Tigercat sighting

Tue Mar 15, 2005 12:45 am

It's not often I get to report a sighting of a Warbird here in Victoria BC Canada. However I'm glad to report a sighting of Tigercat N6178C at the Victoria Air Maintance Hangers here this week! Judgeing by the photos I saw of her she looks great! (No I haven't seen her myself yet but I'll drive out the airport tommorrow!)
Neil Medcalf

Thu Mar 17, 2005 9:04 am

This Tigercat just showed up on the US Civil Register as being owned by FWF Ltd, Seattle. FWF Ltd is owned by Sessions & Co PS, a law firm.

Dennis

Thu Mar 17, 2005 9:10 am

I just got some more information on her yesterday-
Not sure if its "correct" but the owner is Richard Bertea of Chino Ca. and it was flown up here by John Muszala. It will be at Victoria Air Maintance for "some months" for restoration work. So looks like I'll still have time to make it out to she her.
Neil Medcalf

Thu Mar 17, 2005 2:48 pm

Neil Medcalf wrote:I just got some more information on her yesterday-
Not sure if its "correct" but the owner is Richard Bertea of Chino Ca. and it was flown up here by John Muszala. It will be at Victoria Air Maintance for "some months" for restoration work. So looks like I'll still have time to make it out to she her.
Neil Medcalf

The Tigercat was owned by Dick Bertea but was recently sold by Mark Clark's Courtesy Aircraft to the new Seattle owner.

Dennis

Sat Apr 09, 2005 10:44 pm

Talked to a friend of mine yesterday, he used to work at Victoria Air Maintance. He's still good friends with the owner.... Anyways my friend tells me that the Owner of Victoria Air Maintance now owns the Tigercat. Apparently he's always wanted one and this one "came at him kind of sideways, so he went for it". Sorry, I can't remember the owner, I'm terrible with names....

Neil

Mon Apr 11, 2005 11:06 am

russ popel?

Tue Apr 12, 2005 1:07 am

Ya! That's the name. Sorry 'bout that.

Sun Aug 05, 2007 10:06 pm

It's been some time since Russ got his Tigercat. It finnaly made an apearance at the BC Aviation Museum's Open House yesterday. Here's a few photos of it. Hope you all like them.
Neil

Sun Aug 05, 2007 10:12 pm

That plane is going in for long term restoration? What the heii is wrong with the way it is? What a beautiful aircraft.

Sun Aug 05, 2007 10:46 pm

Obergrafeter wrote:That plane is going in for long term restoration? What the heii is wrong with the way it is? What a beautiful aircraft.

Someone appears to have installed a greenhouse behind the cockpit?

Sun Aug 05, 2007 11:07 pm

THAT is one BEAUTIFUL aircraft!

My dad worked on F7FNs in the Navy toward the end of the war.
The "greenhouse" is where the RIO (GIB) sits. Not sure about the square bare-metal panels between the cockpits.

Sun Aug 05, 2007 11:25 pm

Obergrafeter wrote:That plane is going in for long term restoration? What the heii is wrong with the way it is? What a beautiful aircraft.

That's because the post stating that it was going in for restoration is now some 2 1/2 years old. The photos are post-restoration.

I take it this is the ex-Plane Sailing aircraft from the UK?

Sun Aug 05, 2007 11:28 pm

Obergrafeter, look at dates of earlier posts (before pics). The photos must be after restoration.
bill word

Mon Aug 06, 2007 12:55 am

I've always loved the Tigercat. It has to be among the most beautiful of all military aircraft to have been built.

Mon Aug 06, 2007 3:21 am

skydaddy61 wrote:THAT is one BEAUTIFUL aircraft!

My dad worked on F7FNs in the Navy toward the end of the war.
The "greenhouse" is where the RIO (GIB) sits. Not sure about the square bare-metal panels between the cockpits.

The square metal panels between the canopies are for the front canopy rail. They are kind of a gap seal and overlap when the canopy is cranked back.

Tigercat sighting

Tigercat sighting

details

Re: details

ownership

Tigercat