The Flying Time Bomb - F8F-1B Bearcat

My personal Discount Code: store.gaijin.n...
The F8F-1B Bearcat is a plane that you might enjoy but it's rather underwhelming.
I recommend the P-51H or F4U-4B instead.
Fuel: 20 Minutes
Ammo: Air or Stealth
Convergence: 600 meter
Vertical Targeting: No
Crew: Lvl 75 + Ace
Discord: / discord
Intro/Outro: A.N.O. - Vanish
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It's not necessary but always appreciated, all donated money will be there to improve quality and frequency of my content.
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Patreon: / defyn
Merch: defyn-shop.fou...
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[@stitchjones7134]

This plane was nerfed due to crying. I remember.

[@dsdy1205]

Digging through the forums I am rediscovering this yes

[@kingghidorah8106]

well, most american planes are undertiered because of crying as well :)

[@stitchjones7134]

@@kingghidorah8106 Most US planes are undertiered because casual/new players don't know how to use them and get smashed. Steeper learning curve, and the win/loss ratio backs that up. Can't just point up and head for the centre of the map like you can with axis. The f8f, prior to the thermal issues it has now was probably the only allied prop at that time to really suit the meta like an axis plane, hence why surprised kraut flyers whined. I personally used the shittier axis planes for a challenge. I'm 3:1 in the overtiered and slow 190a8 (regularly against Griffons, Corsairs, 47's and 51's) and and have positive K/D ratios in the 410s including the 50mm version. Is it because I'm good? Hell no, I'm average at best. its because Axis really is easy mode. How do GJ fix it? Who knows?

[@kingghidorah8106]

@@stitchjones7134 Steeper learning curve? Casual playe- what? Listen, sorry if I sound rude, but by the time I began with US I set myself at 2.5K/D on most US planes and researched the entire rank 4 in 100 matches. I haven't gotten more than 1.5 K/D with Russians, British or even Germans. The hardest nation to play is undoubtedly Russia: lowest ammo count, already bad ballistics, fragile planes, unable to perform past 4km of altitude and VERY low rip speeds, you are basically an energy dogfighter and you know, using energy im a dogfight is harder than... boom and zoom or turning lile crazy right? Also Russia has only Il2s to go ground realistic meanwhile you can kill six tanks with a Mustang using rockets. The thing is that most premium packs are bought from the US tech tree and Gaijin makes US broken so that people keep paying. Nobody will pay for a Spitfire mk14C with four 7.7mm, they will pay for a F4U-4B with air spawn, 2000kg in bombs and rockets and 1000 20mm rounds each one better than Minengeschoss! Nobody will pay for a 5.7 Hornet because it ascends at 23m/s, they will pay for a p38 that is even better armed, climbs at 26m/s and it's even at 5.3! Do you understand the logic right? If Russia had more fanaticism it would at least get something cool _in the tree_ because the cool stuff is premium and, if you think carefully, it seems like every solution for each tier 's main drawback is on the right side: Your yak 3 breaks when diving? Here ya go, a P63 able to reach 900 IAS with just a subtle rudder compression. You're left with two shit cannons? Here, have this Soviet FW190D with 500 Mineshell. Your I16 stalls? Get the I180, like a Moska with more power. Your mig 17 has no missiles to fight against Phantoms? Pay for the 17AS and get two shitty Sidewinders. *Your 5.0-6.0 Russians are completely underwhelming and can't even be considered super props (except the yak 3U)? Here, get the yak 3 VK-107, a 3000kg beast powered by a 1900 horsepower Hispano Suiza*

[@stitchjones7134]

@@kingghidorah8106 That's great....except that it doesn't explain the skewed win loss ratios. Allies lose with props, and lose hard most of the time. To me, those skewed results explain why GJ h has gone full in on Mixed Battles and rarely has factional battles anymore, something a lot of us don't care for at all. But that evens out the matches, albeit heavy handedly and somewhat hamfistedly. I don't play jets, they don't interest me. One thing I will say is that most people, even though they may have great k/d stats in allied planes, have terrible win loss ratios. Being the one slightly better than average guy left in a great plane doesn't win you most battles despite how well performing it may be. I've played this since 2013, though not much since mixed battles became the norm rather than the exception. You can tempt people to buy fantastic planes, it pays the bills. Doesn't mean they can use them though. I'll add I don't have a premium account, I don't buy planes and I find Russians just as fun to use as yank planes. La7 is a beast, same for I185 and yaks.

