A Gathering of WWII F4F Wildcats

[black mamba]

The F4F Wildcat was the U.S. Navy's frontline carrier fighter at the beginning of WWII. It was outclassed by the Japanese Zero, but because of it's tough construction, good dive speed, and the excellent training of the Navy pilots, the plane and pilots were able to hold their own in combat. Subsequent planes, notably the F6F Hellcat and the F4U Corsair, came along later in the war and were vastly superior to anything the Japanese had.

Having these three Wildcats show up at the same show is really unusual....there aren't many of these still flying. Keeping old warbirds like this in flying condition is increasingly expensive. An engine rebuild on a Wildcat runs about $65,000.

http://black-mamba.smugmug.com/photos/524428525_u6Ybw-XL.jpg

http://black-mamba.smugmug.com/photos/524428201_DLUmX-XL.jpg

http://black-mamba.smugmug.com/photos/524428176_R7a7R-XL.jpg

http://black-mamba.smugmug.com/photos/524428352_vQ4Qq-XL.jpg

http://black-mamba.smugmug.com/photos/524428457_iqpYb-XL.jpg

http://black-mamba.smugmug.com/photos/524428326_GZRYH-XL.jpg

http://black-mamba.smugmug.com/photos/524428222_MbC4h-XL.jpg

[moose135]

:thumb Sweet shots! Where were they - Sun & Fun?

[Panther]

Howdy Tom,

Once again you've found a wonderful venue to shoot, really like all the details in the planes and the colors and sharp points of focus are very well done.

[black mamba]

Hi Moose,

Yes, these were taken at Fun "N" Sun. There had been four of the F4F's on a national tour but one of them left the show before I got there. There can't be many more than those four still flying in this country.

Tom

[black mamba]

Hey Craig,

Thanks for your nice comments. You know me....put me around planes, cars, or old farm buildings and I'm in hog heaven. I think that we all, as photographers, tend to excell when shooting subjects that we are passionate about.

As my dad used to say... " hold it on the road ",

Tom

[ront]

I love pictures of any planes, but your pictures of these old Wildcats are just great!!
Thanks for sharing them.

Ron

[black mamba]

Hi Ron,

Anybody who loves planes has got to be OK in my book. Thanks for your kind remarks.

Tom

[JChurill]

Tuff little bird...nice shots!

[redleash]

Neat stuff--I love WWII history! I went to a similar show in Fredericksburg, TX, a few months ago. I shot this one:

http://redleash.smugmug.com/photos/528531932_6FW8Z-M.jpg

If there are so few of these, I wonder if this is the same #5 plane with a new paint job?