Air Zoo Tigercat and Bearcat

Mon Sep 15, 2008 4:27 pm

Tigercat's first engine runs are scheduled for tomorrow. Today, it was sitting outside the hangar undergoing some hydraulic tests and inspections. They tested the wingfold several times. Unfortunately, I don't have pics, and even worse, due to my class schedule, I won't be able to go see the engine runs tomorrow. No news on the Bearcat yet.

Mon Sep 15, 2008 8:53 pm

Is it sold & if so, who/where to?

Tue Sep 16, 2008 8:24 am

The Tigercat was sold to Rod Lewis, who has his collection in the San Antonio area. The Bearcat has been sold and will be based out of Tulsa, OK.

Tue Sep 16, 2008 8:48 am

Does the Bearcat still have that big hatch (?) on the starboard side?

Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:11 am

Did I hear Tulsa, OK??? Where is it going to be based out of? Jones-Riverside? Do you know who bought it? There's a few guys here with some fun toys (P-51, B-25, Wildcat, etc.) that seem to be slowly acquiring some neat stuff.

kevin

Tue Sep 16, 2008 10:07 am

The Air Zoo's Hellcat has a big, non-standard hatch in the aft fuselage, but I don't ever remember seeing one on the Bearcat.

SN

Tue Sep 16, 2008 10:11 am

I think you've got them backwards.
The Bearcat had that hatch before Gunther Batz had it and it sported the Thai paint scheme. It was for aerial photography (?)

Tue Sep 16, 2008 2:17 pm

kalamazookid wrote:The Tigercat was sold to Rod Lewis, who has his collection in the San Antonio area.

Do I see FOUR Tigercats at Reno next year? :wink:

Tue Sep 16, 2008 2:56 pm

Do I see FOUR Tigercats at Reno next year?

Based on what I've heard, I wouldn't be surprised if that happened. I'm not at liberty to give the name of the new owner of the Bearcat just yet, but I was told that it will be flown quite a bit. I haven't heard this guy's name in connection with any fighter-type warbirds before, but I may have missed something.

Tue Sep 16, 2008 6:54 pm

I wasn't saying the Bearcat doesn't have the fuselage hatch, but I'm 100% sure the Hellcat has a big baggage door on the right side. Like many warbirds, they were probably modified post-war by civillian owners.

It'll be sad to see the Cats leave Kalamazoo, but at the same time it's great that they'll be flying again.

SN

Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:35 pm

For the Bearcat, I wonder if it's Trent Latshaw, the guy who owns the Mustang "Millie G", which at the moment is a bit dinged up right now. Isn't Steve Craig around those parts, the man who owns Flying Dutchman?

Tue Sep 16, 2008 11:42 pm

Steve is based out of Lawrence, Kansas

Wed Sep 17, 2008 10:19 pm

Did the Hellcat get bought as well ?

Website · Wed Sep 17, 2008 10:22 pm

No, the Hellcat wasn't for sale. Only the Bearcat and Tigercat because they weren't historically significant (between wars).

Thu Sep 18, 2008 4:03 pm

warbirdguy wrote:No, the Hellcat wasn't for sale. Only the Bearcat and Tigercat because they weren't historically significant (between wars).

grrr