[@Gl1tchman]

God damn such a good guide in just 30 sec, i'm sure it'll help me to jump form 0.2 k/d to 1.0 !

[@agustinyavar525]

Ah yes the reactorcat, feels like flying the Chernobyl reactor

[@igoryst3049]

i use the first F8F with full MEC and have no problems with engine heat? am i flying some other reactor?

[@dfvrsvcvvrsrvvw7329]

F8F heatcat

[@Mannen2000]

F8F Ovencat

[@Yay4IamCute]

F8F Beercan

[@georgef.7434]

WOW, there was a time, long ago, when this was one of the best, if not the best prop in the game. Amazing climb, amazing guns, great turn rate. Sad to see what they've done to it.

[@magogodlams]

@RYAN JONATHAN MARTIN I have no problem with it I avoid the sauna of an engine by going at 90 percent thrust at times when I'm alone and the rudder compression has no solutions (obviously) So to me it's still a decent prop when I can't pick the corsair (And also mec)

[@jaewoojung1309]

Its my fav fighter ingame tho. Sad thing is i find it too easy to fly when i get matched against enemies who dont climb... so i get bored

[@silentneko7961]

"Look at your engine like it's your baby" Me to my engine: I don't give a fuck, just make me go fast

[@Turk3YbAstEr]

50% rads, 80% mixture, 75% prop pitch, supercharger gear 2 except when you're at higher speeds at lower alts are the MEC settings i run. the engine takes a long time to overheat and 75% prop pitch produces more thrust than 100% (last i checked it with localhost). that doesn't fix the rudder or MER problems but it does fix the engine issues.

[@ryan742]

I checked the thrust and it loses a lot of thrust. I would recommend 90 prop pitch instead and switch to 100 in emergencies.

[@donovanvichi7102]

LOL, I feel the exact same way about the f8f and the corsair.

[@silvereyes3243]

Ehhhh, the Corsair is a good deal better, atleast the Corsair is faster than most things at it's br, it gets better energy retention, better rudder compression ((the Corsair rudder compresses around 600km or so compared to 500km)), all in all, a f4u-4B is always the supervisor aircraft to the f8f-1B

[@wruenvadam]

@@silvereyes3243 Not to mention it rolls better, has more effective flaps, decent low speed handling, guns are just as good. Hell I would take a Spitfire Mk14 any day over the F8F. For largely the same reasons as one would take the corsair. Only downside is the worse armament, but man it can fight pretty much anything it faces at high or low alt. And lets not forget the likes of the La-9. Only downside is the lower dive speed limit compared to other aircraft and the ammo count. The F8F should honestly be at 5.7 with the severe drawbacks it has. I feel its in the same situation the I-225 was in not too long ago, sitting at 6.3 and almost completely useless compared to what it faced.

[@silvereyes3243]

@@wruenvadam agreed and good points! Forgot the corsairs better handling and roll at low speed. Gotta respect the Corsair for where it is, also the Corsair is about as fast as the f8f. Cause if I recall from my previous games I got too outrun most the Japanese in a upteir with the f4u-4B and was faster several times, where the f8f would be caught in a few seconds.

[@donovanvichi7102]

@@silvereyes3243 Yeah, I know. I agree with Defyn that the Corsair is better than the Bearcat.

[@samuellatta6774]

@@silvereyes3243 honestly the only thing it needs is better high alt performance and it would be a beast... Oh wait... We have that... In the... French tech tree? Why does the US not get the corsair that other nations get

[@AselevID]

That intro was gold. Thank you lol

[@keokijohnston6113]

Played the French Bearcat to unlock my French jets. It's a complete monster since you play against F2G's, piloted by level 20s who got it through the battlepass. I have a 3.0KD. My only tip is to use MEC so ensure your engine doesn't overheat.

