any F4F Wildcat fans out there?

[R Leonard]

Nope, no TBDs in any museum. Only a couple known to exist. One parked off the reef at Jaluit and the other some feet down somewhere east of Miami.

The F2A recovered from the lake in Russia that, by whatever means, ended up in Pensacola was never intended to be repainted or otherwise restored as a USN or USMC plane.

The folks at NMNA decided early on to leave it in Finnish livery and only perform such painting or parts replacement as necessary to prevent further deterioration or to camouflage any necessary structural repairs. This plane is now on temporary loan, and my suspicion would be that it will probably end up being de facto permanent, to the Finnish Air Force for commemorative purposes.

Oh, and I am a big F4F booster, too.


Rich

 

[storm_eagle]

Actually a General Motors FM-2. BuNo 74512 Serial Nbr 4704. Under active restoration in The Museum of Flight Restauration Center Paine Field Everett

 

[javlin]

I just heard that Pensacola Naval Station/Museum got another bird out of the bottom of Lake Michgan,I think?Was on the local news two nights ago and is parked out back and is going to be restored.

 

[Doughboy]

Now that I have some F4F Wildcat photos I need some Hellcat and Bearcat photos also. Seen at the Willow Run Ypsilanti, MI airshow.

Nice shots.

 

[vikingBerserker]

The Wildcat always looked like it would just be a blast to fly.

 

[Doughboy]

The Wildcat always looked like it would just be a blast to fly.

Exactly.

 

[Pong]

Great pics. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Ivan1GFP]

I believe the NASM in Washington DC has a F4F-4. I work within walking distance from the museum.

- Ivan.

 

[fly boy]

one of my more wanted for a model for sure

 

[storm_eagle]

Few more pix from Paine Field Everett

 

[ccheese]

That little sucker did a damn fine job, in the early part of WW-II, mixing
it up with Zero's. I'll bet it goes like a finely tuned sportscar.

Charles

 

[Cota1992]

I believe the NASM in Washington DC has a F4F-4. I work within walking distance from the museum.

- Ivan.

It's upstairs in the carrier war section, it's a nice plane but something happened to my camera the last visit and my photos came out blurry. I'll try to get down there again and get better shots.
I'm posting one crappy shot just to give a view of the one that's there...

 

[wheelsup_cavu]

FM2's.

Chicago's O'Hare Airport has an F4F-3 on display in one of the terminals. It was found in Lake Michigan some years ago and restored to static display condition. IIRC, the -3 variant didn't have folding wings. That came along with the -4? Little hazy there.

It is probably part of the memorial to Butch O'Hare.


Wheelsup

 

[Ivan1GFP]

Here are a couple Wildcats I built for Combat Flight Simulator.

- Ivan.

 

[Shinpachi]

Nice job, Ivan1GFP.

 

[Cota1992]

Got motivated this morning and got a better shot of the F4F at the Air and Space Museum on the Mall.

 

[Ivan1GFP]

Thanks Shinpachi.

 

[Catch22]

This thread must have an anti-Terry field!

Thanks for going and getting the pic Cota, it really is a sharp looking bird.

 

[Cota1992]

Thanks for going and getting the pic Cota, it really is a sharp looking bird.

Sure thing!
I wish I could have gotten a better photo of the other other side but with the light problems and the crowds (It was the Memorial Day Friday I would have to block most of the enterance to the exhibit) it just wasn't going to happen...
I'll head back again the in Off season and try for a better job,
Art

 

[grumman-cats]

Here's a nice early morning and formation pic from thunder over michigan as well.