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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Grumman F8F Bearcat
    Latest Model:F8F-1 Bearcat
    Last Military Serial:122614 USN
    Construction Number:D-1114
    Last Civil Registration:N747NF
    Compressed ID:Grumman F8F-1 sn 122614 USN cn D-11...
    Latest Owner or Location:Lewis Fighter Fleet Llc, San Antonio, TX

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    Dates

    Event

    Constructed as a F8F-1.

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Navy with BuNo 122614.

    1958

    To Lyloyd Nolan/Lefty Gardner/Bearcat (and) Co/CAF, Mercedes, TX with new c/r N7957C.

    23 August 1968

    Involved in an incident.
    Summarized NTSB narrative from report number FTW69D0268: There were no fatalities. Incident occurred at 13:00 hours. The damage was substantial. Incident occurred at the Rebel Field Airport, Mercedes, TX. The engine failed or malfunctioned while cruising. Landed wheels up on touch down. There was complete power loss in the failure of one engine. The emergency circumstances included; precautionary landing on airport. Report remarks include: Gear did not have time to fully extend.
    For a complete description of the event read the NTSB Report.

    1973

    To Confederate Air Force, Harlingen, TX keeping c/r N7957C.

    From 1987 to 1991

    To Stephen Grey/The Fighter Collection, Duxford, UK keeping c/r N7957C.

    Wreckage from 1974 crash - stored disassembled, Chino, CA.

    1992

    To Steve Hinton, John Maloney (and) Kevin Eldridge, Chino, CA.

    To Planes of Fame Air Museum, Chino Airport, Chino, CA.
    View the Location Dossier

    24 February 2009

    To Lewis Aeronautical Llc, San Antonio, TX with new c/r N747NF.

    15 April 2009

    Certificate of airworthiness for NX747NF (F8F-2, 988) issued.

    Based at Lewis Air Legends/Rod Lewis, Lewis Ranch Airport, San Antonio, TX.
    View the Location Dossier

    15 May 2009


    Photographer: Mike Henniger

    15 May 2009


    Photographer: Mike Henniger
    Notes: Photographed at the Planes of Fame Air Show in Chino, CA.

    16 May 2009


    Photographer: Mike Henniger

    17 May 2009


    Photographer: Todd Royer
    Notes: Chino Planes of Fame Airshow 2009

    8 November 2010

    To unknown owner with c/r N747NF.
    Registration pending to a new owner in San Antonio, TX.

    2 December 2010

    To Lewis Fighter Fleet Llc, San Antonio, TX keeping c/r N747NF.

    Restored in the colors of the Royal Thai Air Force.

    October 2012


    Photographer: Mark Kennedy
    Notes: F8F Bearcat N747NF (Lewis) at Wings Over Houston Airshow, Ellington Field, Houston, Tx. Oct. 2012.

    29 October 2012


    Photographer: Nigel Hitchman
    Notes: Wings Over Houston Airshow
    This dossier is waiting for review by an editor.This airframe dossier is based on
    unreviewed imported data.
    If you can verify the documented history or add to it with additional text and/or photos please feel free to do so by using the upload tool and the history editor.
    Credits
     Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...
    Print Sources
     U.S. Military Out of Service 2010 by Andy Marden
    Internet Sources
     Aerial Visuals - The Locator by Mike Henniger, Senior Editor
    Federal Aviation Administration in the United States of America
    National Transportation Safety Board
    Warbird Registry by Scott Rose
    Individual Contributors
     Terry Fletcher
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