[@s.a.f.r.a6403]

Kikka should have both cannons stock that has got to be the worst bit of it's grind and limited ammo

[@themonolithian]

The kikka is trash

[@phased-arraych.9150]

Honestly, the F4U-5 would’ve been a better choice as the USN’s super prop.

[@gabork5055]

I remember this plane overheating like mad last time i flew it some years ago in RB, especially on hot maps like this one. Had to fly it at 70% or so just for the oil temperature and such not to go red in seconds. :D

[@arminferdinand5849]

I remember adam always reminding people that the f4u4b was better for its BR, I wish the engine wouldnt just get red all the time

[@potatopilot_6784]

He had us in the first half not gonna lie

[@nick4506]

irl it is the best prop ever built. it held the time to climb to 10kft record for 10 years in the fastest passed time of airplane development, and holds to this day the record for the fastest piston powered plane. half the weight of a corsair with more power, seriously it was barley hevier than a 109 but in game it handles like a small moon at speed.

[@JGStonedRaider]

Ah man, I remember when the beercan used to be an amazing plane...how times change. edit if you want to pay money and experience the beercan overheating at an even lower BR, you can buy the MB5 British premium and cry your eyes out

[@samuellatta6774]

I introduce you to the power of MEC, where the early spits have infinite wep

[@motopanza]

MB5 just needs MEC .

[@mikefoster6018]

I have both of those. The MB5 is ridiculously bad. It can sloooooooooowly reach a good top speed. That's it!

[@samuellatta6774]

@@mikefoster6018 apparently then you don't know how to use it because i had it on a 3 day test drive and grinded out most of the british rank 4 planes with it so it's most likely you sucking tbh

[@mikefoster6018]

@@samuellatta6774 You seem fairly obnoxious. It's a notoriously a low-performing aircraft. You must just be playing it very well.

[@Soobovic]

the Pre nerf F8F-1b was amazing, it was a joy to use and it was one of the most used planes at SQRB alongside the griffon Mk.22. it was amazing but sadly the nerfs killed it

[@DEFYN]

Yeah it was one of my favs too one day ._.

[@biovorebarrage6860]

I love the bearcat because you can outturn all of the axis planes that are used to American props being slow turners.

[@pietyaa]

Thats why they nerfed it.

[@Nosloveingneko]

the kikka is at 6.7 because if you remember it USED to be a steaming pile of shit and wasn't competitive at even 6.7. And then like a year ago or something like that they buffed the hell out of the engines and gave it its rocket boosters and now its extremely good for its BR

[@khalilveronessi4819]

I use the rads open 100% and prop pitch to 90% and no overheat problems, and no performance is losed doing that. Also using 120% mixture at the deck adds a little power to the engine, and of course using 1st gear of the super charger. It's good to change the prop pitch when you hit 4000mts to 90% and it does help with the climbing efficiency. I had really good match's with this plane recently, your worst enemy is a ta 152h1, that is always a problem.

[@Relicoid]

Loving the more frequent uploads, keep it up man

[@gbro8822]

Hey DEFYN, new sub here. I watched Jengar's video with you and Adam. I'm just a old guy from northern Indiana trying to be a better pilot. Thank you

[@Nick-bh5uk]

Remember a few years ago when this thing was a ufo? Good times.

[@godgunsliberty4342]

It’s a real shame because it used to be a monster. and I played it so much that I got so used to the cannons, and would routinely get 1.5km snipes of planes that thought they were safe. I miss the old bearcat :(

[@asiftalpur3758]

I needed this man, this is why you're the best.

[@balbobiggins3969]

a vid on the sea fury would be awesome! (brilliant vid btw like a mini tutorial)

[@legend2460]

I noticed that engine the first time I flew it it went into the red really quick I actually did alright in my first battle with it got 3 kills but as you say my engine was my undoing I really struggled to keep it cool while trying to keep my speed up as well and I also wasn't running MEC either I took into the red a couple of times and managed to cool it down but the 3rd time I took into the red mainly because I was in a 1 vs 3 and I had it in the red just a tad too long and it just refused to cool down nothing I did worked and the subsequent engine damage I took meant I could not keep the fight going and down I went lol

[@danmallery9142]

Gaijin really hates this plane. I think I read somewhere that the prototype had a slight overheat issue and they increased the oil cooler and solved it before production. Given the P/W ratio and wing area, the energy retention issue and turning ability seems like horse shit as well. By all historical standards, it should be a beast. I think they need to revisit this plane in their sekrit documents and fix it.

