WIX Archives

Re: F6F survivors

Posted by Chuck on Tue Nov 26, 2002 06:03:32 PM

In reply top F6F survivors posted by Joe Scheil on Tue Nov 26, 2002 11:53:23 AM

I agree! The limited number of surviving Hellcat airframes must be addressed by looking into retrieving more or building new ones. There are probably many in Lake Michigan that are in as good of condition as the Wildcats that have been pulled out. But until the Navy changes their policy on stricken aircraft, they will continue be off limits to everyone.
The other option is to build new ones. This has been proven to be successful as seen with the F3F's, Oscar's, and ME 262, etc. Using an airframe that is already in pieces as a template for a small new build production line seems like the easiest way to do this. The person providing the airframe usually gets his retoration at no substantial cost. (case in point: Smithsonian ME 262, Erickson P-38).

Joe, which Hellcat is in the picture on the link you included? I have seen the picture before but never the ID associated with that plane.



: Reading the last on the F6F at Canby, Oregon, I was amazed
: to read that he had "two center sections dug up at NAS Pa
: sco" in addition to his 08825. The question has been rais
: ed in my mind how many F6F's are around and what raw mater
: ial or projects are new. It seems to me that with a coupl
: e of center sections there must be enough other parts, win
: g panels or tail sections for a couple more to be abuildin
: g. http://www.aircraftwrecks.com/images/f6f.jpg
:
: What do you think?
:

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