Photo by Eric Van Gilder

The Southern California Wing acquired the "Bearcat" in 1991 when Lefty Gardner flew the airplane from Chino, California to the Camarillo Airport after the airplane had been sitting idle for about eight years.

The Wing's maintenance crew did a complete restoration of this airplane, making it one of the most prestigious airplanes of its kind. All the fluid lines, electrical wiring, and instruments were replaced, and the airplane was given a new blue paint job. After eighteen months of continuous restoration work, the airplane made its first flight in 1993, again with Lefty Gardner at the controls doing the test flight.

This beautifully restored "Bearcat" is the hit of the many air shows that it attends.

Crew Chief: Ken Kramer
Bearcat Crew: Gary Barber, Jason Somes, Shari Heitkotter

The Bearcat Engine Replacement is complete but we are still raising funds to help pay off the balance left over from the engine overhaul.  Can you help us and play an important part in keeping the Bearcat flying and available for all to see at air shows and other events?

Steve Barber made an emergency landing at Burbank Airport on March 28, and the engine was "totaled."  Steve did an amazing job of getting the Bearcat on the ground safely.  The details behind Steve's skillful emergency landing can be found by clicking here.



Jason Somes flying the Bearcat in the 2010 Thermal Airshow

The Grumman F8F Bearcat on the ramp at Midland Airsho 2009 -







The Engine Replacement is Complete!!!

After a great team effort and many, many late nights it has actually happened, the Bearcat motor swap is complete and the test runs went great!!! After a few orbits around Burbank with the Hellcat as a chase plane the Bearcat flew triumphantly back home to Camarillo just in time for the airshow as promised.  What a great sound to hear her run again!!!

A HUGE thanks to all involved and there were many. Come hear the new engine run.



Steve and Gary Barber and Ken Kramer - Glad to see their baby running again, they were all involved in the original restoration.




Lots of smiles from three happy Bearcat Pilots - Jason Somes, Steve Barber Sr. and Ken Gottschall.


August 20, 2009 - The first Engine Runs of the new Anderson Aeromotive Pratt Whitney 2800.

Well it was a big day at the Burbank Bearcat Bunker, the overhauled engine arrived and the old engine was removed from the airframe. A huge thanks to Don and Randy as they both did a masterful job in forklift operations, which made for a very smooth engine removal. Mike is still hard at work on the necessary modifications while John and Ken work on getting the new engine ready to install.



Bearcat Engine Replacement Update - June 22, 2009

The replacement engine is completed and has passed the test runs with flying colors.  Delivery date for the engine to Burbank is June 30th.  Mike, Ken, John and Matt are working hard at Burbank to ready the airframe for the overhauled engine.




Bearcat Engine Replacement Update - June 9, 2009

Mike Perrenoud and Ken Gottschall have been sneaking over to the hangar where the Bearcat is presently stored whenever they can to try to accomplish any work that can be done in advance of the engine arrival. The failed engine is being left on for now as it will be removed at the same time the overhauled engine is installed.  All of the accessories have been removed and several have been sent out for overhaul. The next biggest project is relocation of some of the hydraulic and oil components within the accessory section. This is required as the overhauled engine will be a CB type of Pratt and Whitney 2800. The blower section on this model engine is longer necessitating moving the oil tank aft, which in turn requires relocation of components mounted to the firewall. Presently lots of planning and fabrication are underway, but for now it’s looking a little sparse in the Bearcat’s engine accessory compartment.




Bearcat Engine Replacement Update May 26, 2009

To date we have gathered enough funds to place an initial deposit for the new engine build and work has begun. We still need lots of help, so please contribute and watch the engine being built over the coming weeks. Contribute and know that YOU are the reason the Bearcat will be flying once again.

Some photos of Anderson Aeromotive in Grangeville, Idaho hard at work on our new engine.  Many thanks to them for contributing where they can to lower the costs involved, and for the superior workmanship.