Tigercat sighting

[Dennis Bergstrom]

This Tigercat is owned by John Sessions, Seattle, Washington.

http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry ... rtxt=6178C

Dennis

Last edited by Dennis Bergstrom on Mon Aug 06, 2007 10:50 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Dennis Bergstrom]

[quote="Mike"
I take it this is the ex-Plane Sailing aircraft from the UK?[/quote]

Yes. Then to Dick Bertea for 10+ years.

Dennis

[treadigraph]

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

Amen to that, I really miss the TFC aircraft now it's gone back to the USA. Please can we have another...?

[warbirdcrew]

That Tigercat is not owned by Russ. Victoria Air Maintenance has been restoring it for John Sessions in Seattle. The airplane has been in the restoration shop for the better part of about 5-6 years. Not too sure where the airplane came from, but I do know that it was a hulk when it arrived. Thousands of dollars and man hours have been invested in the project and it looks better than brand-new. They are just nearing completion of the restoration and are in the process of working out all of the bugs. They have done a few dozen ground runs and have also flown it a couple of times. John Muszala is doing all of the test flying. Here are a couple of pictures from when I was over there in February. I was also over there on Thursday and got to watch them run the left engine.




Sorry for the bad pics, due to the confines and the lighting in the hangar it wasn't really possible to get any decent shots. I do have some shots from the ground-run the other day but I haven't had a chance to download them from my camera.

[Myles]

Here are a couple of pics of N6178C when her belly tank had been removed from air tanker service (October 1988). The 'cat had been owned by Sis-Q Flying Service, then Macavia (Major Aviation) in Santa Rosa,CA.
The plane was then sold to Plane Sailing. A couple of my friends and myself worked on the plane for a day or two then the rest of the work went to Major Aviation. The plane eventually flew across the pond.
Myles

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s184 ... N6178C.jpg


http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s184 ... 6178C2.jpg

[GARY HILTON]

There's a nice looking F7F at Aero Trader in Chino, saw it there 2 weeks ago....In Marine markings..........Gary

[RNDMTRS4EVR]

Ya know the F7F just does not look right without that big retardant tank on the belly! hehehehe
Scott.....

[steve dickey]

Has anybody here ever riddin in the second seat of one of these "Beast's"? I bet that would be one heck of a kick in the pants!!

[Sasquatch]

Just saw this airplane flying this last weekend (5/17/) at (Everett, Washington's) Paine Field "General Aviation Appreciation Day". Talked a little with John Muszala who piloted her for a few turns around the patch with John Sessions' other warbird, P-51D "Heller Bust" on her wing. Didn't get a chance to meet the guy flying the Mustang, so don't know who the pilot was. Sorry not to have photos to post, as I still shoot slides. But you could barely hear the airplane motors over the roar of the camera shutters, so perhaps someone else might have a nice photo or two to post? Anyway, both planes were clean enough to eat off of...absolutely beautiful, and welcome additions to the the Pacific NW!

--Tom

Last edited by Sasquatch on Tue May 20, 2008 4:14 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[ALAN.L]

Warbird crew, could you elaborate on your comment 'it was a hulk when it arrived' please? As Mike said if it was the ex Plane Sailing aircraft ,it was certainly operated in the UK for a few years,without any problems and then flown back across the Atlantic, again as far as I know without drama.
I don't know what Dick Bertea did with it when he had it but I am sure he looked after it.
Presumably it needed an in depth calendar check etc but to say it was a hulk seems a bit harsh!
Alan

[Dan K]

Ya know the F7F just does not look right without that big retardant tank on the belly! hehehehe
Scott.....

Looks like a pregnant supermodel.

[Sasquatch]

I think this is the same plane, only at Cal-Nat Airways, Inc?

http://scalefirebombers.com/tigercat6.html

-Tom

[dfrat]

Sessions' Tigercat is scheduled to be at the McChord Air Expo in July, along with his P-51B.