Vintage Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat NX818F Turns Heads at Oshkosh 2026

A 1945 Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat registered NX818F is turning heads at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026 in Oshkosh, Wis. One of a dwindling number of airworthy examples, the aircraft draws enthusiasts and historians alike with its blend of rarity and significance as the U.S. Navy's last purpose-built piston-engined fighter.

Legacy of the F8F Bearcat

Introduced in the final months of World War II, the F8F Bearcat was engineered for blistering speed and climb performance to counter late-war Japanese aircraft — capable of reaching 421 mph, according to the National Naval Aviation Museum. The type entered service too late for meaningful combat in the Pacific, but it later saw operational use with French forces in Indochina during the early 1950s.

The appearance of NX818F at Oshkosh underscores the dedication of private collectors and restorers who keep these high-performance warbirds flying. The Bearcat remains a fixture of the air-racing and vintage aviation community, prized for its exceptional power-to-weight ratio and agility — qualities as impressive on the Oshkosh flight line today as they were on the drawing board more than 80 years ago.