How many P-47's are Airworthy and Flown ??

[warbird1]

Too few...

I find Warbird Alley's figures a good basic yardstick, but usually out of date and only roughly about right.

AFAIK, since the return of the TFC P-47 'No Guts no Glory', I don't think there are any P-47s airworthy outside of the USA. There's another one under restoration to fly with TFC (the ex-'Little Demon') and another under restoration to fly with HARS in NSW, Australia.

Regards,

Supposedly this one still flies in Brazil. Can any of our South American experts confirm if it has flown recently or it's status?





Another picture:
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Republic ... 2d01753af8

[Warbird Kid]

I thought I remember seeing a picture of that Brazil P-47 being run-up with a vintage Jeep in front of it. My guess is that it could be flown but hasn't in quite some time.

[Aircraft Mech Paul]

Hi Guys,

Now...please bear with me because I am going ALOT from memory here, but these are the ones I think are airworthy/flyers and restoration birds:

Airworthy/Flyers:

Hairless Joe
Hun Hunter
Wicked Wabbit
POF Razorback
Palm Springs aka...Big Chief (but I think they may have repainted her)
(Personal note...I used to take care of her at one time)
Jackie's Revenge - Airworthy/Flyer
No Guts, No Glory - Airworthy/Flyer
Ex-Tillamook - Airworthy/Flyer
Yellow Checkerboard Nose Cowl, (Don't know the name but someone mentioned it here.)
Tallahassee Lassie - Airworthy/Flyer (Recent Resto Complete, Air Classic's 8/10)
Tar Heel Hal

Did I miss any flyers ??

In Restoration to fly...from what I read and IF my memory is correct:

Dottie Mae
3 Razorbacks
CAF
Cavanaugh Flight Museum's (?)
Little Demon (Razorback in the UK, formerly in the US. Does this one count ?)
(I THINK one or two others, one being in Wisconsin)

Could be made flyable again:

The Airzoo's P-47
Big Stud - former Doug Champlain Razorback (Now at the Seattle Museum of Flight (?))

I didn't know about the Brazilian one, but since we can't confirm it's a flyer I'd leave it in the "Could be" category.

Also....I thought it might of note since there was such an interest in this forum at one time
about the MAAM P-61 Black Widow project and the interest it stirred in the one that the Chinese have in their open air museum, if memory serves, it is parked right next to a Jug, now wouldn't it be nice if a deal could be struck between some wealthy partnership and the Chinese folks to bring home the Black Widow AND the Jug. Ahhh...one can dream can't I ?

Now.....I leave it to you guys to help me fill in the blanks here. Did I miss any ? Or Did I miss quite a few ??

I leave in your most capable hands,

Paul

[yakdriver]

What about Charlie Nichols N model. Hasn't flown in a long time but airworthy.

[Dan K]

Palm Springs aka...Big Chief (but I think they may have repainted her)
(Personal note...I used to take care of her at one time)

Paul

"Big Chief" is now "Squirt VIII"

http://media.photobucket.com/image/squi ... _3067a.jpg

[warbird1]

What about Charlie Nichols N model. Hasn't flown in a long time but airworthy.

AFAIK, Yanks' N model has never flown post-restoration, like most of their aircraft.

[k5083]

Paul, I think maybe the yellow checkered one = Jackie's Revenge. Don't know of any other yellow checkered ones currently flying.

I wouldn't class Big Chief/Squirt as active any more. My reading of the news from Palm Springs is that it won't fly again until the museum finishes buying it from the Pond estate, which based on the reported payment schedule, could be 25 or 30 years from now. By then it will definitely be in the "could be made airworthy again" category, although there may be an agreement to run it up periodically in the meantime.

The rest of your list matches up well with what others have posted and seems to put us at 10 flying, all in the US, with a possible in Brazil and a handful on the way.

August

[kalamazookid]

Don't Bill Klaers and Alan Wojciak have one that flies as well?

[JohnH]

Klaers is N47 DF- said to now be owned by Ted Melsheimer. Is that listed among these and has a name on the nose?

[C VEICH]

Hello,

I thought the AAM's in NY was a "N" model.

It is registered as an N model but is configured as a D model. I think it may have been built up from an N model fuselage but I'm not 100% certain of that. It definitely does NOT have the N model wing or dorsal fin.

[flyingsailor]

Paul in your lists of P-47 projects you list the CAF and Cavanaugh; this is one in the same. Doug and others took on the sponsorship of the aircraft and were basing it at Cavanaugh's when it had the engine issue. From what I understand it is now back in the Cavanaugh hangar and when a few other projects are done will be one of the focus projects. Doug can obviously correct me if I am wrong.

Chris

[Aircraft Mech Paul]

Hi Guys,

I thought that Cavanaugh and the CAF's were different birds because of the paint. The CAF's was mottled blue, which I loved by the way. Maybe I'm way off here but I saw some pic's of the Cavanaugh bird and it had Yellow on it's tail, if memory serves me well. I guess that is where my confusion is.

Paul

[flyingsailor]

Hi Guys,

I thought that Cavanaugh and the CAF's were different birds because of the paint. The CAF's was mottled blue, which I loved by the way. Maybe I'm way off here but I saw some pic's of the Cavanaugh bird and it had Yellow on it's tail, if memory serves me well. I guess that is where my confusion is.

Paul

Paul You are correct the aircraft used to be the mottled blue, but when the group based at Cavanaugh took it over it was repainted as Oscar Pardarmo (sp?) and his Lil' Meaties Meat Chopper from 464th FS/507th FG based at Ie Shima in 1945 this is the one with the yellow tail.

[JDK]

If you use some numbers* rather than names and colo(u)rs you'll actually be able to tell which is which.

Regards,

(*Just like I din't earlier. Hem.)

[12XU2A3X3]

James, Rob Greinert has three Razorbacks. Two under active restoration and one used as a pattern aircraft, which will probably join the queue later.

[/quote]


one of those is owned by fred hagen so presumably it will come back to the states