FM2s at Uvalde, Texas

Tambo · **Joined:** Fri Dec 31, 2010 7:20 am **Posts:** 13

While in Texas recently I was shown into a hangar where they claimed 4 FM2 Wildcat
restorations taking place.
One was identified as 55404 which is a Pensacola bird. Another they said was formerly with the Planes of Fame collection and stored in a crate was the remains of one that had been involved in a fatal accident at the Wings Over Houston airshow 2003 (which was N681S / 55585). The 4th "aircraft" was pretty much a collection of spares rather than a recognisable airframe.
The owner is said to be planning on taking 55404 to Oshkosh this year so clearly work is very much ongoing !
Can anyone confirm the identities of these aircraft for me ?

Cheers

Dan K · **Posted:** Sat Mar 12, 2011 9:56 am

Tambo wrote:

While in Texas recently I was shown into a hangar where they claimed 4 FM2 Wildcat
restorations taking place.
One was identified as 55404 which is a Pensacola bird. Another they said was formerly with the Planes of Fame collection and stored in a crate was the remains of one that had been involved in a fatal accident at the Wings Over Houston airshow 2003 (which was N681S / 55585). The 4th "aircraft" was pretty much a collection of spares rather than a recognisable airframe.
The owner is said to be planning on taking 55404 to Oshkosh this year so clearly work is very much ongoing !
Can anyone confirm the identities of these aircraft for me ?

Cheers

55404
55585
86754
86774

JBrawner · **Posted:** Sat Mar 12, 2011 11:22 am

and here is the topic that deals with them from someone working on them.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=33045

WarbirdRadio · **Posted:** Sat Mar 12, 2011 9:57 pm

Here's an interview with Conrad... I'm pretty sure these are the Wildcats in question.

http://www.warbirdradio.com/tag/wild-warbirds/

Matt

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 12, 2011 10:28 pm

I've been inside the hangar and those guys are doing very nice work.

Ryan

Lynn Allen · **Posted:** Sat Mar 12, 2011 11:01 pm

Did Conrad show you the drop tanks still in there crates??

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 12, 2011 11:57 pm

Lynn Allen wrote:

Did Conrad show you the drop tanks still in there crates??

I think so. Some of the stuff he was working on was just fantastic.

Ryan

fighter_ace06 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 13, 2011 2:19 pm

Thanks for all the support guys. 86774 is the first rebuild and the one we are trying to get to oshkosh. 55404 is the next to be rebuilt along with 55585 at the same time. I have been meaning to update the progress but just havent had time.
Engine and cowl are on, tank is in, stub wings are on, all engine acc. on, just waiting on wiring and some fuel lines to start. Looking for curtiss electric blades, seems someone gave us red tagged blades without red tags in the deal.

Conrad

Dan K · **Posted:** Sun Mar 13, 2011 4:03 pm

fighter_ace06 wrote:

Thanks for all the support guys. 86774 is the first rebuild and the one we are trying to get to oshkosh...

Conrad

You WILL be coming north with the plane in July, right Conrad? I'm sure there are several of us Nordic types that would like to rescue your undernourished Texan self with beers & brats (& maybe a deviled egg or ten). :drinkers:

Are you seriously looking for blades? What type #'s? Lotta' scroungers here.

Tambo · **Joined:** Fri Dec 31, 2010 7:20 am **Posts:** 13

Thanks for the info guys - and Conrad, thanks for the access ! (didn't know you'd be on here !) We really appreciated getting a look at your work and if you can hold that mad dog of yours in the hangar long enough to guard them, they'll be fine !!
Keep em flying !!

mustanglover · **Posted:** Tue Mar 15, 2011 7:38 am

Tambo wrote:

and if you can hold that mad dog of yours in the hangar long enough to guard them, they'll be fine !!
Keep em flying !!

Yeah that "Strega", the dog, is quite the character!!!! :lol:

the330thbg · **Joined:** Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:06 pm **Posts:** 2713

Awesome, guys!!!

Nice job!

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FM2s at Uvalde, Texas

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