Grumman Design 58 was a 1943 project to create a small fighter with performance superior to the F6F. The prototype first flew on 31 August 1944. The aircraft had outstanding performance, especially in rate of climb. 1265 Bearcats were delivered, including two civilian G.58's. Although too late for wartime service, F8F's served the USN until 1956. The Blue Angels operated Bearcats between 1946 and 1949. France, Thailand, and South Vietnam operated surplus USN F8F's.

The Planes of Fame aircraft is one of two strictly civilian built Bearcats. It was built from parts for Roger Wolfe Kahn, Director of Service and Product Support for Grumman. Assembled in 1949, it was designated a G.58B, and registered N-700A. Kahn flew it to Navy bases to confer with Navy pilots flying Grumman products. The G.58B was known as the "Red Ship," or the "Red Job," in Grumman service. In 1959, it was transferred to Cornell Aero Lab. Beginning in 1966, N700A was owned/operated by a number of civilian operators, including Bill Fornoff and the Champlin Fighter Museum. It came to the Planes of Fame in 1986 and still wears the Cadillac Bronze paint of aerobatic performer Bill Fornoff.