Bearcat on the Prowl by velocicrapper
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
This image stars a new series from the March Air Reserve Base AirFest 2004 in Riverside, California. I had a 75-300mm IS USM lens on a Canon Rebel EOS 300D D-SLR... and I got 4,141 of the best images I've ever taken at an airshow, not to mention the closest! Enjoy!
::: Part 4 of a series of March Air Reserve Base AirFest 2004 photos :::
Taken 4-24/25-2004
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This aircraft is a World War 2 Naval F8F-2 Bearcat. One of the fastest Naval Aircraft of the time, The Bearcat entered service right at the end of World War 2 and played a major role in the Korean War Conflict. Production of this fighter went from 1945 to 1949. The Bearcat was used all the way until 1952. Reaching a top speed of 421 miles an hour, the Bearcat was almost a match for the slightly faster P-51 Mustang.
Here, an F8F-2 has just make a strafing run over airshow center (with pyrotechnics). Unfortunatly, without knowing it the camera had selected a higher ISO than I wanted (I always shoot at ISO 100) when I switched to the active focusing. I discovered this soon after, but a few shots got a bit more noise than I wanted.
This images was taken with a Canon Rebel EOS 300D (6 Megapixel D-SLR) with a Canon 75-300mm IS USM F4.9 lens.

Comments (17)
Superb shot! I am REALLY looking forward to your other pictures in the series if this is an indication of things to come!
WOW@WOW!!! Superb capture! Xcellent motion and details! Congrats!
Fantastic shot !!!!!!!!!! v
Man I'd love to be up there!!!
Great period feel to this image. Almost like a look back to someone returning from a successful raid. Keep at it!
Amazing shot...well done..
Awsome Shot, Very nice contrast with the clouds slightly out of focus in the back ground. Looks like it was a perfect day.
Fine shot indeed ... Keep on posting :)
perfect shot...nothing could be improved!
Yeap, a super shot!!!!!!!
Super shot, really like WW II airframes. Had an uncle make a full tour in WW II as top gunner on B-17. After he got back never step foot into another plane.
Sweet action shot
wow, now that's a shoot worthy of printing. But i'm intrigued, did you take it from another plane? or was that plane doing a stunt?
Amazing shot, to capture it so neat!
Pancho1985, it was taken from the ground, panning as the Bearcat flew past.
Great shot of an amazing aircraft. Thanks!
This is an awesome photo! Just a quibble about the F8F being almost a match for the Mustang. There is a story in the book "In the Cockpit" about a Lt. James Ean of VF-18. "I had the engine at full power and was practically standing on the brakes. I waited for the Mustant to begin its take off roll. When he was about halfway down the runway, I released my brakes, gave the bird full throttle and went after him. I came in under him as he was taking off, before he could even get his landing gear up, I did a barrel roll right around him. As the Mustang pulled up and applied maximum power, I did another barrel roll around him and topped my demonstration with a few feints, which, in a combat situation, would have spelled the end for him."