Warbird Information Exchange

I apologize that I'm not high tech enough to copy and paste from a Facebook page - but there are several photos showing the Coutches Family Bearcat on the back on Les Chapman's semi with the outer wing panels and prop off the same way he has transported "Rare Bear" in the past... I did not see it posted as to where it's headed...
Mike

Id like to see it restored, but I hope they keep the paint scheme.

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Defending Stearmans on WIX since Jeff started badmouthing them back in 2005.

Purchased by Walt Bowe. Not sure what the plan is, but Bowe isn't one to buy paper weights.

Confirmed. Of all the people who could have bought this, I think Walt might be the one who will keep it as it is.

I believe the aircraft will need to come apart before its flown. I have heard from reputable sources that the wing spar caps have corrosion. That said, it is my understanding that aside from the spar caps, everything else is in reasonably good shape. The rubber hoses will all need to be replaced due to age, but the aircraft only has about 650 hours on it total time. Systems will need to be gone through, but it is believed that mechanically its a solid machine that shouldn't need many new parts but all the rubber will need to be replaced due to age. The spar caps are a more complicated issue. The factory ones are known to corrode due to the type of Aluminum they are made from. There are some superior ones that have been produced, but so far only one Bearcat in the world has them (The -1 that Ezells finished in 2018.)

Will

When I last spoke to Robert Coutches about two months ago he said he wasn't in a big hurry to sell it and wanted it to stay in the yellow colors. He said he had already turned down a couple of buyers that stated they wanted to restore it as a warbird.

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remember the Oogahonk!
old school enthusiast of Civiltary Warbirds and Air Racers

Good to hear. Being a collector of civilian antique/vintage aircraft (some with vibrant colors), I think he can appreciate the civvy scheme and it's character.

I sure hope it stays Yellow.

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Always looking for WW2 Half-Tracks and Parts.

+1

It would be refreshing to see another Bearcat flying in other than Navy blue.

It's sold , Walter Bowe owns it , they just forgot to mark/delete it.

The Bearcat will stay in the civilian scheme it has worn for decades. The engine is off, the fuel bladder was just removed, all the control surfaces have been removed to be recovered. I don't know if Walt sent the original R2800 off to be rebuilt or if he will be running a later version. The one on the aircraft is the original engine that it came with from Grumman.

I've seen the aircraft in person and its a pretty cool bird. I think the paint will polish right up and look great. Walt thinks it should fly in about 2 years or so.

Will

Thank you sir

Walt has been posting updates and pictures on FB as they break the Bearcat down for restoration. He said in one post that he hoped to have it back in the air within a couple of years time. He has also stated that the civilian color scheme will be retained.

Double post deleted.