FG-1D Bu 92050 Race #94 is on the move...

[Wildchild]

Personally I think that the Corsair should stay in it's Race Color's... How many other F4U's do we have like this one? 1 maybe? Now, how many do we have in stock, WW2 Navy blue? All of them?

This Corsair has racing history, yes? If so, why change it?

I'm going to run now...

This A/C was discussed here a couple years back or so.
IIRC it never got to race in its present setup so I don't know if there is any real history other than how it was modified and looks at the moment.

I wasn't here a couple years back... LOL.

Honestly present setup doesn't matter. It still actually raced, therefore I think it should go back to how she looked when she was being raced. Not a fictional skin that doesn't represent te airframes history...

[cwmc]

It was always bare metal as a racer.
Chris...

[51fixer]

Wildchild,
I believe this was the discussion in a thread about what parked warbirds would you like to see fly or be restored.
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=40881&hilit=Corsair+racer+94&start=45

This particular Corsair is mentioned on this page and the previous page back then with photos.

[Sabremech]

It's my understanding that this airplane raced only once. After that, it basically sat in a race configuration for the next 40 years. I don't think that constitutes it actually having a long racing history like Rare Bear or Strega. This airplane has a much longer history and flying hours as an FG-1D.
This is just my opinion and does not represent that of our owner.

David Staffeldt
WHF Director

[mike furline]

http://www.f4ucorsair.com/test/92050.html

[kalamazookid]

Congratulations to Warbird Heritage Foundation on this outstanding acquisition! If it's restored to anywhere near the quality of the rest of their fleet, it will be a stunner.

[Wildchild]

It's my understanding that this airplane raced only once. After that, it basically sat in a race configuration for the next 40 years. I don't think that constitutes it actually having a long racing history like Rare Bear or Strega. This airplane has a much longer history and flying hours as an FG-1D.
This is just my opinion and does not represent that of our owner.

David Staffeldt
WHF Director

Race 57 only flew 2 races...

[51fixer]

It's my understanding that this airplane raced only once. After that, it basically sat in a race configuration for the next 40 years. I don't think that constitutes it actually having a long racing history like Rare Bear or Strega. This airplane has a much longer history and flying hours as an FG-1D.
This is just my opinion and does not represent that of our owner.

David Staffeldt
WHF Director

Race 57 only flew 2 races...

F2Gs can be argued had more history competing in Racing than in a Military career since they didn't participate in combat, had virtually no military service and only a hand full were ever produced.
The FG-1 series and its counterpart F4U-1 participated in a tremendous amount of combat that lead to the rich history of the type. Not to mention post war service and use in combat training. Air Racing is but a footnote in it's history.
Besides its up to the owner and their decision is what matters.

[Sabremech]

Thanks Mike for the information on more of BU# 92050's racing past. I don't think the information is 100% accurate, but that's for another time when I'm able to review the logbooks and various other documents we received with the airplane. I'm going to agree with Rich that the FG-1D Corsair has a tremendous history with WWII rather than with air racing. Keeping this Corsair in a race configuration would be outside what the mission of the Warbird Heritage Foundation is and also what the owner wants his airplane to be. We'll document the modifications that were done to make this airplane into Race 94 and also what it took to bring it back to what it was rolling off the assembly line. This Corsair will always have Race 94 tied to it in it's history and it will be an interesting history at that. Stay tuned to see the transformation back to almost 100% stock FG-1D.
David
WHF Director

[The Inspector]

Here's a way to perhaps satisfy both camps. I recall seeing moons ago in I think, AIR PROGRESS a photo of a CORSAIR in SWPA 'triple nickle' (on the fwd fuselage in dark blue or black) that had been stripped to bare aluminum for some reason and never repainted.
Also recall seeing a P-39 built up out of spares and wrecked parts that was overall black (except wingtips and fin tip in white) that carried a big white ? as a s/n on the fin, just in case someone was getting tired of all those blue F4U's It would be a 'well, no poo-poo' airplane.

[Speedy]

Thanks Mike for the information on more of BU# 92050's racing past. I don't think the information is 100% accurate, but that's for another time when I'm able to review the logbooks and various other documents we received with the airplane. I'm going to agree with Rich that the FG-1D Corsair has a tremendous history with WWII rather than with air racing. Keeping this Corsair in a race configuration would be outside what the mission of the Warbird Heritage Foundation is and also what the owner wants his airplane to be. We'll document the modifications that were done to make this airplane into Race 94 and also what it took to bring it back to what it was rolling off the assembly line. This Corsair will always have Race 94 tied to it in it's history and it will be an interesting history at that. Stay tuned to see the transformation back to almost 100% stock FG-1D.
David
WHF Director

Bob Mitchum brought the airframe to Reno in 1967 in relatively stock FG-1D configuration but blew the engine on final approach of his arrival flight.

In 1970 it reappeared with a Skyraider prop, P-51H spinner, and the end-caps of the wingtips removed and faired over. Only about a 15-20 inch wing-clip. It has been reported for years that the airplane had an R-3350, but after discussion with several people who were there, I don't think that is true. I believe it just had an upgraded R-2800. The wing root carburator inlets were faired over and a crude down-draft intake was fashioned on top of the cowling. The wing flaps were sealed, as were the cowl-flaps.

In 1970 he qualified 7th at Reno at 362.989, finished 4th in heat 1-A at 344.401, and 3rd in the Consolation Race at 357.947.

In 1971 he cut a pylon on his qualification attempt and mechanical problems prevented another run, so he DNQ.

In 1972 he qualified 7th at 357.500, finished 4th in heat 1-A at 363.087, and finished 5th in the Championship race at 341.985.

Shortly afterwards Mitchum took his own life, and the racer's career was over. It was decidedly a low-budget attempt at an Unlimited racer that never really got out of the teething-phase. But Mitchum, on the other hand, was a very successful and competitive T-6 racer.

As the airplane appeared at the museum (the condition it's in now) it had a more severe wing-clip with concave tips, and a large tail-stinger. Those modifications all took place after Mitchum's death, and it never raced in that condition.

[happymeal]

Here's a way to perhaps satisfy both camps.

In my view, there is only one camp. And that is the owner, the one that's gonna spend hundreds of thousands of bucks to get that bird back in the air (and has already spent some hundreds of thousands bucks to buy the bird)...

[The Inspector]

Here's a way to perhaps satisfy both camps.

In my view, there is only one camp. And that is the owner, the one that's gonna spend hundreds of thousands of bucks to get that bird back in the air (and has already spent some hundreds of thousands bucks to buy the bird)...

I wasn't advocating anything, just offering an unusual option for possible consideration.

[bombadier29]

At this rate Race 94 might be done before the Olympia Corsair. Every year at the airshow they say it will be back next year.

[4RG.I.'S]

East Troy airport had an open house yesterday. Race #94 was on the ramp (Looked to be close to the picture starting this thread) with a few other warbirds. Sorry I didn't get any pictures, camera is MIA.