[@chsen318]

when the bearcat released it was the best prop in game, but people complained about it and gaijin nerfed it.

[@Bandit_Sudo]

Sekrit Dokuments no lie comrade))))))))))

[@masterdurick5667]

Engine overheats with 100% throttle as well. I find that turning supercharger gear to 1 helps it cool down very fast. Maybe similar thing can be achieved by just lowering throttle though.

[@Mr_Zoomy]

I absolutely love this plane

[@TheDorac1]

that intro was amazing :-D

[@FumbleSquid]

The AD-2 has a very similar engine overheat issue. Usually I will turn the engine off for like 20 seconds when I don't need it.

[@Culusion_]

Thanks for entertaining my stream

[@bigmandan5824]

We saw some Ki-87s in this video. There isn’t a lot of content on them. Maybe you should give it a look!

[@jasotpatakasu8673]

This plane is bad. Sadly, as i like the ki87, this plane is noncompetive overpriced and forgotten :(

[@siemeknumberone]

Yeah all u said about engine is absolutely true. I remember me vs 109K4 and we were both last players in teams. When engine got overheated the game was over. Few minutes of dodging attacks made engine yellow and regaining any energy has been completley impossible to achive without WEP. Good video btw ;)

[@xavier4519]

How do you feel about the new matchmaker on air RB? I seriously feel like it's crap, denies a lot of tactics you could use since everything is mixed battles now

[@isaiahtakahashi5741]

It's terrible. Even though it provides quicker queue times and more variety, the historic aspect of the game is completely ruined at this point.

[@xavier4519]

@@isaiahtakahashi5741 to add onto that, more variety also means you can't play to your strenghts. let's say you end up in a tricky situation against a 109 in a P-51, you dogfight it pretty decently, the fight goes all the way to the deck then a fucking spitfire comes in

[@PetarJovanovic993]

Tbh I don't mind it, WT shat on historical accuracy years ago, so I'm not so bothered about that lately. What I do like is that I can play some allied aircraft and not have brain-dead teams.

[@llNATEDOGGll]

I still fly this today. It absolutely shreds with the 20mm cannons

[@masterdurick5667]

That f4u4b joke was pretty funny lmao

[@Metrallaroja]

When the MEC actually makes a difference and still not enough

[@Metrallaroja]

Btw you changed supercharger gear?

[@DEFYN]

The instructor changes gear at like 100-200 meters so i just left it in 2nd stage all game

[@samuellatta6774]

@@DEFYN wait what... I switch gears at about a 1000

[@samuellatta6774]

It is enough when you... Well... Sacrifice a couple houndred horsepower/thrust

[@kingghidorah8106]

I absolutely love this thing, even stock it outpowers most of the things it faces. I had a match where I killed 3 dudes and the second one called me a hacker because I went into the vertical with him (without turning tight) and he stalled. I have 2800 horsepower in a lightweight plane and he has 2000 in a heavier plane, and he was in low energy state

[@iKiNGiTGK]

I think once you learn the secret to mec on this plane it'd be a completely different story. Once my friend told me. 24/7 wep

[@josephbishop3231]

When your nose down you have to throttle back to ~90 if that engine is even slightly warm

[@jeffreysteadman4343]

That intro had me lmao

[@Appppy]

With MEC, you can wep 100% of the time. idk how much the 85% rads gon holdback the performance.. i use SCG 2 right from the deck, and 85% all rads and 95% prop pitch.

[@classy333]

dam im over here slayin with the f8fb i love it

[@chexlemeneux8790]

Just looking at the stats I was not excited to even research this plane. I figured I probably wouldn't even use it , which sucks because IRL I've always liked the bearcat.

