Scott - some F7F tankers for the registry

Mon Jun 19, 2006 7:00 am

Hi Scott & all

a few F7F tankers for your enjoyment (and addition to the registry) - I just love the Tigercats in the tanker-look.

N6179C ex BuNo 80494 1972

N7195C ex BuNo 80532 1980

N7235C ex BuNo 80425 1979

N7235C ex BuNo 80425 1981

N7238C ex BuNo 80525 1971

N7629C ex BuNo 80374 1980

N7654C ex BuNo 80373 1974

Martin

Mon Jun 19, 2006 2:10 pm

Still looks like a "Hot Rod", even with the pot belly. :twisted:

Robbie

Mon Jun 19, 2006 6:07 pm

Looking through the F7F registry, I see there were 3 fatal accidents in less than two months, with the first occuring on August 31, 1974 (registry says "September 31" but NTSB says August 31), the second occuring on September 26, 1974, and the third occuring on October 21, 1974. One was a collision with terrain, one was a crash due to "fuel mismanagement" and the other was a crash on takeoff due to "improper operation of powerplant controls."

Was that a really bad year for fires? Or just a bad year for flying F7Fs?

Mon Jun 19, 2006 6:21 pm

Could anyone please describe the handling/flying characteristics of the F7F, not necessarily as a Borate Bomber? It certainly looks visually and on paper like a good performing a/c.

Many thanks...

Mon Jun 19, 2006 8:45 pm

i've seen many pics where the f7f was tail heavy, sitting with nose gear off the ground, tail bottom resting in the dirt. reason??? bad center of gravity?? most of these pics were korean war vintage, still in military use with no fire fighting mods.

Tue Jun 20, 2006 1:36 am

Wasn't a great year in fire fighting. Lost 1 PB4Y2, PV-2 and a B-26, all fatal.

Tue Jun 20, 2006 5:52 am

did a little research...... the plane went tail heavy w/ nose gear off the ground when fuel tanks were empty. fuel balanced the plane on the ground.

Tue Jun 20, 2006 5:28 pm

He's a question for all of you researchers....

Back in the early 1980's....there were quite a few F7F tankers that were, at the time based at Harrisburg International in Pa., out behind where the old residence of the Mid Atlantic Air Museum was when it was founded. So...that being said...do any of you know of or have any photo's or info as to WHICH ones may have been out there at that time...around 1982-1984 ??

Paul

Wed Jun 21, 2006 3:12 am

December 1974

Martin

Wed Jun 21, 2006 5:39 am

Thanks Martin! And for the Avengers too!

Thu Jun 22, 2006 9:42 am

I knew a guy and worked with him up in Reno when I was loading air tankers, he was flying a DC-7 at the time. He told back in the day when he was flying the F7F that it was a total HOTROD, but it would eat your lunch if you were not paying attention. He said the hardest part about fire fighting with it was trying to slow down to make the drop without turning the drop into a light mist. He told me that the minute you pushed the nose over she wanted to just speed up and go. He was also telling me that one of the guys that flew them at the same time he was hopped in one and flew it from northern Califonia over to Reno and ran it in the Air Races with the tank still on it! He said the owner of the company found out and almost fired the guy over it, but becuase he was a good driver he kept him onboard. Now how true the Air Race story is I don't know, he could have been pulling my leg since he knew me since I was knee high to a grasshopper.
Scott.....

Thu Jun 22, 2006 11:12 am

I think the pilot you refer to is Bob Forbes who brought TBM's Inc. F7F to Reno in 1979 (I think) TBM was trying to sell it, so had Mr. Forbes qualify the a/c for the races. One the eve. before the first race the owner called him and told him not to race. He was bummed about that. This was told to me by Bob at Madera, 1983 Warbird show, when we brought F7F N7195C to the airshow. He tried to talk the owners out of a flight, but they said no.

Fri Jun 23, 2006 10:46 am

I guess I'll have to give Bob a call and quiz him on it that would be cool if it was him. One hell of a nice guy, if any of you guys are down around Ramona, CA stop by and visit with him. He is flying S-2's for the CDF and also flies a TBM for a guy down there.
Scott......

Mon Jul 10, 2006 3:11 pm

MORE F7F TANKERS:

Tue Jul 11, 2006 1:02 am

Hi

I would like to thank you all to share your tanker pictures, they are very usefull actually for me.

You will see why under...

It is not finished, the TBM insigna is missing on the engine.

Here is a link to a Tigercat with uncommon colors, that I think is the same, N6129C used by Johnson Flying Services in 62-63, another project of drawing... The last two letters 9C of the OACI code are on the rudder, like it was at this period for the Invader of this company.
http://www.flyinghigher.net/grumman/images/1011053.php

Regards and thanks again

Cyril