Paging Jamesintucson. Pima updates?

[Obergrafeter]

Oooops,...........................I'll put my glasses on the next time before I open my trap!

[jamesintucson]

I really like the "conserve where possible, restore only where necessary" approach used on the Wildcat.

That corrugated cutout behind the exhaust port is weird. The only other Wildcat I can recall seeing it on is the FM-2 in the Guadalcanal diorama at the Naval Aviation Museum. Is it some sort of field mod, or just an uncommon factory installation?

SN

I'm glad you like the approach we used on the Wildcat. We didn't see any reason to obliterate its history just to put new paint on it. The corrugated cutout can be seen in some wartime photos. Most easily in this one from the Navy's history site;
.

Our Wildcat is from the first batch of General Motors' production so maybe it is something they changed later, but I really don't know.

James

[JohnB]

As far as I can tell from our records we have never had any other members of the Bell 47 family.
James

Well I do recall a Navy HTL-7/TH-13N/Bell 47K in the storage yard years ago. But with only 18 produced, fining a new canopy for it would not be fun or cheap.
The new Bell 47 book notes that Pima has (or had) one on loan from the Museum of Naval Aviation, Bu No 145842.

[jamesintucson]

As far as I can tell from our records we have never had any other members of the Bell 47 family.
James

Well I do recall a Navy HTL-7/TH-13N/Bell 47K in the storage yard years ago. But with only 18 produced, fining a new canopy for it would not be fun or cheap.
The new Bell 47 book notes that Pima has (or had) one on loan from the Museum of Naval Aviation, Bu No 145842.

Oh, OK. That is one of the two we have. It is on display with a "bubble" made out of metal since we were never able to find one.

[Pat Carry]

Thanks James. No shortage of projects there.