Grumman FM-2 Wildcat at Omaka

Short clip of the Commemorative Air Force's Grumman Wildcat when it visited Omaka Aerodrome (Blenheim, New Zealand) in 2002 for a refuelling stop.

The FM-2 had a longer vertical stabiliser and an exhaust notch in the fuselage that the F4F Wildcat didn't have.

The FM-2 also had a more powerful engine and was lighter than the F4F with the deletion of a pair of machine guns and the reserve tank among other things. However, the FM-2 flew a much different mission than the F4F, designed as a low level fighter in an anti-submarine role the FM-2 suffered in high altitude performance compared with the F4F.

For info on the Wildcat collection see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F4F_Wildcat

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Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• grumman
• wildcat
• omaka
• ww2
• fighter

[IonicRipper01]

@mig25pd I love the sound of an old engine... Including old trucks :D

I think they sound more hunan in a way... Engines today sound so artificial and boring

[mig25pd]

Lovely old aeroplane and historically very important.........but it does sound a little like an old truck........

[queenofyeay]

It's an FM-2 not a F4F... both are Wildcats like the Avenger was both the TBF & TBM The FM-2 had a longer vertical stab and an exhaust notch in the fuse... The FM-2 had a more powerful engine and was lighter than the F4F with the deletion of a pair of machine guns and the reserve tank among other things. However, the FM-2 flew a much different mission than the F4F, designed as a low level fighter in an anti-submarine role the FM-2 suffered in high altitude performance vs the F4F 

[Auggie56]

There are two for sale on Trade A Plane. One for 600k that needs restored and the other for just over a million that's flyable.

[mondo78]

@TonyMcDark The Wildcat was one of the best fighters in its prime. "I would still assess the Wildcat as the outstanding naval fighter of the early years of World War II ... I can vouch as a matter of personal experience, this Grumman fighter was one of the finest shipboard aeroplanes ever created."

—Eric M. Brown, British test pilot

It was outclassed by the Zero but could take much more punishment. New tactics were developed because of its perfomance and those tactics are used even today.

[CaptnDave69u]

In the hands of the right pilot the F4f put up a good fight vs zero. Wildcat flew and fought whole Pacific campaign.

[Phantom3234]

what a beauty!!

[TonyMcDark]

Well F4F wild cat wasent such a good fighter plane.....its original disign was a biplain!

BUT(there is a big but) it gave base to some of the most fearsome fighters of WWII like the hellcat or the crossar(<-sorry i dunno how to spel it).

It is still a good plane but doesent worth any nuts.

[zevans1325]

i would seriously give both of my nuts to have one

[GIANTWARTITAN]

i would seriously give my left nut to own one of these