Warbird Information Exchange

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on this site are the responsibility of the poster and do not reflect the views of the management.
It is currently Fri Jun 27, 2025 6:38 am

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Classic Wings Magazine WWII Naval Aviation Research Pacific Luftwaffe Resource Center
When Hollywood Ruled The Skies - Volumes 1 through 4 by Bruce Oriss


Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 28 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2
Author Message
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 2005 12:33 pm 
Offline

Joined: Wed Aug 03, 2005 9:01 am
Posts: 36
Location: eastpointe, Michigan
Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

_________________
One More Blade and a Little Less Roar, Team Rare Bear Rocked in 2004 !


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 2005 12:37 pm 
Offline

Joined: Wed Aug 03, 2005 9:01 am
Posts: 36
Location: eastpointe, Michigan
Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

_________________
One More Blade and a Little Less Roar, Team Rare Bear Rocked in 2004 !


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 2005 3:17 pm 
Offline
1000+ Posts!
1000+ Posts!
User avatar

Joined: Fri Apr 30, 2004 9:52 am
Posts: 1949
Location: Virginia, USA
Those are some fascinating photos... many thanks for posting Bearfan.

Brad,... thanks for the info. on the other wildcat. I'm very glad that I was wrong about the corrosion issues. Why is the aircraft in storage/display at MoF though, and not being flown?

On another note, I thought you might like to see a photo I took of the airworthy F4F-3 at the MAPS show this summer.

Cheers,
Richard

Image


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 2005 8:14 pm 
Offline
1000+ Posts!
1000+ Posts!
User avatar

Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2004 10:30 pm
Posts: 1131
The gentleman that owns the F4F, John Dimmer, is a big supporter of the MOF. When they opened the personal courage wing a couple of years ago, they planned on putting their own FM-2 on display. Since it wasn't finished in time, Mr. Dimmer offered to loan his F4F to them. He also owns an FM-2 that he flys pretty often, so he isn't lacking for Wildcats to fly. I specifically asked him if he intended to get the F4F back and fly it and he said that was definately his plan. As a side note, he enjoys flying the FM-2 more than the F4F; partially because it's a little bit faster.

I'd also like to mention that Mr. Dimmer has also been a big supporter of our museum down in Olymipa, the Olympic Flight Museum. Over the years, he has given us complete freedom with both of his Wildcats, his SNJ and Stearman. We've had all his planes on display in the museum at different times over the years and have always used them in our airshows. He has also been very good to me and gave me the keys to his hangers so that I could mess with his airplanes whenever the mood struck me.

_________________
Brad


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 2005 8:34 pm 
Offline
1000+ Posts!
1000+ Posts!
User avatar

Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2004 10:30 pm
Posts: 1131
Here is a picture of Mr. Dimmer's FM-2.
Image


Here are some pictures I took of the F4F in Olympia a few years back. When the restoration was finished, about 65% of the original -86 engine was being used. A few years later a rod let go during the run-up, being the victim of an unknown hydraulic lock at some point after the rebuild. The engine was pulled off and I believe it was rebuilt and put back on. If not, then a new engine was installed. I really can't remember for sure, but I'm pretty sure the engine was rebuilt. Either way, it did fly for several years with most of the engine it had when it crashed. The baggage door is autographed by George Hahn, the gentleman that was at the controls when it ended up in the lake. It's also autographed by the restoration crew and General Joe Foss.

The plane is painted in the markings it was wearing when it crashed. The cockpit is nearly 100% stock. The only exceptions I can think of are the radio and transponder discreetly installed on the right side wall, the pre-oiler and ELT. The supercharger is deactivated, it has a hydraulic prop versus the original electric one. Demilled guns and ammo are installed, the gun sight works, all the original radios are in the fuselage and the pilots relief tube is still there. It does have disk brakes instead of the drum and shoes, but it still has the original 12volt electrical system. There is also no external power connection so it is a pain to start. I've ran the battery down before trying, but I did finally learn to hold my mouth right and get it on four or five blades.

