20 mm because they will jam rather quickly. The most ideal belt is Air Targets, as the belt has - together with the stealth belt, but the Air Targets belt has instead of a practice shell an API-T shell - the most HEF-I shells.
+Regarding weaponry, fire in very short bursts with the M3 20 mm because they will jam rather quickly. The most ideal belt is "Air targets", as the belt has the most HEF-I shells (together with the stealth belt, but the Air targets belt has an API-T shell instead of a practice shell).
 [[File:FighterImage_F8F1.jpg|thumbnail|left|A Bearcat dives towards a formation of [[Kikka]] fighter-bombers.]]
-In RB, the F8F-1B is a monster. It possesses a fantastic climb rate, roll rate, high-capacity armament, and flight performance. Top speed and level speed are top notch, as is the dive-speed tolerance (~800 kph). Unfortunately, this power comes at a great price. Called the "Ovencat" by some players, the F8F-1B's engine could overheat in less than a minute while utilising WEP.
+In Realistic Battles, the F8F-1B possesses flight performance, armament, and engine power that are top of its class. However, the F8F-1B's engine tends to overheat after ~2-2.5 minutes of continuous WEP. These poor thermals force the Bearcat to be played more carefully, avoiding long dogfights with enemy aircraft to preserve the engine as much as possible. Another caveat to take note of is the rudder control. Past 680-700 km/h (422-435 mph/367-377 kt), the rudder controls become very stiff and unresponsive. This necessitates careful management of speed, or carefully setting up targets so the rudder's usage is mitigated.
+With Air Combat Manoeuvres in mind, the F8F-1B is a surprisingly responsive aircraft. Much like its historical predecessor, the [[F6F-5]], the F8F-1B maintains a competitive turn rate at most speeds below 700 km/h (435 mph/377 kt). That being said, sustained turning engagements are not advised in this aircraft due to the poor elevator response below 350 km/h (217 mph/189 kt). The most ideal tactics to use in Air Realistic battles are Boom and Zoom, combined with wide energy saving manoeuvres in order to pull the opponent into an energy trap.
+The F8F-1B will be commonly fighting a range of aircraft from the German aviation tree, which require different methods of engagement to be successful.
+Firstly, the [[Ju 288 C]] is a frontline bomber with potent defensive armament consisting of four rear-facing MG 131 machine guns in one dorsal and one belly turret, two front-facing MG 131s in a chin-mounted turret, and a single MG 151/20 mounted in a barbette in the tail. Engaging this bomber is best done with head-on attacks at the start of the match, or high speed passes from above - thus minimizing your exposure to the Ju 288 C's gunners.
+Against the Focke-Wulf [[Fw 190 (Family)|Fw 190 D family]], the most ideal method of engaging these enemies is to take advantage of the F8F-1B's superior energy retention, combined with superior turn radius at most speeds to bait the Fw 190 D into energy traps. Do not attempt head-on attacks against these, or any other German fighter you face. This is because of the high damage output of their MG 151/20 or MK 108 autocannons. Though the M3 cannon does have superior ballistics, it is much better to not put your aircraft at unnecessary risk.
-'''It is not recommended''' for any pilot to use WEP until  the "Radiator" modification is unlocked. Therefore, always side-climb at the beginning of a match as the 1B needs all the energy it can get, especially when facing opponents such as the [[Fw 190 D-9|Fw 190D]] which can out-climb a F8F-1B in continuous climb due to the lower thermal restraints of its Junkers engine.
+To engage the Focke-Wulf [[Ta 152 C-3]], it is best to take advantage of the aircraft's largely inferior rudder and elevator response when compared to the F8F-1B. The Ta 152C-3 is able to match the F8F-1B's speed in straight line engagements with ease due to its powerful DB 603 engine, but the German aircraft accelerates more slowly than the F8F-1B despite its good energy retention thus, being easily baited into an unwinnable situation against the F8F-1B. The [[Ta 152 H-1]] requires a similar method to the Ta 152 C-3. However, this variant turns much better than its cousin, at the expense of roll rate, though the issue of poor rudder response remains with this aircraft, as well as worse energy retention due to the much larger wings.
