Wildcat Questions - How many left etc

[Digger]

Hi All

i was wondering while reading some of the Wildcat posts here just how many are left worldwide? Is this a type that needs a resurgance?
What sort of $$$$ would you need to pay for one in excellent condition and how much for one say as a basket case, perhaps with some combat history attached to it. Come to think of it how many of the Wildcat survivors are combat veterans?

some quick questions and probably very basic ones but not ever having had any in Australian service (that I know of) I am curious to know these things.

thanks

Digger

[mike furline]

This should help,
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/f4fregis ... istry.html

http://www.courtesyaircraft.com/

Ballpark flyable Wildcats, $700k-$900k.

Regards,
Mike

Last edited by mike furline on Sun Jan 07, 2007 7:30 am, edited 1 time in total.

[André]

Digger,

I wish I knew......

Found this FM-2 at VAC, Titusville FL back in March 2001 and was wondering what its current status is now. They salved it from a lake in Michigan (?). Not sure if they got it airworthy again.

Anyone been around at VAC recently ?

Cheers, André

[mike furline]

The VAC still has the Wildcat on display (Oct. 06), it is not airworthy.
It is on loan to them from the Navy.

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/f4fregis ... 14994.html

Regards,
Mike

[André]

Thanks Mike.

[Tom Crawford]

Is that a FM-2? Where's the jet exhaust (alloy blast panel) to exit over the wing. Unless missing something like this is an early FM-2 the engine is exhausting like a Grumman F4F-3/4 out the bottom of the fuselage aft of the engine.

[Tom Crawford]

Sorry Andre if I jumped the gun, I answered my own question with the link to warbird registry.....Tom

[bdk]

One of the two now airworthy F4Fs recovered from Lake Michigan just went to the museum in Pearl Harbor relegated to static display, so now there is only one F4F "on the airshow circuit." The balance are FM-2s. Wildcats just don't seem to get the respect they desrve IMO.

The flyer: http://www.warbirdregistry.org/f4fregistry/f4f-12260.html

=======================

Now in Hawaii: http://www.warbirdregistry.org/f4fregis ... 12296.html

=======================

Other Lake Michigan recoveries stored by the USN and rotting:

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/f4fregis ... 11824.html
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/f4fregis ... 12290.html
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/f4fregis ... 55052.html
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/f4fregis ... 55404.html

[Waltz41]

Over the holidays I spent quite a bit of time in Chicago O'Hare airport, and got a few pics of the Wildcat there done up in Butch's markings. Here's a few pics....they have a nice little set up there.

[merlin101]

This ones in the FAA museum, UK. Originally a G-36A ordered by the French, but delivered to the British FAA. Still has original engine & propeller fitted! Curently undergoing work to see whats under its blue paint!!

I have more pics if interested?

[John Beyl]

Is that a FM-2? Where's the jet exhaust (alloy blast panel) to exit over the wing. Unless missing something like this is an early FM-2 the engine is exhausting like a Grumman F4F-3/4 out the bottom of the fuselage aft of the engine.

The Wildcat you're asking about is an F4F. Note the P&W R-1830 hanging out front~ FM2's are all Wright R-1820 powered.

John

[bdk]

This ones in the FAA museum, UK. Originally a G-36A ordered by the French, but delivered to the British FAA. Still has original engine & propeller fitted! I have more pics if interested?

Were those originally delivered with a Hamilton Standard prop?

Last edited by bdk on Fri Jan 12, 2007 1:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[wendovertom]

Just wondering - if a museum had the $$ would the Navy let one of those Wildcats go out on display or to a restoration shop? Not that a museum would do that but just wondering. . . .

Tom P.

[John Beyl]

BDK,
I don't beleive so. The F4F had the Curtis Electric prop and the FM2 had the Hamilton Standard on it. The Ham was a less problematic prop by a long shot. The Ham will work on the 1830 engined F4F however. I believe the F4F that was recently sold to the Pearl Harbor Museum had a Ham on it.

Note that there is no oil cooler or oil cooler ducting in the landing gear bay that would be typically found in the FM2. The F4F had the oil cooler mounted under the right wing. (The aircraft pictured at the top of the thread in US marking)

John

[John Beyl]

Just wondering - if a museum had the $$ would the Navy let one of those Wildcats go out on display or to a restoration shop? Not that a museum would do that but just wondering. . . .

Tom P.

They have let a lot of the SBD's go out to private museums for static restorations. Why not a Wildcat?

John