Warbird Information Exchange

Hello everyone! This is my first post! (From a long time lurker)

Does anyone know the current status of F6F-3 Hellcat 08825 (N4965V) (being restored by Vintage Airframes in Caldwell, Idaho for Allied Fighters) and Sea Furies WG599 (G-SEAF) and VZ345 (G-VZSF) (both being restored at Chino for the Fighter Collection at Duxford)?

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Tom

08825 is about 60% completed and will be the ''Dottie Mae'' of Hellcats when finished.

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Don't touch my junk!!

Good to see that you're still alive & kicking, Jack.

Does anybody know if there is a website featuring the Hellcat's restoration?

Thanks,

Mac

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WWII Naval Aviation Research - Pacific
https://www.ww2nar-pac.com/

When do you expect 08825 to be completed?

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Tom

As far as I know, there isn’t a website featuring this Hellcat’s restoration, and that is why I asked about its status.

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Tom

Thanks for the info, Tom. I looked & couldn't find any either. I was hoping somebody had the inside dope & might know where a site was hiding out.

Mac

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WWII Naval Aviation Research - Pacific
https://www.ww2nar-pac.com/

I seem to recall, that somebody somewhere, said "Tuesday". So....

Speaking of Hellcats...

Does anyone know if there are any/many Hellcat airframes available for restoration?

With Spitfires and Mustangs, there is an industry building new assemblies, plus both types had substantial international use, so there were always airframes, or parts thereof, popping up.

So, aside from someone with deep pockets doing a dataplate rebuild, what are the prospects for more flying Hellcats in the future?

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

What’s the current story with #70185?

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

It's Thursday

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Matt Gunsch, A&P, IA, Warbird maint and restorations
Jack, You have Debauched my sloth !!!!!!
We tried voting with the Ballot box, When do we start voting from the Ammo box, and am I allowed only one vote ?
Check out the Ercoupe Discussion Group on facebook

Anyone know who ended up with the stash of Hellcat drone wreckage that has bounced around for years?
I think at one point they were part of the Jim Frye/ NPA Holdings collection of Corsair/P-38/etc wreckage.

There are 7 Hellcat wrecks/identities registered to Artemis Aviation (Jeff Thomas), which a couple years ago the magazine Aeroplane listed six of those as being under restoration to airworthy. All of them are ex-Uruguayan Navy and ex-French Navy. There have been a number of statements that indicate that Vintage Airframes is working on the airworthy restorations/rebuilds of as many as 4-5 Hellcats over the past few years, not just BuNo.08825.

3

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Don't touch my junk!!

That is welcome news.

For all its military success, the F6F is woefully underrepresented in the warbird community.

They are rare, I was surprised to see the static example at Andrews AFB in the late '90s.

I wonder what is the condition of the projects from overseas?

_________________
Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.