-The F8F-1B suffers at altitudes over 6,500 m. Below that utilise Boom & Zoom as the main tactic. Acceleration is magnificent as is dive speed. It will be difficult to rip the wings in a dive. Careful not to push the Bearcat too far, though, as rolling maneuvers and fast-paced moves can easily rip its wings.
+When engaging any of the Messerschmitt [[Bf 109 (Family)|Bf 109 G/K]] variants with the F8F-1B, it is best to bait them into higher speed energy fights, this is due to the Bearcat's superior control response between 450-700 km/h (280-435 mph/242-377 kt), much more powerful radial engine, and superior power-to-weight ratio. These advantages make vertical engagements against the Bf 109 family the most desirable, as the German aircraft will lose more energy attempting to stay in steep climbs with the Bearcat. However, engaging in sustained turning engagements that go below 450 km/h (280 mph/242 kt) is not advised. This is because the Messerschmitt's leading edge slats allow the aircraft to pull higher angles of attack than the F8F-1B at those speeds and thus turn inside of it.
-The AN/M3 20 mm cannons have an extremely fast fire rate and thus may drain the ammunition storage rather quickly. However, the massive 826 round storage should be plenty for quite a lot of battling in the skies!
+Engaging the Dornier [[Do 335 B-2]] is arguably the most straightforward. The Do 335 B-2 is a far inferior aircraft to the F8F-1B in every aspect, only really being a danger to the American fighter in direct head-on engagements. This is because the Do 335 B-2 is unable to match the flight performance of the Bearcat and is thus will be a sitting duck in most situations.
-The F8F-1B can also be used as an effective fighter-bomber. It can carry a large payload of Tiny Tim's, bombs, and assorted rockets, making it an effective attacker.
+Engaging the [[He 162 A-2]] and [[Ar 234 B-2]] require different methodologies however. The tactics against them will become far more prevalent when facing later jets in uptiers. The Bearcat faces little danger from the Arado, as it has no offensive or defensive armaments, however can only catch it in an extended chase at low altitude, or in a head-on pass. Be careful of being caught in its bombs' explosive splash range at low altitudes. To engage the He 162, it is advisable to bait the aircraft into a low energy state, due to the poor acceleration and throttle response from early jet-powered aircraft. It is not advisable to run from the Heinkel either, as the He 162s can catch the F8F-1B in an extended straight line engagement.
-Turning is not recommended in RB due to the 1B's mediocre turn rate.
+Soviet and Chinese aircraft can also be commonly seen in battles.
-Do not expect to out-climb every fighter in War Thunder. Expect to engage [[Fw 190 D-9|Fw 190D]] ''as'' the F8F-1B climbs. [[Bf 109 G-10|109G-10]], [[Bf 109 G-14|109G-14]], [[Bf 109 K-4|109K-4]], [[Tempest Mk II|Tempest Mk.II]], [[Spitfire FR Mk XIVe|Spitfire Mk.XIVe]], and [[J2M3|J2M3]] are able to reach the height of the 1B at the same time the 1B is able to.
+The [[Yak-3U]] and [[Yak-3 (VK-107)]] can pose significant threat to the F8F-1B. These aircraft are incredibly manoeuvrable, and retain energy as well as the F8F-1B, so are easily able to match it in any engagement that doesn't involve straight-line speed. However, their major weakness is their low redline speed, which allows the F8F-1B to dictate the engagement, and escape if need be. The [[Yak-9UT]] is similar to the Yak-3s listed, however it is less manoeuvrable and more heavily armed. The [[Yak-15]] is essentially a Yak-3 VK-107 in regards to performance and redline.
-The F8F-1B will often get matched with jets, however, and this is not a bad thing at all. Most jet pilots tend to overlook the piston-engine Bearcat and remain stuck in with jet-powered teammates - this is a window of opportunity. Gain some altitude and get ready to turn. Deploy flaps at will, since they don't blow off at any speed, and the F8F-1B can easily send a less aware enemy plummeting into the ground with the 20 mm cannons. If with a squad-mate in a jet - preferably something like the F-80 or the F-84, as the matchmaking is not so different - pretty amazing setups can be created, netting a good amounts of victories. One thing to worry about are [[Ho 229 V3|Ho 229 V3]], as their impressive turning capabilities may catch the player off guard.
