The Fastest Piston-Engine Aircraft Is Heading to Hradec Králové

The Fastest Piston-Engine Aircraft Is Heading to Hradec Králové

This year’s 34th edition of the Aviatická pouť brings a number of new features. Most notably, there is a change of venue: the event will now take place at the airport in Hradec Králové, having been relocated from Pardubice. Another new development is a change in visual identity, introducing the shortened name Aviatická with the addition Airshow Hradec Králové. So when will this year’s Aviatická take place, and what can visitors expect? The event will be held over the weekend of May 30–31 at Hradec Králové Airport, where visitors can look forward not only to more than five hours of flight displays, but also to a full-day program packed with activities for the whole family.

“Due to the complications associated with the change of venue, we only began final preparations for the flying program after confirming the new location. That’s why we are only now starting to introduce participating pilots and aircraft,” says Jan Rudzinskyj from the Aviatická organizing team. He continues: “To begin with, we are presenting a major highlight of this year’s edition—the Czech premiere of a unique late-World War II fighter aircraft, the American Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat. This aircraft is a new addition to the collection of historic aircraft operated by the Flying Bulls from Salzburg, Austria. It arrived there at the beginning of June last year and has not yet appeared at any European airshow, making this year’s Aviatická also its European premiere.”

This is a truly unique aircraft type, developed at the end of World War II and introduced into service with the U.S. Navy at the end of May 1945, primarily operating from aircraft carriers. It was later used by France, South Vietnam, and Thailand. The aircraft is notable for its relatively compact size, dominated by a large twin-row, air-cooled eighteen-cylinder Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp engine driving a four-blade propeller. With an output of over 2,000 horsepower, this engine not only gives the aircraft—whose wingspan is just under 11 meters—its characteristic deep sound, but above all provides exceptional performance. This was the key design requirement: outstanding climb rate to intercept attacking Japanese aircraft. The manufacturer quoted a climb rate of nearly 23 meters per second.

The Bearcat was the final piston-engine fighter produced by Grumman and stood out not only for its climb performance but also for its top speed exceeding 700 km/h. It is therefore no surprise that, after being retired from military service, several aircraft in the United States were acquired by private owners and converted into racing machines for pylon air races. Beyond racing, these aircraft also made their mark in international speed record tables.

The Bearcat became the first winner of the Reno Air Races, piloted by the “Flying Czech” Miro Slovák, a true aviation legend.

“We really have something to look forward to. The aircraft, in the distinctive colors of the famous U.S. Navy aerobatic team Blue Angels, will be a true highlight of the Hradec Králové skies,” adds Jan Rudzinskyj.

In Hradec Králové, Aviatická will continue its tradition as a full-day event for the whole family. Both Saturday and Sunday will feature a varied ground program with numerous presentations and activities for children and adults alike. The flying display itself will last more than five hours.

More information and updates about the upcoming program can be found at www.aviatickapout.cz.