Last of the civilian Bearcats

[Lon Moer]

The long elusive Coutches Bearcat is up for sale. I've always preferred civilian paint jobs over "military" colors and the Coutches Bearcat has always been a favorite of mine.
I talked with Stephen Coutches at the Nut Tree Mustang Day about it and 'begged' him not to re-paint it, and he said; "its not mine, my father gave the Bearcat to my brother. It will never fly again, so I don't think he would bother painting it". He then seemed to be annoyed with me, so I didn't press the issue of why "it will never fly again".

Any ways I see now they have it listed on their ad in the Feb InFlight paper.
If I had only won the Powerball this month, I would have saved it Now it will get ruined into another Fauxbird.

I couldn't find anything on the web, so I scanned the ad.
They are also listing their P-51D with the tall tail.

[Gibbs]

Re: Last of the civilian Bearcats

Thank you for posting these interesting news! What is the roundabout price of this Bearcat?

Does anybody know current status of (their?) P-51 H (N-551H)?

thx
Gibbs

[supercub]

Re: Last of the civilian Bearcats

I didn't even know they had a Bearcat.....I believe they fly the H on a somewhat regular basis.

[Lon Moer]

Re: Last of the civilian Bearcats

I really love the way the wing tips are painted to look elliptical.

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/000035770.html

[39SF]

Re: Last of the civilian Bearcats

Ion, your scan didn't show any contact info. and I couldn't find the paper online, or any other ad for the Bearcat. Any chance you could provide a phone number or something? Thanks. (and I will keep the paint scheme)!

[Lon Moer]

Re: Last of the civilian Bearcats

Ion, your scan didn't show any contact info. and I couldn't find the paper online, or any other ad for the Bearcat. Any chance you could provide a phone number or something? Thanks. (and I will keep the paint scheme)!

http://www.americanaircraft.net/main.htm

[Reever]

Re: Last of the civilian Bearcats

I'm not partial to yellow, but that sure would look good rounding the pylons.

[Harley909]

Re: Last of the civilian Bearcats

Here is a thread over on WIX that shows the H...you are right Mike...I didn't confirm it had sold...my fault

Jim

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=14918

[Wild Bill Kelso]

Re: Last of the civilian Bearcats

Here is a thread over on WIX that shows the H...it has been sold.

jim

http://warbirdinformationexchange.or...hp?f=3&t=14918

It has?! It's sitting in the hangar I lease from them and the plan is to get it flying. We'll see.

[Lon Moer]

Re: Last of the civilian Bearcats

Here is a thread over on WIX that shows the H...it has been sold.

jim

http://warbirdinformationexchange.or...hp?f=3&t=14918

That one is the mythical H-in-a-box that has been in the rumor circuit since the '70s (when I first heard it).

Stephen Coutches still regularly flies their long owned H, 44-64314/N551H, to shows all around the Bay Area.

[supercub]

Re: Last of the civilian Bearcats

I remember hearing stories back in the 60's about a hangar full of WWII airplanes that Red Jensen in Sacramento and Mike Coutch had out in Tonopah. Supposedly some were almost new. Some in crates, some flyable. I know it's partly true because a Wildcat I knew of came from there, it had less the 100hours on it, original blue paint on her. She lived at Stockton Airport for awhile back in the late 70's. It was eventually traded to the Navy Museum where she still sits on display. Does anyone else remember hearing about this Tonopah hangar ??
Brian

[Lon Moer]

Re: Last of the civilian Bearcats

I remember hearing stories back in the 60's about a hangar full of WWII airplanes that Red Jensen in Sacramento and Mike Coutch had out in Tonopah. Supposedly some were almost new. Some in crates, some flyable. I know it's partly true because a Wildcat I knew of came from there, it had less the 100hours on it, original blue paint on her. She lived at Stockton Airport for awhile back in the late 70's. It was eventually traded to the Navy Museum where she still sits on display. Does anyone else remember hearing about this Tonopah hangar ??
Brian

Yes, Red Jensen had a "Tonopah hanger". I don't know about Mike Coutches involvement.
I was at the Red Jensen auction after his death and there were piles of parts/stuff/junk that reportedly had come from Tonopah, There was also a lot of stuff that got "lost".

[AAFO_WSagar]

Re: Last of the civilian Bearcats

There was also a lot of stuff that got "lost".

Funny thing how that works. Similar to when Rogers Stolzer purchased Furias from the Hamilton estate... lots of stuff that was there, wasn't there later...

[Lon Moer]

Re: Last of the civilian Bearcats

New thread on WIX with more detailed pictures.

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=55495

[Wild Bill Kelso]

Re: Last of the civilian Bearcats

Don't count on it being sold any time in the future. Robert says it will remain in the family.