+The Mikoyan I-225 is less capable than the F8F-1B by far, and is best engaged in a similar manner to engaging the Bf 109 family. This aircraft is more manoeuvrable than the Bf 109, and has incredibly good high altitude performance, so is best engaged below 5,000 metres (16,400 feet).
-===Manual Engine Control===
+Engaging the Tupolev [[Tu-2S]] and [[Tu-1]] is best done in a similar manner to engaging the Ju 288 C, with the addition of avoiding direct head-on passes due to their powerful frontal armaments.
+Commonly seen Japanese and Italian aircraft are largely similar to the previously mentioned aircraft, with one major exception: the A7M2.
+The Mitsubishi [[A7M2]] is much slower than any other aircraft mentioned but is extremely manoeuvrable. It has a great power to weight ratio and is able to turn inside of the F8F-1B at any speed. Engaging this aircraft is a matter of speed management.
+=== Manual Engine Control ===
 {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 |-
@@ Line 205: / Line 190: @@
 ! rowspan="2" | Turbocharger
 |-
-! Oil
+! Oil !! Water !! Type
-! Water
-! Type
 |-
-| Controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Separate || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable
+| Controllable || Controllable<br>Not auto controlled || Controllable<br>Not auto controlled || Controllable<br>Auto control available || Separate || Controllable<br>2 gears || Not controllable
-|-
-|}
-===Modules===
-The stock ammo belt for the AN/M3 is great. So don't waste research here. Biggest problem early on is the sluggish behavior and gun jamming. The latter can be resolved with spending crew points in , which by now in Rank 4 should be already at a decent level. If trigger happy, there is bad news: ''New 20 mm cannons'' are a tier 4 upgrade. Instead focus on the engine upgrades. Especially ''Engine Injection'' gives the plane a great boost of performance and turns it into a true bear. The ''New 20 mm cannons'' turn the weapons from a shotgun-like spread to significantly more accurate grouping. It is worthwhile to skip the 20 mm belt upgrade and focus on engine improvements until unlocking the ''New 20 mm cannons'' upgrade, as the default belts are nearly as devastating as stealth ammo, but with a tracer round added into the mix.
-{| class="wikitable"
-! colspan="1" | Tier
-! colspan="2" | Flight performance
-! colspan="1" | Survivability
-! colspan="2" | Weaponry
-|-
-| I
-| Fuselage Repair
-| Radiator
-|
-| DPG-1
-| Offensive 12 mm
-|-
-| II
-|
-| Compressor
-| Airframe
-| FRC mk.2
-| New 12 mm MGs
-|-
-| III
-| Wings Repair
-| Engine
-|
-| LFRC mk.12
-| Offensive 20 mm
-|-
-| IV
-| G-Suit
-| Engine Injection
-| Cover
-| FLBC mk.1
-| New 20 mm Cannons
 |-
 |}
 === Pros and cons ===
-<!-- ''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
+<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
 '''Pros:'''
 * Excellent dive speed
-* Excellent maneuverability in moderate to high speeds
+* Excellent manoeuvrability in moderate to high speeds
 * Fast acceleration
 * High rate of fire
 * High ammo count
 * Can support high G's in sharp turns and has a G-suit upgrade available
-* Combat Flaps can't break, the wings will break faster
+* Combat flaps can't break, the wings will break first
 * Double the burst mass of the first [[F8F-1|F8F-1 Bearcat]] and in general powerful armament
 * Great roll rate compared to planes such as the BF-109
 * Respectable climb rate up to 5 km
 * Excellent bomb capacity
-* Extremely unbelievably low repair cost compared to the ki84 ko Hayate
 '''Cons:'''
@@ Line 274: / Line 217: @@
 * Engine overheats quickly
 * With the unbreakable combat flaps deployed, wings can rip in a high speed turn
-* AN/M3 cannons jam in barely three seconds unless it's modified
+* M3 cannons jam in barely three seconds unless they are upgraded
-* Not the fastest plane, so a lots of planes can catch up
+* Not the fastest plane, so lots of planes can catch up
 * Ground loops if landing with full brakes
 * Sluggish controls at speeds less than 300 km/h
@@ Line 282: / Line 225: @@
 == History ==
-<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== Encyclopedia Info ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
+<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
-The first idea for the creation of the Grumman [[F8F-1|F8F Bearcat]] was pitched after the Battle of Midway. Many pilots who took part in it remarked that one of the most important parts of naval air warfare was an aircraft’s rate of climb. This of course meant that an increase in power was necessary. In 1943 the design work on the new aircraft began. The outline called for a fighter-interceptor, capable of operating even from small escort carriers. While the engine – the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial – was the same model used on the earlier [[F6F-5|F6F Hellcat]], the new fighter would be lighter which also meant an increase in speed and climb rate. The concession was limiting the range of the new aircraft. The F8F would also feature a bubble canopy for better all around visibility. The first prototype, the XF8F-1, first took to the skies on the 21st August 1944. Further tests proved the aircraft's reliability and ruggedness, and the F8F was accepted into mass production. The first serial models rolled off the assembly line in February 1945 and were delivered to VF-19 fighter squadron, which began operating flights with the Bearcats in May 1945.
