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Q:

What is the fastest piston plane?

A:

Oficially, the fastest piston plane is held by a modified Grumman F8F Bear Cat, named the Rare Bear. The speed reached was 850.24 km/h (528.31 mph) in Las Vegas on August 21, 1989. This Rare Bear was actually a wreckage until Lyle Shelton, in 1969, decided to purchase the wreckage and rebuild it, notably modifying the engine from the Pratt & Whittney R-2800 engine standard in Bear Cat's to the more powerful Wright R-3350.

 

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