Lost Tigers (The F7F kind)

[Victor Archer]

Well here i go again with the vintage stuff.

These photos were all taken at Torrance Airport, CA in 1958

F7F-3 N7656C Bu80418
This Tiger looks like it was used for spare parts for the other two?
I found the USN Bu # still visible, but I have not found any record of it listed.

[Victor Archer]

F7F-3 N7625C

F7F-3 N7625C is listed in WB Dir#1 with Fred J. Arnberg Inc, Yreka, CA 1963. It is not listed in WB Dir#2 and I understand it was lost in a crash. I did find one photo of this Tiger converted to a water bomber.

[Victor Archer]

F7F-3 N7625C

I did note under the the wings "Aero Ad" I'm not sure what they were used for.

[Victor Archer]

F7F-3 N7626C

F7F-3 N7626C Bu80404 "Marines LT", Kermit Weeks/Fantasy Of Flight, Tamiami FL (restoration)

[Victor Archer]

F7F-3 N7626C

While I was looking for information on the Tigers I found this interesting note; F7F N7629C, Darryl Greenameyer.
Has anyone ever seen that Cat? and was it ever raced?

[W J Pearce]

N7626C and N7629C

If I have this right, N7626C qualified for Mojave in 1971 @ 326 as race 42 but did not race. It is, as you know, with Weeks.

N7629C:

N-number : N7629C
Aircraft Serial Number : 80374
Aircraft Manufacturer : GRUMMAN
Model : F7F-3
Engine Manufacturer : P&W
Model : R2800 SERIES
Aircraft Year : 1944
Owner Name : ICARUS INVESTMENTS LLC
Owner Address : 2033 E GRANT RD
TUCSON, AZ, 85719-3410
Type of Owner : Corporation
Registration Date : 19-Jul-2001
Airworthiness Certificate Type : Restricted
Approved Operations : Agriculture and Pest Control

That's all I got right now.

BP

[Leo]

Aero Ad

In an old Air Classics special edition(1970's) there is mention of a Tigercat being converted into a skywritng machine(!). The picture there was BW but this one looks farmiliar.
Unfortunately my books are still packed so I can't look it up to verify the number.
Can you imagine what those two big props wpould do to a smoke trail?

Leo

[Victor Archer]

Re: N7626C and N7629C

Originally posted by W J Pearce
If I have this right, N7626C qualified for Mojave in 1971 @ 326 as race 42 but did not race. BP

Thanks Bill, Do you know who the pilot/owner was? I have some Mojave programs but not '70 or '71.

Thanks Leo, How cool would that be skywriting in a Tigercat.

[Leo]

Aero Ad

The same issue showed a Wildcat set up for the same mission with huge drop tanks on it.
Looks like I'll have to do some digging thru boxes cuz my curiosity is peaked.
Anyone else have the Air Classics Quarterly Review titled "Warbirds" circa !974/75? It was in that issue I'm sure.

Leo

[speeddemon]

Re: Re: N7626C and N7629C

Originally posted by Marauder61
Thanks Bill, Do you know who the pilot/owner was? I have some Mojave programs but not '70 or '71.

Thanks Leo, How cool would that be skywriting in a Tigercat.

What would be the primary difference between a skywriting Tigercat, and, say, when Lloyd Hamilton was racing Furias? Wouldn't they look about the same?

There isn't a lot of documentation about the Tigercat that qualified at Mojave in '71. I don't have any of my reference books in front of me, but I know there is a picture of it turning the pylons in Don Berliner's "Unlimited Air Racers" book.

[Leo]

TIGERCAT & FURIAS

The Tigercat skywriter would make less smoke....

[W J Pearce]

Re: Re: Re: N7626C and N7629C

[i]There isn't a lot of documentation about the Tigercat that qualified at Mojave in '71. I don't have any of my reference books in front of me, but I know there is a picture of it turning the pylons in Don Berliner's "Unlimited Air Racers" book. [/B]

That is where I got the info from. It did not have owner or pilot. I checked Racing planes and air races and there was no info on it. Tom Forrest took the picture though.

Bill

[GWB]

interesting to note the nose gear geometry...it looks rather spindly to withstand carrier operations, but I guess it did its' job....

[RandyGoss75]

F7F

Tigercat

I have a 1971 California 1000 program- and there is a F7F entered as race #443 Piloted by Ed Real, of Santa Rosa, CA

This picture is also in the program-

I would imagine that #443 was one of Sis-Q's airplanes-
but I will have to investigate that a bit.

Thanks for posting the SUPER Tigercat shots!!

All the best, RG

[W J Pearce]

Hmm.... the plot thickens. That is a totally different Tigercat than the one shown on page 77 in Don Berliner's "Unlimited Air Racers". The caption reads "A rare Grumman F7F Tigercat, which appeared at Mojave in 1971 but did not race, despite qualifying at 326mph." The number "42" can clearly be seen on it's tail. When you look in the back of the book under the "Roster" section is lists "F7F-3 number 42, BuAer 80404, N7626C". I don't see any Tigercats in Racing Planes and Air Racers for 1970-72. I also see no mention of a #443 anywhere. Now maybe if I was there in 1971 I would not have to rely on reference material. But I was born later in that decade (damn).

Randy, I'm surprised you did not know everything about this including the tire pressure they were running in 1971. By the way, Warlock is lookin' sharp as the POTW.

Bill