Lake Michigan Wildcat
Tue Apr 01, 2008 5:35 pm
Here are some shots of FM-2 Wildcat (BuNo 16161) at the Pima Air & Space museum. Not bad after 50 years under water.
Tue Apr 01, 2008 6:00 pm
Wow, awesome! I thought that the U.S. Navy only gave title to 2 aircraft to AT&T for their recovery services. Would this Wildcat make 3 now?
Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:38 pm
That ones looks like a prime restoration candidate! Beautiful!
Robbie
Robbie
Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:18 pm
warbird1 wrote:Wow, awesome! I thought that the U.S. Navy only gave title to 2 aircraft to AT&T for their recovery services. Would this Wildcat make 3 now?
Wow, the Navy is giving planes to the phone company now? 
Sorry Warbird1...
A&T Recovery Services reported they were to recieve 2 Wildcats and 1 Dauntless.
I wonder how Taras's "flogging the halls of Congress" is going these days?
Great pics JS, nice detail shots! Thanks!!
Last edited by airnutz on Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:27 pm
Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:02 am
A&T carried out the recoveries, but I read that placard as meaning that Pensacola traded one of their own birds with MARC for the Brewster Bermuda that is now restored and on display in the museum as a Buccaneer.
Wed Apr 02, 2008 1:17 am
Very good close up images 
Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:06 am
Pensacola has a restored blimp gondola from a WWII Navy "K" type blimp- I was quite familiar with it years ago- came out of the legendary scrapyard accumulated by John Mahalchik, here in south Jersey, after he passed away...
He was a friend of mine, and I remember when he had 5 or 6 of the "K" cars flipped over with their engine pylons standing right next to them... I used to have a rare privilege- unrestricted access to the yard! I remember walking around, and looking into the gondolas- again, they were upside down, and looking right upwards- into the head! I remember a few marked panels, but not much else about them. Have to run down to Pensacola some time to see it. Looked great.
I have aways wondered what happened to the pretty well compete CG-4A combat glider that he had in there. I hope it made it to a flying collection!
I got a CCKW 353 with 1516 cab during the auction, but sold it a few years later.
Robbie
He was a friend of mine, and I remember when he had 5 or 6 of the "K" cars flipped over with their engine pylons standing right next to them... I used to have a rare privilege- unrestricted access to the yard! I remember walking around, and looking into the gondolas- again, they were upside down, and looking right upwards- into the head! I remember a few marked panels, but not much else about them. Have to run down to Pensacola some time to see it. Looked great.
I have aways wondered what happened to the pretty well compete CG-4A combat glider that he had in there. I hope it made it to a flying collection!
I got a CCKW 353 with 1516 cab during the auction, but sold it a few years later.
Robbie
Wed Apr 02, 2008 2:52 pm
Robbie Roberts wrote:
I have aways wondered what happened to the pretty well compete CG-4A combat glider that he had in there. I hope it made it to a flying collection!
Robbie
Here’s a Waco CG-4A nose section. Not sure if this is the one you’re talking about, but it looks very nice.
Wed Apr 02, 2008 6:57 pm
We ain't got no salt in our water... 
However, I find it hard to believe many more could emerge in this condition nowadays. Between the constant release of turds from the MMSD and the Zebra mussels... 
However, I find it hard to believe many more could emerge in this condition nowadays. Between the constant release of turds from the MMSD and the Zebra mussels...
Wed Apr 02, 2008 9:32 pm
Good photos of the Pima Wildcat.
Hope it gets restored to as good or better than this one that visited the AZ CAF last year.
Hope it gets restored to as good or better than this one that visited the AZ CAF last year.
Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:15 pm
The Pima Wildcat looks to be in a good bit better shape than the Air Zoo's SBD was when it was recovered.
Of course, she looks much better now...
SN
Of course, she looks much better now...
SN
Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:51 pm
More pics from Pima.
This Owl was a nice surprise, something you don't see everyday.
This Owl was a nice surprise, something you don't see everyday.
Wed Apr 02, 2008 11:37 pm
excellent detail pics re: the owl!!!
Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:39 am
Very nice! The Pima restorations just keep getting better and better. I'm looking forward to seeing the Marauder and Havoc finished.
SN
SN