Rumor of next Unlimited -Wildcat with R-2800?

[dvddude]

I heard a rumor that there is a Gentleman in Texas who is going to highly modify an FM-2 Wildcat to use for Unlimited racing. Supposedly it's going to have an R-2800, turtledecking and a new airfoil/wing.

Does anyone have any more details or can confirm this?

[retroaviation]

Re: Rumor of next Unlimited -Wildcat with R-2800?

Right now it is just a rumor.

[t-dub]

Re: Rumor of next Unlimited -Wildcat with R-2800?

Why waste the time with a Wildcat??? He's gotta change a lot more than the wing! Nothing on a Wildcat is very aerodynamic. What about the main gear? Sounds like a silly rumor to me.............

[Peashooter]

Re: Rumor of next Unlimited -Wildcat with R-2800?

Why waste the time with a Wildcat??? He's gotta change a lot more than the wing! Nothing on a Wildcat is very aerodynamic. What about the main gear? Sounds like a silly rumor to me.............

The main gear retracts -- done. Tutrledeck canopy -- done. Tail moments would be interesting vs. race power...

[Inverted]

Re: Rumor of next Unlimited -Wildcat with R-2800?

Not aerodynamic my ass its a small tight body, you put some more appropriate wings on that bad boy you have a nice light race platform.

[Apteryx]

Re: Rumor of next Unlimited -Wildcat with R-2800?

Being able to change wings without mucking with the structure and systems, makes for an interesting idea

HEY Hawkeye, any input?

[Big_Jim]

Re: Rumor of next Unlimited -Wildcat with R-2800?

Not aerodynamic my ass its a small tight body, you put some more appropriate wings on that bad boy you have a nice light race platform.

Yes, I think you\'re right.

But they did that already. It\'s called a Bearcat.

[TWD]

Re: Rumor of next Unlimited -Wildcat with R-2800?

Sure, if you had a bunch of money, you could buy a bearcat, but how many racing projects do you suppose started with some people drinking beer and looking at something in the hangar/shop. "You know....if we put...on the front of that thing..."

[JET1]

heh....

Sure, if you had a bunch of money, you could buy a bearcat, but how many racing projects do you suppose started with some people drinking beer and looking at something in the hangar/shop. "You know....if we put...on the front of that thing..."

/\ that's how the Qestair Venture started.......

[Inverted]

Re: Rumor of next Unlimited -Wildcat with R-2800?

Yes, I think you\'re right.

But they did that already. It\'s called a Bearcat.

Calling a Wildcat a Bearcat is like calling a Wildcat a Mustang.

[Big_Jim]

Re: Rumor of next Unlimited -Wildcat with R-2800?

Calling a Wildcat a Bearcat is like calling a Wildcat a Mustang.

Straight out of Wikipedia:

Designed for the interceptor fighter role, the design team\'s aim was to create the smallest, lightest fighter that could fit around the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engine (carried over from the F6F Hellcat). Compared to its predecessor, the Bearcat was 20% lighter, had a 30% better rate of climb and was 50 mph (80 km/h) faster. It was also considerably smaller in size, as it was designed to be operated from small escort aircraft carriers, something the big Hellcat rarely did. Thus the F8F Bearcat was intended mainly as a replacement for the obsolete FM2 Wildcat.



Take the stubby Wildcat. Streamline it a bit. Put an R-2800 in it, and give it a better wing.

You have a Bearcat.

So call it what you want. But the theory in which you were suggesting was carried out by the Grumman engineers 60 years ago.

Jim

[spinner]

Re: Rumor of next Unlimited -Wildcat with R-2800?

Just what the spindly little Wildkitty gear needs is another 1500 lbs dumped on it. Possible...perhaps. Logical...not. Not that the air racing thing is logical. Bunch of old dudes...well except for Brant and Stevo...making very expensive noise flying around in circles for almost no compensation hanging their butts out there for what? Someone said it was for fun....well I suppose so.

[Fiveft18]

Re: Rumor of next Unlimited -Wildcat with R-2800?

I 1st saw this rumor on a WIX Board here: http://warbirdinformationexchange.or...ic.php?t=30277

Maybe only 2b modified as a bronze or silver racer? Go out have have some fun in something different?