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  • Please see the most recent updates in the "Where did the .com name go?" thread. Posts number 16 and 17.

    Post 16 Update

    Post 17 Warning

A Little Bearcat Action

This bird is definitely one of the most amazing 3D models in my FSX hangar so far.
Unfortunately, just like the F-6F Hellcat, the flight model is one of the worst. I don't really like the engine sounds as well, on my computer it seems that the engine is always on idle, only the volume increases when I push the throttle....
So I'll keep a close eye to this topic, as I am extremely interested in any mod that would make these two aircrafts better.

One additionnal question about the Bearcat: could this aircraft land on a carrier ? The propeeler is so large that any "nose down" attitude would result in a crash, no ?
 
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Daube, it could (and did) operate from carriers. The old story goes, that there were Bearcats on carrier decks heading towards Japan when WWII ended. Just like some of the very late-Mark Spitfires, you land and take off in a three-point attitude, and it (the real aircraft) allows for that very easily. You are alo supposed to only take off and land in a three-point attitude with Wildcats, Hellcats, and Avengers as well.

Even some of the old P-51 instruction movies demonstate the use of three-point attitude take offs and landings, and some pilots today will sometimes perform take-offs in Mustangs with all three-points coming off the ground at the same time, it's only a matter of holdign the tail down, longer.
 
Bomber_12th said:
it could (and did) operate from carriers. The old story goes, that there were Bearcats on carrier decks heading towards Japan when WWII ended.
Click to expand...
And the the new types the US Navy had to field alone in props Bearcat , Skyraider , Savage and land based Neptune's ... the impressive power of them all


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Thanks for the explanations. Indeed the Bearcat should... well, MUST take off and land in a three points attitude, there's no choice, either you keep that tailwheel on the ground, or the prop is lost.
I have not tried to land the Bearcat on a carrier yet, but all my attempts with the Hellcat ended in a nose-crash, because the tail of the plane would always go up when catching the cables... Are the tailhook coordinates correct on this model ?
 
3-point landings

In respect to the infamous 3-point, and landing the Bearcat....

3-point, kinda (forgive lame announcer)

Not-So 3-point, still very Bearcat

Joseph
 
Thank you for those, Joseph! The "Rare Bear" landings always look 'hot', as in a lot of speed on the aircraft still on approach, even in regular operation, but with those stubby wings, it makes sense.

This is what I meant about the props on some of the late-Mark Spitfires, being inches from the ground:

231474093_426728b93a_b.jpg
 
John:

Took the -1 out last night for some test flying and got the SL and critical altitude speeds correct, working a bit on mach tuck and spins. Haven't deck landed it as yet in the current flight test.

I do remember the folks having issues with the F6F nosing up on an arrested landing. I didn't really fuss with that one as yet. Part of the issue was the way everything reacted if you landed a bit fast. If you make sure you are on speed and have some wind over the deck, it behaves a bit better if not perfectly.

As to the F6F engine, it was done like the Iris P-40 series in that it it was capable of a much higher than rated MP at SL, but that was it's critical altitude, so power dropped off to normal at altitude. Indeed FSX doesen't do supercharged engines perfectly, especially multi staged ones, but neutral and low blower were not capable of really high MP values and high blower used about 400 HP! Max dry power falls off at altitude, with the same RPM and MP settings, due to the power required to drive the blower. However thrust augmentation from exhaust etc usually about cancel this out so total thrust as used in FSX usually works out OK. For proper performance at altitude, the Mach tables can be adjusted to get good speed values.

The visuals for the A2A F4u-1A and the Vertigo F6F were done by Milviz. I am currently working on their 737-200 which I flew as Captain for a number of years. Then the turbine powered versions of the S2 series are still WIP for Milton, so I am somewhat busy but will have to take another peak at these as they are nice planes!

Cheers: Tom
 
Tom,
Do keep us updated, as I'm sure that there are many who would at least like to try an updated FDE for either the F6F, or F8F.

I was considering doing some comparative tests with the Bearcat's original FD, and then when your work is ready, perhaps I could analyze the core differences.

Best regards,
Joseph
 
Try this out: Speeds pretty close, has stall/spin, mach tuck in a dive, spoiler/dive flap gives nose up for recovery, deck lands Ok, but with more nose dwn on arrestment than I would like.

