Collings Foundation adds a Hellcat

C VEICH · **Joined:** Sun Nov 15, 2009 12:40 pm **Posts:** 1470

This is just awesome news. Great way to end the day! (For me anyway.)

CH2Tdriver · **Posted:** Tue Oct 02, 2012 9:52 am

This is fantastic news! CF was just at Republic Airport at the AAM on Labor Day with the bombers, Mustang and Skyraider. With the addition of the Wildcat, Hellcat, and the AAM's own TBM, we could conceivably have a Grumman flight in the skies over Long Island again in an upcoming visit!

What was the trade off?

Was this one ever a flyer?

Is Jack Croul's Hellcat made up of the parts that Jack Cook had mentioned belonged to a private owner who didn't want to part with them?

ktst97 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 02, 2012 10:23 am

Red Baaron wrote:

Add this one and Jack Croul's Hellcat to the two that are being restored for the Tennesee Museum of Aviation and that just about doubles the flying Hellcats.

I make the following statement with 100% confidence:
A correction to thread - The Tennessee Museum of Aviation does not have one or even two Hellcats under restoration anywhere.

Ryan Harris · **Posted:** Tue Oct 02, 2012 10:42 am

There is another being restored by Yanks Air Museum in Chino. Not sure of it's status, but last I saw, the fuselage was externally complete. I believe Lone Star has been doing work to theirs as well.

Red Baaron · **Joined:** Wed Aug 29, 2012 3:54 pm **Posts:** 98

ktst97 wrote:

Red Baaron wrote:

Add this one and Jack Croul's Hellcat to the two that are being restored for the Tennesee Museum of Aviation and that just about doubles the flying Hellcats.

I make the following statement with 100% confidence:
A correction to thread - The Tennessee Museum of Aviation does not have one or even two Hellcats under restoration anywhere.

I'm 99.9% confident (I only save the last .1% in the event that they very recently changed hands again) that the primary mover of that museum does indeed own the Hellcat projects that Jim Fry had. They were in Colorado Springs when I last saw them.

12XU2A3X3 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 02, 2012 12:45 pm

bu#s?

Red Baaron · **Joined:** Wed Aug 29, 2012 3:54 pm **Posts:** 98

12XU2A3X3 wrote:

bu#s?

That I don't know off hand. Maybe I can find out on my next trip.

over/out · **Posted:** Tue Oct 02, 2012 2:42 pm

Fantastic! CF's Hellcat! Allied Fighters' Hellcat! at least 2 Tigercats are being restored! Fighter Rebuliders has Bearcat "GulfHawk4th" and Ezell is doing a -1 Bearcat! IT's RAINING "Cats and more Cats! :twisted:

Was anything salvage from the P.O.F Hellcat?

12XU2A3X3 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 02, 2012 3:13 pm

Red Baaron wrote:

12XU2A3X3 wrote:

bu#s?

That I don't know off hand. Maybe I can find out on my next trip.

good stuff, thanks ben

Lynn Allen · **Posted:** Tue Oct 02, 2012 5:16 pm

JimH wrote:

@ Lynn, no, the same shop that is doing Dottie Mae for Jack.

Thanks Jim, did you see the ebay auction for the complete manuals set for the B-24 I sent you??

Lynn

ktst97 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 02, 2012 6:41 pm

Red Baaron wrote:

ktst97 wrote:

Red Baaron wrote:

Add this one and Jack Croul's Hellcat to the two that are being restored for the Tennesee Museum of Aviation and that just about doubles the flying Hellcats.

I make the following statement with 100% confidence:
A correction to thread - The Tennessee Museum of Aviation does not have one or even two Hellcats under restoration anywhere.

I'm 99.9% confident (I only save the last .1% in the event that they very recently changed hands again) that the primary mover of that museum does indeed own the Hellcat projects that Jim Fry had. They were in Colorado Springs when I last saw them.

Did you read the statement word-for-word?
I doubt that your source can ascertain that statement to be incorrect.

C VEICH · **Joined:** Sun Nov 15, 2009 12:40 pm **Posts:** 1470

ktst97 wrote:

I make the following statement with 100% confidence:
A correction to thread - The Tennessee Museum of Aviation does not have one or even two Hellcats under restoration anywhere.

More than two?

Rob Mears · **Posted:** Wed Oct 03, 2012 12:08 pm

I'm not sure if people understand how much of a coup it is to have freed this Hellcat from the USMC Museum. This is almost completely unheard of, as it is with the Navy. I'm perpetually amazed at the feats successfully pulled off by the Collings Foundation.

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Wed Oct 03, 2012 12:28 pm

Rob Mears wrote:

I'm not sure if people understand how much of a coup it is to have freed this Hellcat from the USMC Museum. This is almost completely unheard of, as it is with the Navy. I'm perpetually amazed at the feats successfully pulled off by the Collings Foundation.

Thats what I thought. I thought I was the only who was reading this right. In essence this was a Navy owned bird, and now its GOING TO FLY?! Isn't that...like... you know.... amazingly awesome?

Red Baaron · **Joined:** Wed Aug 29, 2012 3:54 pm **Posts:** 98

ktst97 wrote:

Did you read the statement word-for-word?
I doubt that your source can ascertain that statement to be incorrect.

I'm not too interested in playing a game with having to figure out hidden meanings.

I know how many Hellcats there were in the original collection. Or more accurately how many Hellcats could be derived from the parts. I was involved with them in the past and contributed to the pile. I did originally intend to say at least two instead of two. Hence my usage of the words "doubles the flying Hellcats". There are five that I consider flyable, four that most consider flyable. Double that number is 8 or 10. Four being restored now makes eight. I was operating off the assumption that most people consider Bob Pond's Hellcat to not be flyable at the moment. As for how many they have finally decided to restore, maybe two. Maybe more. Maybe less.

Regarding the Collings Foundation Hellcat. I have been told that it wasn't actually owned by the USMC but was on loan to them from a private owner. I have also been told that there was a trade of some sort worked out with them but I honestly can't remember what it was. I want to say it was a biplane or some sort of trainer. Although I can't be certain that any of that is true.

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Collings Foundation adds a Hellcat

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