What is this aircraft?

[Katamarino]

Seen at Reno Air Races, 2014

 

[iamtheari]

N747MX

 

[benyflyguy]

F7F tigercat??

 

[NoHeat]

If the wings fold up, it's gotta be a navy plane, and so it's gonna be a Grumman that's named something-cat.

 

[nauga]

It's a Tigercat.

Nauga,
and the Iron Works

 

[Velocity173]

Navy Blue is a better color.

 

[Katamarino]

Nice, thanks all!

 

[iamtheari]

View attachment 84852 Navy Blue is a better color.

From Wikipedia:

While the F7F was initially also known as the Grumman Tomcat, this name was abandoned, because it was considered at the time to have excessively sexual overtones. (From the 1970s, the name Tomcat became commonly associated with another Grumman design, the F-14.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F7F_Tigercat

 

[ktup-flyer]

One of the best looking airplanes ever made. It's my lottery airplane.

 

[Velocity173]

From Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F7F_Tigercat

Interesting, never knew it was going to be called the Tomcat. Of course legend has it the F-14 being called Tomcat is in honor of ADM Tom Connolly.

 

[Kenny Phillips]

One of the best looking airplanes ever made. It's my lottery airplane.

You may need more than a lottery to get one; they appear to be quite rare, and essentially never for sale.

 

[ktup-flyer]

You may need more than a lottery to get one; they appear to be quite rare, and essentially never for sale.

Anything is for sale for the right price.

 

[Tom-D]

CV-3 used to drag a rag with one (1964)

 

[FlySince9]

Without having a clue or reading any posts, my instant reaction was that it looks like something Hughes aircraft would have had a hand in... just looks like something he would have built...

 

[kyleb]

CV-3 used to drag a rag with one (1964)

I bet they used something else. The F7F's were retired by the mid-50's.

 

[Tom-D]

I bet they used something else. The F7F's were retired by the mid-50's.

Know a 7F when I see one, VC-3 was a composite Squadron use to drag the socks. "SKEET FOR THE FLEET", it wasn't until the need for BQMS- went away before they were scrapped.

There was about 10 of them parked along the fence in D&M AFB as late as 1973.

 

[unsafervguy]

there are, as far as I know, 7 or 8 flyable tigercats in the world today. the one pictured belongs to lewis racing, it is one of two that he has. In the last few years that one and one other are the only flyable airframes sold that I know of. that aircraft was part of the 3 plane package that rod lewis bought from mike brown a few years back. I believe that POF is rebuilding one more. I also believe that kermit has one that will be restored someday.

 

[WDD]

It was the next "cat" in development during WWII. Wildcat, HellCat, BearCat, and TigerCat. Bear and Tiger really arrived too late for much use, and then things moved to jets quickly after the war.

 

[G-Man]

Beautiful aircraft. There were two flying in formation at the Chino "Planes of Fame" event in 2018. Here they are:

 

[Omalley1537]

They sound amazing too...

 

[Brad W]

Without having a clue or reading any posts, my instant reaction was that it looks like something Hughes aircraft would have had a hand in... just looks like something he would have built...

I hadn't thought of that, but based on that first picture, the head on shot...I would agree!
the tail in the side view though just looks Grumman to me....

 

[Katamarino]

Interesting stuff!

The reason for my question is that I'm just finishing off a new write-up on my website, about a flight from Pittsburgh to California and back, including the Reno Air Races and an emergency gear-up landing. Wanted to make sure I labeled it right!

 

[Velocity173]

 

[iflyforfun]

The first half of that video is absolutely amazing. Wow, to see that in person must have been amazing.

 

[Velocity173]

The first half of that video is absolutely amazing. Wow, to see that in person must have been amazing.

Towards the end at 4:20 is pretty cool also. “Snort” on a low approach to the side of the runway kicking up dirt.

Unfortunately ‘96 was the only year they did it. I was able to catch them at Pensacola at their final air show.

 

[3393RP]

I'd never had the opportunity to see a F7F until the inaugural CAF airshow at their new Dallas Executive homebase three years ago. I was immediately struck by the fuselage shape. It's extremely narrow and tall.

The Tigercat is a beautiful aircraft.