Nine lives for a "rarecat"

Flight Journal, Jun 1999 by Werneth, Ren

The Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum's rare Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat (Buno 90454) has another lease on life due to a meticulous ground-up restoration. This example was one of the 23 preproduction models ordered by the U.S. Navy after the prototype had been tested. and it was flown regularly until it crashed on Memorial Day weekend in 1995. Luckily, the damage was minimal, and it was decided that this rare lighter should be restored.

The museum's Bearcat served with VF-19 and, later, with VF-18. Then, in 1959, the late E.D. Weiner bought it for $500. It subsequently had a number of civilian owners before it was acquired by air race pilot Gunther Balz in 1968. Ten years later, Balz donated it to the Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum.

To date, the restoration team has replaced the damaged fuselage skins and the tail cone. The fuselage is currently in two large sections. When the restoration has been completed, the fighter will probably be given a factory-type overall paint job of glossy sea blue, although this is still under discussion.

For more information, contact Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum, 3101 East Milham Rd., Kalamazoo, MI 49002-1700; (616) 382-6555. -Ron Werneth