Warbird Information Exchange

Can someone confirm the location and status (photo?) of FG-1D BuNo 88086 N63382? This aircraft is listed in Warbirds Directory 4 and the Warbird Registry as having been restored and first flown during 1990 and being damaged in Hurricane Andrew. I believe this is incorrect and that this aircraft has never been restored since being bought by Kermit Weeks from Jack Spanich.

I feel the above aircraft has been confused with F4U-4 BuNo 97286 N5215V. Has N5215V ever been fully restored and flown since it was damaged by Hurricane Andrew? I remember being told the fuselage was bent. Can anyone confirm the condition of this aircraft?

Thanks,

Todd Hackbarth

You've got it right. 88086 is still disassembled at Mr. Weeks off-site storage area near the Fantasy of Flight Museum. No restoration work has taken place with it since it was purchased from Jack Spanich.

97286 survived Hurricane Andrew relatively unscathed. It was only after the storm that the clean up crew made the decision to lift a piece of hangar structure by crane, maneuvering it over the plane rather than taking an extra minute to go around the long way. They dropped it down on top of the folded wings, bending the port side wing fold attachment point just enough that the wing can no longer be unfolded completely. The plane was easy enough to cosmetically restore for display, but it will need some serious tweaking if it's ever going to fly again. It's serving its purpose well for the time being, and as such I'm betting the repairs are way down at the bottom of Mr. Weeks' "to do" list.

_________________
Rob Mears
'Surviving Corsairs' Historian
robcmears@yahoo.com
http://www.robmears.com

Last photo I saw of Joe (the FG-1D) was in Warbirds International back when the Miami location was just about to open years and years ago. Typical unrestored FG center section.

Jim