+The first idea for the creation of the Grumman [[F8F-1|F8F Bearcat]] was pitched after the Battle of Midway. Many pilots who took part in it remarked that one of the most important parts of naval air warfare was an aircraft's rate of climb. This of course meant that an increase in power was necessary. In 1943 the design work on the new aircraft began. The outline called for a fighter-interceptor, capable of operating even from small escort carriers. While the engine – the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial – was the same model used on the earlier [[F6F-5|F6F Hellcat]], the new fighter would be lighter which also meant an increase in speed and climb rate. The concession was limiting the range of the new aircraft. The F8F would also feature a bubble canopy for better all around visibility. The first prototype, the XF8F-1, first took to the skies on the 21st August 1944. Further tests proved the aircraft's reliability and ruggedness, and the F8F was accepted into mass production. The first serial models rolled off the assembly line in February 1945 and were delivered to VF-19 fighter squadron, which began operating flights with the Bearcats in May 1945.
 The new fighter, was, however, too late for any combat in World War II. After the war the situation of this propeller aircraft got even more complicated thanks to the introduction of naval jet aircraft. Even though the F8F was one of the fastest propeller-driven aircraft of its time, it was clear that the jet age was dawning. The F8F was replaced in US Navy and USMC service by the F9F Panther and the [[F2H-2|F2H Banshee]] jet aircraft. Some Bearcats saw combat service with the French in French Indochina in 1951, when they were used in the CAS role against the Viet Minh troops. Thailand also received a shipment of Bearcats which were then operated by the Thai Air Force. The F8F found a new life – thanks to its speed and acceleration - it was and still is widely used as a racing aircraft. One of the most famous racing Bearcats is the Rare Bear – a specially modified F8F, which holds many propeller aircraft speed and climb records.
@@ Line 289: / Line 232: @@
 == Media ==
 <!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
 ;Skins
-*[http://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?q=%23F8F Skins and camouflages for the F8F from live.warthunder].
-*: All F8F skins are interchangable and can be used on all versions via the following steps:
+* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=f8f1b Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
-*: 1) Duplicate the folder template_f8f1 into the UserSkins folder and rename to template_f8f1b
-*: 2) Rename each file in the template_f8f1b folder from f8f1*.* to f8f1b*.*
+;Videos
-*: 3) edit f8f1b.blk and replace all instances of f8f1 with f8f1b
+{{Youtube-gallery|eRBzLn1se_Y|'''The Shooting Range #239''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:28 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|4v3fxupuZPA|'''Last piston fighters''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 5:28 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|PNkoJ-MFERc|'''Best naval fighters''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 2:24 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}
-;Images
-* [http://live.warthunder.com/post/173370/en/ "Hunting made two cards": F8F vs. He 162]
-* [http://live.warthunder.com/post/171057/en/ "Never fly alone"]
-* [http://live.warthunder.com/post/134521/en/ "big brother"]
 == See also ==
@@ Line 307: / Line 247: @@
 == External links ==
-''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
+<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
+* ''topic on the official game forum;''
+* ''other literature.'' -->
-* ''topic on the official game forum;''
+* [http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/F8F/F8F-1_Standard_Aircraft_Characteristics.pdf Standard Aircraft Characteristics of the F8F-1]
-* ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''
-* ''other literature.''
 {{AirManufacturer Grumman}}
 {{USA fighters}}