Warbird Information Exchange

It's been a while since I've seen anything about these birds in print, so I'm not current on the subject; which is which (between Race 57 and Race 74?)

The photo above of Race 57 reminds me of the F2G that was in pieces in the back of Harry Doan's hangar in New Smyrna Beach, FL while I was in A&P and flight school at ERAU in Daytona in the late '80's - except that Harry's F2G seemed to be blue on one side and red on the other (top vs. bottom or vice versa) but with the same sunburst white stripes. As I said before, it was in pieces; the center fuselage was sitting on the firewall and the outer wing panels were leaning on the wall if I remember correctly.

At the same time, there was a guy named Paul (can't remember his last name) who was in some of my classes and who was originally from the Cleveland area (I think). He had many photos that he had taken of Walter Soplata's backyard, including another F2G, fully intact, in a faded blue and white paint scheme that included a checkerboard engine cowling and white leading edges on the wings. (He let me make copies of his prints, but I don't have a way to post them online. Pretty cool stuff though.)

Are these the same two F2G's that you mentioned above (57 & 74)? Weren't there something like only five F2G-1's and five F2G-2's ever built in the first place? Are these two the only ones that still survive? Is there anything in print recently (and maybe available online) that tells the story or history of these aircraft? Thanks!

3 survive to this day
#57 was the one that Harry Doan had,
#74 is from the Soplata collection,
Doug Champlin had the only Super Corsair that was never civilianized, it is in Seattle now at the Museum of Flight.

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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

Here you go Rajay,

http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/F ... s/00a.shtm

http://www.airrace.com/CorsairStatusList2.html

http://www.airrace.com/racing_corsairs.htm

Ron Pratte now owns Race #57,
http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/01 ... ction.html

Regards,
Mike

SO RAce 57 is going to be hidden away never to be seen according to what I have read.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Considering it has been flown at 2 shows since it was sold, I don't see that happening.

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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

I just meant what I read in the other thread about it. THey seemed to think it was going to be rare to see it in the air or on the ground for that matter. I hope that is not true. It is a very cool airplane to see, and it has such a great history.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

I don't see that happening either, as Bob Odegaard has a personal invitation from Pratt to fly the F2G whenever he wants, as much as he wants. As Bob has a home in that part of Arizona, I could see him taking the F2G out a lot!

I don't think we'll see the F2G grounded at all. It may be harder to see it at it's home, but I'm sure we'll see it in plenty of airshows in the southwest part of the U.S.