TFC P-36C

[Dan Jones]

I just picked up the latest issue of Air Classics and was reading about the P-36. Beautiful work, but where did the project come from, and what did they start with?

[JohnTerrell]

There is a post in this thread that shines some light on where it came from, though there aren't any details as to how much was there to begin with at the start of the project: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=55766&hilit=planes+of+fame&start=15

This is last Curtiss P-36C constructed Serial No. 38-210. Built in 1939 and delivered to Selfridge Field, Michigan in May 1939. She participated in the 1939 Cleveland Air Races in September 1939 with experimental camouflage.
She participated in the War Games at Maxwell Field following the Air Races.
She was sent to Wright Patterson for testing in 1940 and then on to serve with several different squadrons on the U.S. East Coast.
In 1942 she was sent to Chanute Technical Training Command for a few months, thereafter she was labeled obsolete and flown to Buckley field in Colorado.
She was put into a Tech School following her decommission and was later acquired by a Pratt & Whitney Tech instructor from Canada, where she resided until a Florida collector acquired it and passed her on to The Fighter Collection more than a decade ago.
The restoration commenced some four years ago, under the leadership of Matt Nightingale at Chino, California when sufficient original parts capable of overhaul were recovered to ensure that the aircraft could be completed to fly. Steve Hinton carried out the shakedown flights and the FAA certified P-36C made it first public appearances at the 2015 Planes of Fame Airshow, in unique flights with the Museum’s Sikorsky P-35 in similar markings.

Matt Nightingale's shop, California Aerofab, which did the restoration of this aircraft, was also of course responsible for the restoration of TFC's Hawk 75 (French/export P-36), as well as both the P-40B that TFC used to own and the P-40C they currently own. A lot of talent and expertise in the early Hawks.

[Dan Jones]

Thanks John. Interesting - it certainly makes you wonder what's still out there stashed away.

[John Dupre]

I hope that some magazine is coming up with an exclusive on this restoration with all the details so many of us want. It really is frustrating not to have before and during photos when the after is so spectacular.

[Nathan]

There are more then a few aircraft that stay in the shadows. Some owners rather keep things hush hush.
Helps keep all the people that would like to buy it away from you.

[JohnTerrell]

For those that haven't seen it yet, a very nice collection of film of this P-36 flying over Duxford (Steve Hinton and Stephen Grey at the helm) during and prior to Flying Legends: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DcHaIvFNP8

[Rauhbatz]

I just saw it a Duxford this week on a UK trip...a little known but absolutely beautiful aircraft...

[rwdfresno]

She's getting a really nice workout in the video. She really sounds great too. Thanks for posting the video.

[Dan Jones]

There are more then a few aircraft that stay in the shadows. Some owners rather keep things hush hush.
Helps keep all the people that would like to buy it away from you.

I imagine it keeps the costs of specialized parts down some too.

[Mike]

I imagine it keeps the costs of specialized parts down some too.

So does building a run of four (Hawk 75, P-40B, P-40C, P-36C)

[T J Johansen]

I hope that some magazine is coming up with an exclusive on this restoration with all the details so many of us want. It really is frustrating not to have before and during photos when the after is so spectacular.

Because in some cases in latter years, the 'before' photos wouldn't yield very much...

T J

[Chris Brame]

Because in some cases in latter years, the 'before' photos wouldn't yield very much...

T J

Like a data plate and a sheaf of paperwork?