Grumman (General Motors) / McDonnell Douglas (Boeing) F8F Bearcat (left), F/A-18 Hornet (right)

shaydis13 🇺🇸

05 Apr 2026 · © shaydis13

F/A-18E Super Hornet and Grumman Bearcat at the 2024 Sacramento Airshow.

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Aircraft

F8F Bearcat (left), F/A-18 Hornet (right) F8F / F18

US Navy historic (Bearcat, left), US Navy grey tactical (Hornet, right)

Airline

N/A (MILITARY)

US Navy

N/A (military) / N/A (military)

Manufacturer

Grumman (General Motors) / McDonnell Douglas (Boeing)

Gear

Nikon D800 200-500mm

Achievements

Retro Wings, Rare Bird, Vintage Voyager, Boeing Beginner, Military Maverick

5 badges earned

Location

Sacramento Mather Airport

MHR/KMHR

38.5547, -121.2980

Open map

Sacramento Mather Airport MHR

Airport

Insights

Aviation History

Bearcat: Final US piston-engine carrier fighter, WWII/postwar era icon; Hornet: Backbone of USN multi-role carrier aviation since 1980s, still widely used.

Fleet Rarity

Bearcat: <20 remain airworthy worldwide; Hornet: Hundreds still in service, but being replaced by Super Hornet and F-35C.

Record Flights

Bearcat: Was used in Reno Air Races (notable wins, world records for piston fighters); Hornet: Flown many transcontinental & carrier deployments, not a recordholder for distance but highly versatile.

Safety & Events

Bearcat: Historic racing accidents and museum survivals; Hornet: Engaged in numerous modern combat operations and some high-profile mishaps, generally very successful.

Future Outlook

Bearcat: Preserved in museums/private collections and flown at airshows; Hornet: Gradual retirement from active USN fleet, some exported/retained as aggressors or by other nations.

Specifications

Bearcat: Pratt & Whitney R-2800 (radial piston), Hornet: 2x General Electric F404 (turbofan)

Engine

Bearcat: 10.92 m; Hornet: 11.43 m (show units)

Wingspan

Bearcat: 8.61 m; Hornet: 17.07 m (show units)

Length

Bearcat: 1,752 km; Hornet: 2,346 km (show units - clean ferry range)

Range

Bearcat: 463 km/h; Hornet: 1,055 km/h (show units)

Speed

Bearcat: 1 pilot; Hornet: 1–2 crew (depending variant) (show units)

Capacity

Bearcat: 5,710 kg; Hornet: 23,400 kg (show units)

MTOW

Bearcat: 3.96 m; Hornet: 4.66 m (show units)

Height

Hornet: 2x 7,258 kgf (F404) (Bearcat is piston powered, not jet);

Thrust

Hornet: ICAO Chapter 3, ~120 dB (takeoff, close proximity); Bearcat: N/A (piston warbird, not used for civil commercial transport)

Noise