The Last Flying F4F

Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules

I think that is the F4F that was covered in the EAA Magazine years ago. They showed a picture of one of the original radio tubes, full of water.

Other Wildcats have been recovered from the lake and restored, although I don't know how many are flying. This one is at the Valiant Air Museum, an FM-1 recovered from the lake and restored. It looks great but it does not fly and it does not have the engine with the two stage supercharger.



 
Interestingly, the other 16 airworthy Wildcats (plus 1 under restoration to airworthy status) are all FM-2s (General Motors-built), making this the only actual F4F (Grumman-built) flying.

And while small, they are big enough for FM-2 #86680 to have had a 3-seat passenger cabin fitted in the fuselage - complete with windows!

1969 paint scheme:


2011 paint scheme:


 
Yep, a big belly! Take a look at the F4F radio compartment. On the F3F that compartment was so large that they actually did carry people in it, at least over short distances. In the movie "Flight Command" when an F3F crashes on a beach another lands and the pilot removes the radio and puts the injured man back there.

 
Not gonna lie, that's pretty cool!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)

Similar threads

Story of The Black Cats, Stealth Flying Boat of The South Pacific (1942)....
Replies
2
Views
565
SaparotRob
Coastal Command, A Day In The Life of A Sunderland Flying Boat (1942)....
Replies
1
Views
517
Gnomey
The last North American "Bugeye" aircraft. From the XB-42 Mixmaster to the P-82 Twin Mustang
Replies
0
Views
603
Dronescapes
Restoring a B-17 Flying Fortress. The City Of Savannah
Replies
1
Views
442
SaparotRob
B-17 Flying Fortress. The American mighty bomber of WW2. Documentary
Replies
0
Views
363
Dronescapes
Menu
Log in
Register