[@srgabrielfb]

when youre on the deck try change your supercharger to 1 to refresh your engine manteining your current speed

[@George-cp1vc]

remember when this thing was a beast maybe 3-4 yrs ago and probs lower tier. Fkim made the mistake of getting a talisman on it

[@rudyvasquez9343]

Bruh that opening 😂

[@terrado6746]

This plane used to be a very powerful super prop... Today i'd prefer that Gaijin switch the F4U-4's both in BR and tech tree places

[@alpacaofthemountain8760]

It's. nice to have a climber in the US tech tree tho

[@xaxac85]

ROFLMAO love the intro

[@et9643]

the 1B is a better plane for ground realistic with 3 x 1000 and then being able to fight. 4B is superior but it's expensive.

[@samuellatta6774]

I cant hear you over the ringing of my 1.600.000 SL

[@et9643]

@@samuellatta6774 lol, I wish I had that kind of SL money

[@tomhugill9988]

@@samuellatta6774 is that it?!

[@tonyisaknight3550]

Tips from someone that has a .9 k/d 1 you really do need mec controls for this 2. You can roll decently well at higher speeds 3. C L I M B or you're going to die 4. Spaded with WEP you can dogfight but you have to end it within 20 seconds or so or you're going to have a bad time because of how much faster the jets you meet

[@Metrallaroja]

0.9 k/d?

[@argent7319]

Is that something to be proud of?

[@_GODSFIGHTER]

The intro 😂

[@antonsis]

I prefer to use an opposite "give a fuck" strategy - just taking a min fuel, pushing engine to the limit for 6-8 mins in dogfights, after that I'm returning to AF or dead. It gives some fun sometimes as I'm lazy for MEC.

[@peterdavies2058]

I love my bearcat

[@luftpro]

Ah yes, remember Pedobearcat smashing those poor German planes years ago

[@vale.44peru]

now immagine the same thing but with 4 .50 cals instead of the 20mms

[@dsdy1205]

I don't have to imagine. I've taken to calling it the Baitcat

[@juanordonezgalban2278]

With 3000hp comes great cooling isues

[@onecheman]

Not even founded in War Thunder Forums... what is the BEST CLIMB SPEED of this thing? some people say 250kmp and others say 185mph (282 kmh) ...

[@stefanmichaelsenzegarra5688]

Yup, F8F1B isn't as it used to be 3 years ago, it's engine just doesn't want to stop overheating and it doesn't climb above 4K, top speed is good but can't hold it enough to get an advantage. G91YS is garbage

[@bluthammer1442]

Been long range sniped by these buggers a few times. Right when i get comfortable with the extension..pilot vomits liberty sauce.

[@eugenechurch6135]

How do you feel about performance of .50 cals at the moment

[@andrewruss5824]

Like flame 7.7

[@Bandit_Sudo]

They're way too strong for what they are. Definitely need nerfed

[@andrewruss5824]

@@Bandit_Sudo . You haven't flown america

[@mohamedelmalih6298]

Sometimes they deal alot of damage and the other times they just spark alot

[@gaiofattos2]

Sparks or pilot snipe ?

[@kevinguo3127]

yo man, I have a crazy replay, one of the most intense game I ever played. Playing meteor, ripped in the beginning (mk4g41 rip without using wasd if you are going 800) , was gonna rage quit cuz after my one wing landing it was a 1 v 4. Almost lost because hispano doesn't do any damage but somehow I clutched it. Do you want the replay?

[@The_War_Pug]

Don't get me wrong, I don't want make it sound like you should die in you videos but watching you die sort of brings out a "see why you shouldn't do this" type feel as to just telling us what not to do and then proceeding to stomp 8 planes :)

[@kingcamilo]

this plane is at 6.3 and i feel like its completely op, way too easy to use and not challenging at all

[@moizabdul5384]

i would love to play the 4b but i cant cuz of the repair cost

[@thefolder69]

@DonT I don't have premium and I have 2.8M SL. no excuses! just gotta work harder

[@UselessWeeb]

when did it get so bad? when i played through it, i absolutely loved the thing

[@DEFYN]

It's not so bad It's just extremely flawed, it's still a decent vehicle with amazing guns

[@ariefrahman7366]

Defyn, do another replay review?

