The one-time Shuttleworth collection Wildcat G-KINL ( never flew with them) has emerged at DX in desert colour, in preparation for post-restoration flight
23 May 2013 To Richard Shuttleworth Trustees with new c/r G-CHPN.
Based at Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden Aerodrome, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire-Central, England.
11 May 2016 Registered to Thomas Woodstock Harris, Grove House, Grove, Leighton Buzzard with new identity G-KINL
full history here Aerial Visuals – Airframe Dossier – Grumman-General Motors Eastern Aircraft Division FM-2P Wildcat, s/n 88690 USN, c/n 5744, c/r G-KIN
Facebook (photo on the apron DX 27th Sept ) by Tony Clarke.
By: bazv - 24th October 2022 at 19:40
We did not have many carriers left at one point John – so many FAA Pilots spent a year or 2 ground based in various locations inc Egypt until the carrier build programme caught up with losses.
By: J Boyle - 24th October 2022 at 06:45
Odd to see a sea “Cat” in desert colours.
By: Prop Strike - 12th October 2022 at 20:47
She flies ! Today.
Photo by George Land
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=660446968774693&set=pcb.6604470087…
Link should work for fb users, and maybe others.
By: Duggy1 - 29th September 2022 at 21:19
She will probably be one of the most photographed “warbirds” next season.
Wonderful job.
By: adrian_gray - 29th September 2022 at 19:05
She does look stunning, doesn’t she?
Always amazed that an aircraft designed for carriers had a short, narrow, complex undercart like that.
By: Wyvernfan - 29th September 2022 at 09:03
Wow now that looks fantastic. An inspired choice of colours IMO !
By: Prop Strike - 28th September 2022 at 21:18
Strange – the first link works for me. Just tried it.
Maybe you need to be a registered fb user.
By: skeeler - 28th September 2022 at 20:16
As the ‘Facebook’ photo in the first post isn’t ‘available’, here’s a link to it elsewhere – https://www-lecharpeblanche-fr.translate.goog/2022/09/28/un-deuxieme-wi…
By: avion ancien - 28th September 2022 at 18:11
‘By: dhfan – 28th September 2022 at 10:45
I didn’t know that Shuttleworth had sold it, although it always seemed like a strange aircraft for them to buy.’
If my memory serves me correctly, the above was the subject of heated ‘appropriateness’ debate on this forum about the time that the Shuttleworth Trust acquired or decided to acquire this aeroplane.
By: dhfan - 28th September 2022 at 15:29
I agree. Despite being designed on the American “controlled crash” deck landing principle – but always into wind – I would have thought that a wider track, softly sprung, undercarriage would be more useful for a landing on grass, with infinitely variable wind direction, would be more suitable if all-weather operation was why they bought it in the first place.
By: cometguymk1 - 28th September 2022 at 14:40
Problem is I’m not sure the wildcats wind limits are much higher with the narrow tacked gear.
By: Prop Strike - 28th September 2022 at 10:59
I was disappointed that they elected to dipose of it. There was a time when a whole run of their displays seems to be curtailed by strong winds, and of course more rugged aircraft can carry on where the flimsy ones are grounded.
Their 30’s light aircraft are great, of course, but visitors really take notice when the fighters perform, and the Wildcat would have been great to see.
By: dhfan - 28th September 2022 at 10:45
I didn’t know that Shuttleworth had sold it, although it always seemed like a strange aircraft for them to buy.
Sign In
September 28, 2022 at 10:08 am