Note: Is for the -1 only, tested in Accel. Since SOH won't let me load .zip files, simply rename without the .TXT extension and unzip.

Tom
 
Tom, I just completed two flights and about to make a third. It is just as I expected it would be - excellent!

I'm really excited by what I have experienced with these new flight dynamics. I will say that the acceleration and airspeeds (using the system-displayed/accurate airspeed readings) that I was seeing looked spot on to what I'd expect. On take-off, with 50" MP and full low-pitch/High RPM, the acceleration is excellent, requiring very little runway, but at the same time it is not over-done at all, but just perfect (if I recall correctly, max take-off power for the R-2800 is right at or around 51" MP). Initial climb power is established at 42" MP and 2550 RPM (which is also max-continuous, and used in display flying). Cruise-climb I was using 35" MP and 2300 RPM, and the aircraft still climbed very well. Cruise settings I have at 32" MP and 2100 RPM (this is fairly standard accross the board, for all aircraft with R-2800 engines), and with those settings, in level flight, I was getting about 240-242 kts ground speed (close to 280 mph), with about 185 kts indicated (about 213 mph) which is awesome, and right in the where-abouts that it should be! One of the most important tests for me, is being able to fly the aircraft through the same type of aerobatic displays that are actually flown with the real aircraft, and at the same power settings - and it passed that test very nicely! With the over-all handling vastly improved (the ailerons and elevators all responding as you'd expect them to), and proper acceleration and power, the aircraft is absolutely wonderful to fly through a display performance, especially starting out at 5,000 ft, and entering the display area in a dive from altitude. The amount of energy that you gain through this is spectacular (just as it is in real life), and if maintained, can make for some very spirited display flying (like Stephen Grey's "Joker" routine). I should also add that landing the aircraft seems to be just as easy as described with the real aircraft, and it shouldn't be a problem for most to easily be able to three-point the aircraft, and without a single bounce.

As mentioned, off for another flight! Thank you very, very much Tom!!

(One thing I thought worth noting, is that the airspeed indicator in the model doesn't seem to be calibrated properly in the low to mid 100's)
 
I am working on the -2 at the moment and am not getting the climb rate I want, the culprit seems to be the prop table. Still getting some airspeed indicator issues as well. The 22Wand 30W engines used on the -1 and -2 aircraft were quite different. The later engine, which was essentially the same as the unit fitted to the F4U5 without the sidewinders, featured a hydraulicaly driven variable speed supercharger. The theory I would guess was to achive a more optimum supercgarger blower ratio throught the altitude range.

More later: T
 
Brilliant little piston pocket rocket and a very impressive display , for the people who don't have it .. ideal for your favorite airshow scenery .. for me that's this weekends 'Warbirds over Wanaka' .. would be nice to see this one brought over for the next show , course with Vertigo's Cat and Real NZ the best i can do at the moment :cool:<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input jscode="leoInternalChangeDone()" onclick="if(typeof(jsCall)=='function'){jsCall();}else{setTimeout('jsCall()',500);}" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">
 
Ian:

Enjoyed staying around Wanaka and do wish I could have coincided with the famous air show!

With regards to the -2, borrowed another prop and was able to climb Sl to 20,000 ft in 3:41 with a bit of a help from an initial zoom climb.

The quest continues: T
 
Rare Bear is an incredible aircraft. I loved the video of them all racing the pylons. It was deafening I had it turned up so loud while enjoying the rumble.
I was getting a great adrenaline rush watching the video. I can only imagine being there as a spectator in the side lines. WOW!!! :icon_lol:
 
fliger747 said:
Ian:

Enjoyed staying around Wanaka and do wish I could have coincided with the famous air show!

With regards to the -2, borrowed another prop and was able to climb Sl to 20,000 ft in 3:41 with a bit of a help from an initial zoom climb.

The quest continues: T
Click to expand...

Great news, Tom! I noticed on some perfomance figures for the F8F-2, that it had an initial climb speed of just over 6,000 fpm - simply incredible!

(Speaking of which, I believe one of the records set with the F8F-2, was a take-off and climb to 10,000 feet in 91 seconds, from the moment of brake release.)
 
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