[@ccm_priv]

the F8F-1 is very very bad balanced. What do you have to say about it? (For me it's pretty comparable to the Fw 190 A-8 which is 1.0 BR less)

[@tls5669]

which is a shame, the f8f should be a much better plane, it was a great plane in rl

[@pavanpunati]

Ah this thing is a time bomb that explodes ur face after 10mins into the match. Do these things do the same in real life too??

[@clippedwings225]

Odd: I do well in the earlier Bearcat and enjoy it very much, is the BR increase that much worse to it?

[@Trigg3rHippie]

This used to turn like a dream. But Fermany fuffered and cwied a lot so Gaijin nerfed this plane to shit.

[@Zelectrocutica]

tbh it's very realistic gameplay no any single plane whatsoever can wep like 40-50min like we flying in WT for me it's balance but lower to 6.0 br is ok ish even most of simulator game like DCS or IL2 you can not wep like WT.

[@DEFYN]

Sure it is But when 1 plane is realistic and the rest is not it's not good for gameplay

[@vicious6661982]

i followed the guide but i am with a different plane, what i did wrong?

[@oligreendot]

so what should i use to grind the french?

[@MsMoscorrofio]

9:05 how do you get the camera to stick to the plane axis like that?

[@dsdy1205]

He changed the control mode to simplified / realistic

[@zburg7313]

Can u do Me262 a1?

[@pedromedeiros4955]

Is there any performance difference between the cannon bearcat and the mg bearcat? Or is just the guns?

[@DEFYN]

Just the guns

[@The_0G_Chad]

Why didn’t you open the radiators to 100%? It totally would’ve worked

[@grindingforgood1203]

need help choosing belt for nr30, any advice? I guess you won't upload those jets so please. :(

[@DEFYN]

Ground belts, but I will after the patch

[@grindingforgood1203]

@@DEFYN Thanks! Actually I feel that air/ground belts differ quite subtly rather than obviously.

[@grindingforgood1203]

@@DEFYN hah I just spaded both su7b and mig21f. Hopefully top tier will be 11.0 by the end of the year.

[@darrellid]

So how did the R-2800 suddenly become so unreliable?

[@terribleshockex110]

what do you use for gun convergence??

[@morbidlyobese2944]

Just use 100% on both radiators from the start and you’re fine in terms of overheating

[@alkomixd6026]

Why didn't u use gun pods?

[@_GODSFIGHTER]

Probably because it hinders his performance majorly

[@kerenton5897]

why is it so hard to find your server replays, is your name messed up?

[@DEFYN]

I didn't play in a month so they're all gone lel

[@LostParadise_]

I swear every plane I want to use is just dogshit and I play 6 games in a row not even shooting my guns because I die instantly

[@asadchatha4184]

DEFYN That was very irresponsible of you. You should be careful with carrying things that are dangerous Fire hazards.

[@nando_br]

Gaijin killed this plane. Was a joy to fly before and now is a pain.

[@Karedu.]

Play the soviet bomber yer 2 is too unstable due to the 2 crappy engine

[@mig1739]

They still use F8Fs as stunt and race planes today redbull and some others have used them. Amazing aircraft to bad gaijin nerfed tf out of them because German players were crying and bitching as usual.

[@finn_mcmissile]

if u used mec u would have won

[@Eretaloma]

Dude this plane is so easy to fly and to get kills with.

[@fidelismiles7439]

Ugh I hate how most WT CC exploit WEP like crazy, just chill out you are 5km from the enemy, use it for well... EMERGENCIES, bnz, diving, etc, not when you are turning or trying to stall, otherwise when the moment you will really need WEP you won't be able to run because your engine is past its limit.

[@thefolder69]

Using WEP to get an energy advantage is crucial though. That means before the fight starts. Using it in climbs is essential, and using it when you're anticipating a fight is essential, because you really need all the energy you can get. If a plane can't do that, like the Bearcat can't, then that's a major weakness. It doesn't matter if your engine is nice and cool if you're below everybody and not moving fast enough to survive an engagement.

[@italo_9687]

Pls fly something Italian

[@davedalizard9539]

Mec exists, learn how to use it

[@zenchen7300]

10th

[@thatfeeble-mindedboy]

And yes, he IS actually speaking english ...