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Tigercat fires up for first time in 60 years

Tue Apr 30, 2013 4:16 pm

The F7F Tigercat being restored at WestPac Restorations fired up today for the first time in 60 years.
http://www.facebook.com/wwiiaviation
Check out the Facebook link for pictures.

Re: Tigercat fires up for first time in 60 years

Tue Apr 30, 2013 7:56 pm

Man, the F7F has got to be the best looking twin in the world.

Chappie

Re: Tigercat fires up for first time in 60 years

Tue Apr 30, 2013 8:05 pm

Only one thing sounds better than a 2800 pulling big inches, and that's TWO 2800's pulling big inches, but best is FOUR of 'em on a DC-6 :prayer: :prayer: :heart: :-D :-D

Re: Tigercat fires up for first time in 60 years

Tue Apr 30, 2013 9:38 pm

Awesome . I assume this is the project , Buno 80375 that the Klaers have owned for over 20 years.

http://www.westpacrestorations.com/inde ... rcat-80375
Last edited by JohnH on Tue Apr 30, 2013 9:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Re: Tigercat fires up for first time in 60 years

Tue Apr 30, 2013 9:40 pm

Yes, obtained in a trade from the USN back when you could do that sort of thing. It was in very nice shape airframe-wise.

Re: Tigercat fires up for first time in 60 years

Tue Apr 30, 2013 9:43 pm

Great, remember it from visits to Rialto. Knew one day this would come.

Re: Tigercat fires up for first time in 60 years

Wed May 01, 2013 3:47 pm

Well done Scott. Beauitful work being done down there in Colorado Springs.

Re: Tigercat fires up for first time in 60 years

Wed May 01, 2013 4:16 pm

Only one thing sounds better than a 2800 pulling big inches, and that's TWO 2800's pulling big inches, but best is FOUR of 'em on a DC-6


Agreed but what about a DC-7, KC-97, C-124, B-29/50 and last but not least, the Canadair DC-4 Northstar with 4 Merlins.

Jack

Re: Tigercat fires up for first time in 60 years

Thu May 09, 2013 6:44 am

Howdy All

The following has been posted on Westpac Restorations Website

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... 5UgTSkwdWs

Lightning

Re: Tigercat fires up for first time in 60 years

Thu May 09, 2013 7:24 am

Remembering sveral years ago when they did the two P-47s now based in Seviervile, TN. The aircraft arrived looking "factory new" and performed like new, maybe better than factory new mechanical condition.

Re: Tigercat fires up for first time in 60 years

Thu May 09, 2013 8:10 am

Jack Frost wrote:
Only one thing sounds better than a 2800 pulling big inches, and that's TWO 2800's pulling big inches, but best is FOUR of 'em on a DC-6


Agreed but what about a DC-7, KC-97, C-124, B-29/50 and last but not least, the Canadair DC-4 Northstar with 4 Merlins.

Jack

Never heard a Northstar but have heard the Canadian Lanc. I agree those all sound good too but a DC-6 loping along down the taxiway has that sweet BALOOPATA-BALOOPATA overlap that you could charge guys with older CAMAROS a bunch of money to duplicate that gets just the 'right' tone @ 40+ inches. Heard lots of 4360's having grown up in Seattle near Boeing Field (C-97's) and in McChords flightpath(shakeys).

Re: Tigercat fires up for first time in 60 years

Thu May 09, 2013 1:03 pm

I bet you did living there. I heard alot of 4360s both inside the aitcraft and out. But the sound that emptied the barracks at Goose Bay when I was TDY up there with SAC, was this sound of a formation of what we thought was Mustangs but turned out to be a lone Air Canada Northstar DC-4 hummimg by on takeoff. I would imagine a Lanc would sound much the same.

Then there is a sound of their own: the XC-99 or B-36 on takeoff. The XC-99 used to fly right over the rooftop of the barracks I lived in at Lackland in 1952 with a load going to Sacramento, CA. Everything shook!

I'll sure agree with you that a DC-6 has it's own sweet sound. Ah for the good old days???

Jack

Re: Tigercat fires up for first time in 60 years

Thu May 09, 2013 7:40 pm

i love hearing you guys reminice about the sounds of old planes i work under the aproach for trenton cfb these days its 99% turbines but its still a thrill to see them throw them around and they do!!!

Re: Tigercat fires up for first time in 60 years

Thu May 09, 2013 8:16 pm

andyman64 wrote:i love hearing you guys reminice about the sounds of old planes i work under the aproach for trenton cfb these days its 99% turbines but its still a thrill to see them throw them around and they do!!!

Yeah, there's a big difference in having 'the ear' to sit up straight, say 'That's big and round and double rowed' then go outside and scout for what you know runs R-1830's or a single R-1340 as opposed to 'that sounds like a GE CF-6 or early JT-9D, maybe a GARRETT TPE 331' :lol:

Re: Tigercat fires up for first time in 60 years

Fri May 10, 2013 10:10 pm

Man, you had to awefully small to fly that!!!!!! LOL
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