Warbird Information Exchange

(From Lewis Air Legends facebook)


Hellcat_Lewis_




https://www.facebook.com/LewisAirLegend ... =3&theater

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

Nice! I have forgotten now, where did this one come from?

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

80141/40467/N467RL (Read the text.)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajw1970/25966786140

http://warbirdregistry.org/f6fregistry/f6f-80141.html

https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquir ... rtxt=467RL

http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDos ... erial=2893

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45-47=-2

Well firstly, great pictures. It's good to see it coming along.

Couple of questions though, is she a -3 or -5? And what has become of the Vraciu link? The aerialvisuals link seems to suggest the Vraciu history is bogus??

It’s a ‘bitsa’ made up of parts from a number of airframes, including a -3 and one which was built as a -5N and later converted to a -5K. So make if that what you will.

I’m sceptical of the invented histories claimed by owners for their aircraft, in many cases they have been proven to be false yet the egos of the owners will never let them admit that they were wrong

However in this case I genuinely believe that the centre section came from an ex-Vraciu Hellcat that came out of the Victory Air Museum in Illinois. Why? Because Vraciu told me so when I asked him about it at an Aces symposium a few years back. He said that he had been following that airframe for years and was absolutely convinced it was one of his old mounts.

Last time....

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Those who possess real knowledge are rare.

Those who can set that knowledge into motion in the physical world are rarer still.

The few who possess real knowledge and can set it into motion of their own hands are the rarest of all.

Before Earl got it (upper left corner):


And it may be one of these three, taken in 1950:

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

Mike, maybe you can send a letter to the Lewis folks about your communication with Captain. Racism and that particular Hellcat. They are probably narrowing down their paint scheme options. Mr. Lewis always picks great schemes. My vote is for the Vraciu or cherry red drone schemes. I’ll be happy with whatever because there just aren’t hardly any Hellcats left flying.

The 23 May 2013 photo in this grouping is a different plane, the one Yanks is restoring now I believe. It is not the TFC/Rod Lewis example.

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45-47=-2

Trying to decipher that... ??? What is being implied?

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Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.

Racism huh? wtf

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

Probably an autocorrect for Vraciu