Tigercat restoration

[T J Johansen]

I was just looking at Goodall's directory and found the entry for F7F-3 Bu80359. Said to have been on restoration with a Rick Flaherty back in 2002. Did a search on WIX and found mention of it as being a derelict.
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3698&hilit=F7F+80359

Does anyone have an update on this airframe and what goes on with it?

T J

[Joe Scheil]

This one is a real ”Q” ship as few photos exist, and none show the aircraft in a surplus or derelict condition as far as I know. There was a Tigercat photographed surplus in a rural area in the 1950’s but I remember the aircraft having the full 29 percent larger tail surfaces of the common F7F-3. This plane was built, if the picture is right, as part of the first 106 F7Fs. Was it subsequently modified?

In any case, until pictures are found I have doubts this aircraft exists in more than fragmentary form....

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[Joe Scheil]

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