Bearcat fuselage in Thailand
Wed Jun 28, 2006 1:44 am
I have just noticed on Barnstormers that someone is advertising a F8F Bearcat fuselage for sale in Thailand. Does anyone know anything about it?
Ken
Ken
Thai Bearcat
Wed Jun 28, 2006 3:11 am
Can only be the one at Takhli. I have a photo if anyone is interested.
Steve Darke
www.thai-aviation.net
Steve Darke
www.thai-aviation.net
Wed Jun 28, 2006 3:51 am
Hi Steve,
Yes please that would be great
Ken
Yes please that would be great
Ken
Wed Jun 28, 2006 7:31 am
heh, figured if anyone would know, it would be Steve 
Wed Jun 28, 2006 11:30 am
P-47 project FIRST Ken!
Re: Thai Bearcat
Wed Jun 28, 2006 2:09 pm
Yes please also!stevedarke wrote:Can only be the one at Takhli. I have a photo if anyone is interested.
Steve Darke
www.thai-aviation.net
Wed Jun 28, 2006 4:22 pm
And me also..
Please!!!......
Would be great to see that picture
paulDOTmcmillanATemail4uDOTcom
Thanks
Please!!!......
Would be great to see that picture
paulDOTmcmillanATemail4uDOTcom
Thanks
Thu Jun 29, 2006 9:42 am
What happend to the wings for this bird?
TIA
TIA
Sat Jul 08, 2006 12:32 am
Hi Steve,
Any luck with the Bearcat picture?
Look forward to seeing it.
Ken
Any luck with the Bearcat picture?
Look forward to seeing it.
Ken
Sun Jul 09, 2006 10:16 am
Hello Steve, any luck yet with the pic???
Lynn
Lynn
Thai Bearcat
Mon Jul 10, 2006 5:50 am
How do I upload photos? Or can anyone who wants them send me a message directly to steve.darke@pswltd.com and I'll reply with the photos. There are two, totalling 1.4Mb.
This is not as completely clear as it seems. There are, as far as I know, three Bearcats in Thailand.
Kh15-178/98 (Bu95956) at the RTAF Museum
Kh15-81/95 (Bu122120) with Tango at U-Tapao. This was acquired in 1993, then went to Grumman in USA (Bethpage) Dec-94 for restoration. It returned to Thailand (U-Tapao) May-03, and made a brief first flight Oct-03; it 'blew' the engine and hasn't flown since.
?? at RTAFB Takhli, which I assume is the one advertised. This is a bit odd as (you will see from the photos) this is a complete airframe with wings, but no engine. This is almost certainly the one which was displayed at Takhli for many years coded '342' (it's not Bu95342). It has been stored outside in the Tango compound in a restricted area of Takhli for several years; I took the photos in 2004.
It would be a brave man however who discounted the possibility of others!
The advert on Barnstormers said:-
F-8 F BEARCAT FUSELAGE . AVAILABLE FOR SALE . F-8 F Bearcat Fuselage, (with engine) RTAF service, located at Saraburee province, Thailand. Contact Chad Come-wan - AVIATECH CO., LTD. located Donmuang Bangkok, Thailand . Telephone: +66 02 532-5179 . Fax: +66 02 532-5180 . Posted June 27, 2006
Aviatech is a company which is part of Tango Squadron.
Steve Darke
www.thai-aviation.net
This is not as completely clear as it seems. There are, as far as I know, three Bearcats in Thailand.
Kh15-178/98 (Bu95956) at the RTAF Museum
Kh15-81/95 (Bu122120) with Tango at U-Tapao. This was acquired in 1993, then went to Grumman in USA (Bethpage) Dec-94 for restoration. It returned to Thailand (U-Tapao) May-03, and made a brief first flight Oct-03; it 'blew' the engine and hasn't flown since.
?? at RTAFB Takhli, which I assume is the one advertised. This is a bit odd as (you will see from the photos) this is a complete airframe with wings, but no engine. This is almost certainly the one which was displayed at Takhli for many years coded '342' (it's not Bu95342). It has been stored outside in the Tango compound in a restricted area of Takhli for several years; I took the photos in 2004.
It would be a brave man however who discounted the possibility of others!
The advert on Barnstormers said:-
F-8 F BEARCAT FUSELAGE . AVAILABLE FOR SALE . F-8 F Bearcat Fuselage, (with engine) RTAF service, located at Saraburee province, Thailand. Contact Chad Come-wan - AVIATECH CO., LTD. located Donmuang Bangkok, Thailand . Telephone: +66 02 532-5179 . Fax: +66 02 532-5180 . Posted June 27, 2006
Aviatech is a company which is part of Tango Squadron.
Steve Darke
www.thai-aviation.net
Mon Jul 10, 2006 7:13 pm
Mon Jul 10, 2006 11:46 pm
Dave comes through!!! I wonder if the forward part and motor mount come with it, which would make it relatively complete? Anyone know the asking price? Thanx... Rob
Tue Jul 11, 2006 9:50 am
Awesome!! I can't believe something that rare and valuable has been ignored and not scooped up by the warbird community. Makes me think there have to be more Bearcats, Mustangs, Sea Furies etc. lying around worldwide.
Did anyone else notice on that registry they had about 90 L-19 Birddogs lying around that country? That would be a major moneymaker for someone to get those out of there. I would buy a couple projects if someone got them out.
Marine Air
Did anyone else notice on that registry they had about 90 L-19 Birddogs lying around that country? That would be a major moneymaker for someone to get those out of there. I would buy a couple projects if someone got them out.
Marine Air
Tue Jul 11, 2006 11:29 am
If it would help motivate someone to recover them, I'd pitch in and buy a Thai L-19 project as well. I'm a sucker for a good "mass recovery" story. 