Lewis Hellcat N467RL Update

[Dan K]

(From Lewis Air Legends facebook)


Hellcat_Lewis_




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

[Pat Carry]

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

[mike furline]

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

[LysanderUK]

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??

[Mike]

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.

[ZRX61]

Last time....

[Chris Brame]

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.

Before Earl got it (upper left corner):


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

[marine air]

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.

[bdk]

80141/40467/N467RL (Read the text.)
http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDos ... erial=2893

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.

[mike furline]

80141/40467/N467RL (Read the text.)
http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDos ... erial=2893

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.

[RyanShort1]

Mike, maybe you can send a letter to the Lewis folks about your communication with Captain. Racism and that particular Hellcat

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

[Mark Allen M]

Racism and that particular Hellcat

Racism huh? wtf

[Mike]

Probably an autocorrect for Vraciu