F7F-3 - Whatever happened to it?

Mr. Scott · **Joined:** Sat Nov 27, 2004 11:31 pm **Posts:** 50

What ever happened to the Tigercat (F7F-3) that the Yankee Air Force Museum had? I know it was on loan to them from the U.S. Marine Corps. but heard it was sold.

kalamazookid · **Posted:** Sat Aug 04, 2012 10:56 pm

Went to Planes of Fame. It's displayed outside in unrestored condition last I heard.

Mr. Scott · **Joined:** Sat Nov 27, 2004 11:31 pm **Posts:** 50

Ouch! Not a good way for a good plane to die.

Mike · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 8:54 am **Posts:** 3331

Mr. Scott wrote:

Ouch! Not a good way for a good plane to die.

Aircraft ending up at PoF rarely die. I can't think of an organisation that has done more for the preservation movement. I'm sure the Tigercat's time will come one day.

Dan Jones · **Posted:** Sun Aug 05, 2012 7:39 am

Don't worry, it's sitting and waiting her turn with exactly the right folks. I was looking at it last year. There's probably been a well thought out plan for it in place for quite awhile now.

Dan

51fixer · **Posted:** Sun Aug 05, 2012 11:36 am

Mike wrote:

Mr. Scott wrote:

Ouch! Not a good way for a good plane to die.

Aircraft ending up at PoF rarely die. I can't think of an organisation that has done more for the preservation movement. I'm sure the Tigercat's time will come one day.

It has been at POF since the mid-90s or so.
Before making statements involving the death and destruction of an aircraft at POF did you do any research on the facility or it's programs?
POF has returned to flight status more rare WWII aircraft than most museums in the world.
If there is an aircraft in their collection you think should be flying it would accelerate the restoration process to pony up some $s.

Mr. Scott · **Joined:** Sat Nov 27, 2004 11:31 pm **Posts:** 50

Glad the aircraft will be restored! However it still belongs to the USN/Marines does it not?

51fixer · **Posted:** Mon Aug 06, 2012 7:01 am

Mr. Scott wrote:

Glad the aircraft will be restored! However it still belongs to the USN/Marines does it not?

I believe it was acquired in a trade.
We are discussing this one?
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/f7fregis ... 80382.html
IIRC it was around 93 when it arrived and was assembled. The radome was missing but Ed Maloney had one that was repaired and installed. It was a little rough as it had sat on the proving grounds in Aberdeen as a target on a range. I believe Ed Maloney pursued acquiring it for POF as the F7F-3N was one of the types used by the Marines at EL Toro MCAS which was nearby.
I left working there in 93 or so and came back east in 95 so I'm relying on my memory. Perhaps the best way to answer your questions would be to reach out to POF. A starting point would be here-
http://planesoffame.org/

k5083 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 06, 2012 10:53 am

This machine was at Pensacola for a time in the USNAM's outdoor storage yard before going to Michigan. I caught it there in 1983.

August

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

I don't think that is a particularly rare type in the skies over southern California. I think I'd rather see the P-59 fly first. Or maybe even their SNJ.

k5083 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 06, 2012 2:43 pm

But Fighter Rebuilders has another F7F spread around the shop now, no? There might be economies of scale in doing the two in tandem.

August

ajdawson · **Posted:** Mon Aug 06, 2012 3:23 pm

I visited Planes of Fame earlier this year in May and saw the Tigercat in storage there:

Certainly to my untrained eye, it doesn't look to have deteriorated too much!

Andy

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F7F-3 - Whatever happened to it?

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