With its unique configuration and rich history, this warbird presents an incredible opportunity for collectors, pilots, and aviation enthusiasts alike. This aircraft has a total time since new of 2, hours, with hours since its major overhaul on the Wright RD engine.
The Hamilton Standard 33D50 propeller has also undergone hours since its last overhaul, with its next airworthiness directive due in May Flown regularly, the Wildcat remains in annual inspection and is in excellent flying condition.
One of its most unique features is the three passenger seats in the rear fuselage, making it one of the most distinctive FM-2 Wildcats. Built at the General Motors Eastern Aircraft Division in New Jersey, this aircraft never saw combat but played a vital role in naval aviation training and operations. As usual, Aerial Visuals provide the chronology of the history of most warbirds, which we conveniently transcribe as follows. Navy in with Bureau Number In , it was transferred to civilian ownership under Richard R.
Carlisle in Alabama with the registration N, followed by Alfred T. At some point, modifications were made to add a cabin behind the cockpit, installing four windows for passenger seating. In November of that year, it returned to the U. Ownership changed hands multiple times, including Frederick W. Edison of Kalamazoo, MI, in , with an airworthiness certificate issued in January On June 29, , the aircraft was involved in an incident near South Haven, MI, after the pilot, distracted by a cylinder head temperature gauge, allowed the aircraft to descend into the water.
The aircraft was salvaged and repaired, later passing to Richard Foote in Summerland Key, FL, around , who maintained ownership under Professional Aircraft Sales until In , it was acquired by Carrier Deck Aviation Inc. In , ownership transferred again, with the aircraft ultimately being placed on display with the Collings Foundation in Stow, MA, where it remains today.
