Thai Bearcat Update

IN FLIGHT JOURNAL'S DECEMBER 2003 ISSUE, PAUL COGGAN reported on a rare Bearcat that was to fly again in Thailand. Here is a status update.

The restored Thai F8F-1 Bearcat briefly flew over Thailand because its pilot, Royal Thai Air Force Special Group Capt. (Ret.) Veerayuth Didyasarin returned to the airfield minutes after takeoff when the airspeed indicator failed. In the rollout after landing, the engine quit, and it was later discovered that it had seized. An initial investigation concluded that a connectingrod bearing had melted down. An engine rebuild is under way in Thailand.

Group Capt. Didyasarin is president of the Foundation for the Preservation and Development of Thai Aircraft. He was slated to be the Bearcat's primary pilot after its test flight, but because a U.S. test pilot experienced in flying Bearcats was unavailable, he flew it.

-Text and photo by Bob Bergin

Copyright Air Age Publishing Feb 2005
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved