Fagen Fighters Acquires a Hellcat

marine air · **Posted:** Sat Mar 31, 2018 7:57 pm

It amazes they could strike a deal and get a complete, undamaged Hellcat to put back into the air. Ditto on the Collings a Foundation’s project. It would be really nice to see a couple more Hellcats on the fly-in circuit. Never seen more than one at any event.

GRNDP51 · **Joined:** Fri Sep 22, 2017 1:34 pm **Posts:** 487

JohnTerrell wrote:

- Yep, Rod Lewis owns the former TFC Hellcat, and it has been undergoing a multiyear in-depth restoration to return to flying at Ezell Aviation.

- The Collings Foundation's Hellcat has been undergoing restoration to fly at American Aero Services.

- The Allied Fighters/Jack Croul Hellcat has been undergoing restoration to fly at Vintage Airframes (same shop that restored "Dottie Mae" for Jack Croul).

- Fagen Fighters, recently purchasing the Yanks Air Museum F6F-5, will be conducting an extensive "IRAN" in hopes of having it flying by the summer of 2019.

- The Yanks Air Museum is restoring an F6F-3 to airworthy condition (though they haven't flown any warbirds in years - with the exception of the Lockheed 12).

- The former Lone Star Flight Museum Hellcat, now owned by the Erickson Aircraft Collection, looks airworthy/flyable, but I haven't seen any news about it flying yet with the EAC (it was shipped by road to Erickson, rather than flown).

- Dan Friedkin owns/operates a flyable Hellcat (last I saw it was on loan to the Lone Star Flight Museum for their grand opening last year).

- The Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum owns/operates a flying Hellcat.

- The Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing operates a flying Hellcat.

There are a couple of Hellcats which used to be regular flyers, years ago, on display at the Kalamazoo Air Zoo and at the Palm Springs Air Museum.

All of Yanks stuff is restored to "airworthy" isn't it? The way you stated it sounds like they mean airworthy and flying..? I'll believe that when I see it lol

It's also incredible that we are going from 3-4 airworthy F6F's right now to 8 potentially 9 within a relatively short amount of time. Hoping for a POF gathering!!!

C VEICH · **Joined:** Sun Nov 15, 2009 12:40 pm **Posts:** 1455

GRNDP51 wrote:

Hoping for a POF gathering!!!

You and me both! I can remember seeing three of them at a PoF airshow not too long ago. Quite amazingly it was right after the PoF Hellcat was destroyed so it was not among the three. They included the Hellcats belonging to the CAF, Friedkin, and Bob Pond. If memory serves the Pond airplane did not fly during the show but I could be wrong on that point.

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Mon Apr 02, 2018 7:10 am

It is interesting that they are talking about doing a IRAN on it. It is going to need A LOT more than that as it has not run in at least 30+ years. I first saw it in 1980 when I was at the Airshow as crew on Sentimental Journey, it was parked on the static line, and as far as I know it has not been started since.

Rod Schneider · **Posted:** Mon Apr 02, 2018 8:12 am

JohnTerrell wrote:

- .............

- The former Lone Star Flight Museum Hellcat, now owned by the Erickson Aircraft Collection, looks airworthy/flyable, but I haven't seen any news about it flying yet with the EAC (it was shipped by road to Erickson, rather than flown).
................

.

The Erickson Hellcat has flown! I saw it in the air in early January

Dan Jones · **Posted:** Mon Apr 02, 2018 9:45 am

Matt Gunsch wrote:

It is interesting that they are talking about doing a IRAN on it. It is going to need A LOT more than that as it has not run in at least 30+ years. I first saw it in 1980 when I was at the Airshow as crew on Sentimental Journey, it was parked on the static line, and as far as I know it has not been started since.

Is the work being done in Chino or is the airplane going to be trucked to it's new home for the work?

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11281

Dan Jones wrote:

Is the work being done in Chino or is the airplane going to be trucked to it's new home for the work?

I believe it is at POF now. Not sure if that is to prepare it for shipment or to do maintenance.

I wonder if this was a cash sale or whether there was some trade arrangement?

Thomas_Mac · **Posted:** Mon Apr 02, 2018 1:29 pm

bdk wrote:

Dan Jones wrote:

Is the work being done in Chino or is the airplane going to be trucked to it's new home for the work?

I believe it is at POF now. Not sure if that is to prepare it for shipment or to do maintenance.

I wonder if this was a cash sale or whether there was some trade arrangement?

A few pictures have been posted to Instagram from this past weekend showing it at Planes of Fame.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BhE-MqzglOA ... cado_gause

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11281

Looks like some fabric tore off the aileron on the tow across the airport!

ZRX61 · **Joined:** Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:16 am **Posts:** 2295

That's one way to get Nichols ramp anchors into the air.

Vagabond · **Posted:** Tue Apr 03, 2018 7:41 pm

C VEICH wrote:

GRNDP51 wrote:

Hoping for a POF gathering!!!

You and me both! I can remember seeing three of them at a PoF airshow not too long ago. Quite amazingly it was right after the PoF Hellcat was destroyed so it was not among the three. They included the Hellcats belonging to the CAF, Friedkin, and Bob Pond. If memory serves the Pond airplane did not fly during the show but I could be wrong on that point.

Hi All,

The Pond Hellcat DID fly in the 2006 POF Airshow. I've been editing my video camera footage from that show and all 3 Hellcats flew on Saturday 5/20/06. The Pond flew during the Pacific aircraft demo and the other 2 went up for the 23 airplane gaggle closer for Saturday.

JohnTerrell · **Posted:** Tue Apr 03, 2018 7:55 pm

Rod Schneider wrote:

The Erickson Hellcat has flown! I saw it in the air in early January

Good to know, Rod, thank you very much for confirming this! I've updated my "warbird numbers" thread as well.

GRNDP51 · **Joined:** Fri Sep 22, 2017 1:34 pm **Posts:** 487

Vagabond wrote:

C VEICH wrote:

GRNDP51 wrote:

Hoping for a POF gathering!!!

You and me both! I can remember seeing three of them at a PoF airshow not too long ago. Quite amazingly it was right after the PoF Hellcat was destroyed so it was not among the three. They included the Hellcats belonging to the CAF, Friedkin, and Bob Pond. If memory serves the Pond airplane did not fly during the show but I could be wrong on that point.

Hi All,

The Pond Hellcat DID fly in the 2006 POF Airshow. I've been editing my video camera footage from that show and all 3 Hellcats flew on Saturday 5/20/06. The Pond flew during the Pacific aircraft demo and the other 2 went up for the 23 airplane gaggle closer for Saturday.

Would like to see the video!!! In the meantime...

https://www.milavia.net/airshows/planes ... e06_18.htm

GRNDP51 · **Joined:** Fri Sep 22, 2017 1:34 pm **Posts:** 487

JohnTerrell wrote:

Rod Schneider wrote:

The Erickson Hellcat has flown! I saw it in the air in early January

Good to know, Rod, thank you very much for confirming this! I've updated my "warbird numbers" thread as well.

John not on this topic but your previous post, I hear that Yanks is going to have their Helldiver, Corsair, and Avenger ACTUALLY airworthy with the -3 Hellcat. Time will tell...

C VEICH · **Joined:** Sun Nov 15, 2009 12:40 pm **Posts:** 1455

Vagabond wrote:

Hi All,
The Pond Hellcat DID fly in the 2006 POF Airshow. I've been editing my video camera footage from that show and all 3 Hellcats flew on Saturday 5/20/06. The Pond flew during the Pacific aircraft demo and the other 2 went up for the 23 airplane gaggle closer for Saturday.

Thanks for the confirmation and correction Vagabond. I still kick myself for not being more diligent about taking a camera with me to every show. As noted by GRNDP51, it would be great to see the video if you are willing and able to share it.

PS - I still wonder if the appearance of these three Hellcats at the show right after the loss of PoF's own Hellcat was possibly some sort of tribute to the late Art Vance. I know I was blown away to see the three airplanes as I was expecting, at most, the CAF aircraft. Friedkin's airplane was a bit of a surprise but the Pond airplane was totally unexpected. I don't think it had been flown in many years and I don't think it has been flown since. Certainly not in public that I'm aware of anyway. Just wondering out loud here...

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Fagen Fighters Acquires a Hellcat

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