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The ECAMS

The Daily Briefing

Crossword · Sudoku · Trivia

August 21, 2026THEECAMS.COM

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This Day in Aviation

1944

Grumman XF8F-1 Bearcat First Flight

On 21 August 1944, the first Grumman XF8F-1 Bearcat prototype, Bu. No. 90460, took to the skies at Bethpage, New York. Chief Engineer and test pilot Robert Leicester Hall piloted the lightweight interceptor, designed for smaller U.S. Navy carriers. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-2800-22 Double Wasp radial engine, the Bearcat was 20% lighter than its Hellcat predecessor, boasting a top speed 50 mph faster and a superior climb rate.

To manage weight without sacrificing carrier strength, the Bearcat carried only four .50-caliber machine guns and reduced fuel. Its sharply tapered wings featured a 5° 5′ sweep. The prototype crashed during gunnery tests in March 1945, but Grumman produced 1,265 Bearcats between 1945 and 1949. Future astronauts, including Neil Armstrong, later praised the aircraft as their favorite naval fighter.

Trivia

1. Who piloted the first flight of the Grumman XF8F-1 Bearcat prototype on 21 August 1944?

  1. A. Neil Armstrong
  2. B. Robert Leicester Hall
  3. C. Bicknell Hall
  4. D. Eugenie Therese Zeller
Show answer

B. The evidence states that the first flight was made with Grumman's Chief Engineer and test pilot Robert Leicester Hall at the controls.

2. Which crossword answer matches this clue: Airport parking position for an aircraft?

  1. A. FCO
  2. B. STAND
  3. C. DIVE
  4. D. TRIP
Show answer

B. STAND is the matching crossword entry.

3. Which crossword answer matches this clue: Cargo-restraint webbing?

  1. A. STET
  2. B. LHR
  3. C. NET
  4. D. ALT
Show answer

C. NET is the matching crossword entry.