Tigercat Under Rebuild 6/2009

[Jack Cook]

Taken last week by JCW at Merle Maine;s hanger in Ontario, Or.
F7F-3 Bu/Nu 80532 N7195C

[Enemy Ace]

It's great to see another T cat in the pipeline.
That hangar is really interesting as well, How old is it? reminds me of the Hangars at Duxford.

[Jesse C.]

Nice! Thanks for posting the shots!

[TimAPNY]

It's great to see another T cat in the pipeline.
That hangar is really interesting as well, How old is it? reminds me of the Hangars at Duxford.

I was surprised to read that it was not Duxford as well. I can't wait to see a Tigercat fly someday. It seems I keep missing them.

Tim

[retroaviation]

Pleeeeaze tell me he's going to finish it up like the model pictured in this link and not like every other blue Tigercat on the planet.


http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl= ... N%26um%3D1


Gary

Wow, that's a long link, huh?

[Jack Cook]

Funny you should mention that Gary because this is one of a number of F7Fs saved by George Kreizberg here in Salem.
He's the guys that envisioned the F7 has a Firebomber and made the necessary mods.
What he did was modify 300 gal DTs and carried them on the regular pylons.
I'm thinking at least 5 of the surviving F7s were ones he got from Litchfield Park.

[retroaviation]

Along with our Military Aviators, I have a huge respect for the men and women who pioneered firebombing and those who continue it today. Sure, I think that the "standard" Tigercat is still a kick-*ss airplane (my favorite twin, by far), but it is my opinion that it would be a nice tribute to the firebombers and those that operated former war machines to fight a different battle. It would be a different scheme, yet would be completely authentic at the same time.

And yes, I know that I can configure my Tigercat however I wish, if and when I ever get one. I just bring up the firebomber idea every now and then to provoke thought and maybe even a little friendly conversation.

Either way, it's very cool to see another Tigercat in the works. Thanks for posting the pictures, Jack.

Gary

[Matt Gunsch]

sell it as part of a airshow routine. Have a pair of F7Fs bomb and stafe the field as a reenactment of Korea, then have the firebomber F7F come along and put out the fires..................

[CH2Tdriver]

It's great to see another T cat in the pipeline.
That hangar is really interesting as well, How old is it? reminds me of the Hangars at Duxford.

I noticed that as well. The hangar is just as interesting as the F7F. The owner when he built the hangar must have specified that in the plans to make it look like an old Belfast truss hangar. I'm sure it would have been much easier to slap up a steel and aluminum pre-fab one?

Pete

[warbird51]

It's great to see her being worked on again. I worked on her in the 80's and 90's when Mike Bogue and Gary Flanders owned her. I even got a ride in her in 83. And I just got a ride in "Big Bossman" before the Chino Air Show in May. The late Mike Bogue also owned that Tigercat before he sold it to Bob Waltrip. And I worked on it too. So, I've got rides in the 2 Tigercats I've worked on. Anybody else need some work on their Tigercat???

[airnutz]

...but it is my opinion that it would be a nice tribute to the firebombers and those that operated former war machines to fight a different battle.

Yep..ya gotta admit..the tanker guys are/were the last folks on the planet flying these machines in a combat environment.
My hat's off to 'em..risky bidness.

[Jack Cook]

According to Jeff there's only 1 person working on the a/c.
A retired and partially disabled AF guy at about minimum wage,
Don't expect to see her flying anytime soon.

[T J Johansen]

Did he at one stage own one of the YAT-28 models?

T J

[richkolasa]

According to Jeff there's only 1 person working on the a/c.
A retired and partially disabled AF guy at about minimum wage,
Don't expect to see her flying anytime soon.

He deserves a raise! I have to start buying lottery tickets!

Rich