On Wednesday evening, Sept. 9, 2008, a unique and special event took place at Stead Field. That was when three stunning examples of the Grumman F7F Tigercat were brought together for the first time in ages. I started setting this photoshoot up during Oshkosh. That is when I found out John Sessions was planning on bringing his Tigercat "Bad Kitty" to the Rolls Royce Heritage Invitational. The wheels started turning immediately, and I contacted Mr. Sessions to get his take on the possibility of accomplishing a two ship Tigercat shoot. He aggreed as did Mike Brown. Sessions also owns the stunning B model Mustang, Impatient Virgin, that was participating in the Rolls Royce Heritage event. What a magnificent restoration! Anyway, a little over a week before the air races I received an email from Marshe Pike, coordinator of the Heritage Invitational, informing me that Clay Lacy would be bringing a third Tigercat to Reno. Once I received this information I just had to contact Mr. Lacy and see if he would be interested in being part of something truely special, a THREE ship Tigercat shoot? Lacy agreed almost immediately upon hearing who the other Tigercats were. And so, I now had the rare opportunity to photograph three of the big cats, and I could not believe it myself. I had the best time during the shoot and I have to thank Mike Brown, Clay Lacy, John Sessions, and John Muszala for bringing these fine examples to Reno and allowing me the opportunity to photograph these three cats. I also want to thank Scott Slocum for providing his Bonanza as the photoship. By the way, the sound of those radial engines groaning outside the door of the photoship was sweet music. As one person so apply put it into perspective, "Three Tigercats, are you kidding me?" No I am not. I can't share all the photos from the shoot as there are other interested parties. I can share a few and hope this will wet a few of your appetities for the time being.
Dave
Dave
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