One of my favourite TFC aircraft is their Curtiss P-36. According to their homepage, it was essentially merely “stored” from the Fifties until being acquired by them in 1995.
I find it amazing and fascinating that this sole survivor of French P-36’s and consequently historically very important aircraft escaped anyone else’s attention (e.g. the Musée de l’Air) for such a long a period of time.
How was this possible? Did it pop out of the blue as a barn find? Was its existence known? How come it didn’t end up with a French collector/collection – much earlier?
Does anybody know more?
(Note: For completeness’ sake I’m certainly not lamenting that it was acquired by TFC – quite the contrary – just curious)
By: Thunderbird167 - 7th June 2012 at 20:52
TFC’s Hawk 75 has never been a P-36. Built on contract for the French Air Force, delivered to France. Much beaten up frame, recovered without engine and outter wing section by Michell Pont from the Cazaux gunnery range. Then sold on to Michel Berthelot, in Beauvais, then sold on to Raymond Capel, in La Ferte-Alais, from whom TFC bought it in1995
from
http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2234
By: Kenneth - 7th June 2012 at 19:23
I mean the Hawk 75 which is called a P-36 on their homepage, the one in French WW2 colours 😉
By: 8674planes - 7th June 2012 at 19:04
They have both?:confused:
By: Mike J - 7th June 2012 at 18:55
Do you mean their Hawk 75 or their P-36?
Two distinct and separate airframes.
Sign In
June 7, 2012 at 4:25 pm