Air Zoo FM-2 Wildcat Restoration to Collings Foundation

[Warbird Kid]

Just announced on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AirZoo

We're shipping off to Boston!
The Air Zoo is thrilled to announce that our FM-2 Wildcat restoration will find its new home with the Collings Foundation and the American Heritage Museum in Hudson, MA, just 20 miles west of Boston.
We are beyond excited to have the Air Zoo’s Restoration Team's hard work represented on the East Coast. With more than 50,000 volunteer hours invested over 10.5 years, this plane has become a labor of love. Make sure to visit this historic aircraft (and congratulate our volunteers) before it flies drives off to Boston!

Interesting... Originally destined for the National Medal of Honor Museum, which is currently under construction, I guess the museum decided they didn't want a Wildcat. And Collings with there connections was able to grab it.

So I wonder what this means for the ex-Dick Foote FM-2 currently on display there. It's scheduled to fly this year at an event, so maybe they will sell it afterwards? Since now they will have a beautifully restored static example? Or maybe keep both?

Last edited by Warbird Kid on Thu Apr 04, 2024 8:51 am, edited 2 times in total.

[kalamazookid]

Nice to hear that they found a new home for it. Glad to see what appears to be an appropriate scheme for an FM-2 as well - I was afraid they were going to go with early markings. I like the tri-color scheme and am interested to see the final markings. Not sure I'll get home to Kalamazoo before it departs, but I'll certainly try as I'd love to see it before it's packed up.

[Steve Nelson]

When it first came to the Air Zoo, I seem to recall it was supposed to go to a planned museum at Chicago's Navy Pier dedicated to the Great Lakes carriers. Glad to hear it's found a good home. I'm also glad to hear it will have correct markings. It would be a shame to put all that effort into restoring an FM-2 and then paint it as an early war F4F.

SN

[Chris Brame]

When it first came to the Air Zoo, I seem to recall it was supposed to go to a planned museum at Chicago's Navy Pier dedicated to the Great Lakes carriers.

One of the docents at the NAS Glenview Museum told me they were supposed to get it, but one local person on the city council was giving grief about the planned building.

[bdk]

One of the docents at the NAS Glenview Museum told me they were supposed to get it, but one local person on the city council was giving grief about the planned building.

Of course! No tax revenue as a result of a museum expansion.