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

_________________
Brad


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 2005 8:56 pm 
Offline

Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2005 1:33 pm
Posts: 912
Location: Beautiful Downtown Natick, MA
Brad, thanks so much for sharing these great pix. What a restoration. :shock:


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 8:13 am 
Offline
S/N Geek
User avatar

Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2004 8:31 pm
Posts: 3790
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Brad wrote:
The gentleman that owns the F4F, John Dimmer, is a big supporter of the MOF. When they opened the personal courage wing a couple of years ago, they planned on putting their own FM-2 on display. Since it wasn't finished in time, Mr. Dimmer offered to loan his F4F to them.


Here is the F4F on display in the Personnal Courage Wing of the Museum of Flying...
http://community.webshots.com/photo/253 ... 9201CYwblC
http://community.webshots.com/photo/253 ... 8651DfdmWm

Here is the FM undergoing restoration at the Museum of Flying restoration facility...
http://community.webshots.com/photo/252 ... 2427axzuHo
http://community.webshots.com/photo/252 ... 9408yTVikV
http://community.webshots.com/photo/252 ... 8830NuKCla
http://community.webshots.com/photo/252 ... 7919xzwVkL
http://community.webshots.com/photo/252 ... 9652zFqEfN
http://community.webshots.com/photo/252 ... 9519znBTSS
http://community.webshots.com/photo/252 ... 9841dwKGaU
http://community.webshots.com/photo/252 ... 9934spzhck
http://community.webshots.com/photo/252 ... 0060cTwUoJ
...These pictures were taken early this year, so it must be close to being done by now.

Mike

_________________
Mike R. Henniger
Aviation Enthusiast & Photographer
http://www.AerialVisuals.ca
http://www.facebook.com/AerialVisuals

Do you want to find locations of displayed, stored or active aircraft? Then start with the The Locator.
Do you want to find or contribute to the documented history of an aircraft? If so then start with the Airframes Database.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 11:38 am 
Offline
1000+ Posts!
1000+ Posts!
User avatar

Joined: Fri Apr 30, 2004 9:52 am
Posts: 1949
Location: Virginia, USA
Hi Brad... great pix, thanks very much for sharing! You mentioned that the original radios were fitted... do you mean the actual radios that were in the plane when it crashed?! If so, all I can say is WOW! That's really amazing that they would be good enough to restore (to static of course).

Cheers,
Richard


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 5:52 pm 
Offline
2000+ Post Club
2000+ Post Club
User avatar

Joined: Tue Nov 15, 2005 6:23 pm
Posts: 2953
Location: Somewhere South of New Jersey...
AMAZING!!!! :D


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 8:46 pm 
Offline

Joined: Wed Nov 09, 2005 8:03 pm
Posts: 120
Location: Babylon, NY
Those restorations really are amazing........and how many aircraft are still at the bottom of the lake?


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 11:09 pm 
Offline

Joined: Mon May 10, 2004 11:14 pm
Posts: 98
Location: Clifton Park N.Y.
Rob, My hearts healthy. I thought it was about 170 in Lake Michigan. Also what about the other Great Lakes? Thanx!


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 11:49 pm 
Offline

Joined: Mon May 10, 2004 11:14 pm
Posts: 98
Location: Clifton Park N.Y.
OK, There must be some more flyable or soon to be flyable underwater birds. Rob? Wixers?


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 12:43 am 
Offline
1000+ Posts!
1000+ Posts!
User avatar

Joined: Fri Apr 30, 2004 9:52 am
Posts: 1949
Location: Virginia, USA
Well, the US Navy hasn't released many others. The only other lake birds I can think of under active restoration is Harland Avezzie's TBF Avenger. I remember there being two very beat up SBD's for sale a few years back which had come out of Lake Michigan, but the took for ever to sell, and I have no idea if they are being rebuilt to fly or not. Kevin Smith's A-24 is being restored using wings from a parted out Lake Michigan bird if that's anything to go by.

Cheers,
Richard


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 28 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: brian-livingston and 59 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group