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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 F7F Tigercat
    Latest Model:F7F-3P Tigercat
    Last Military Serial:80503 USN
    Construction Number:C-245
    Last Civil Registration:N747MX
    Latest Owner or Location:Spitfire Ventures Llc, San Antonio, TX

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    Dates

    Event

    Constructed as a F7F-3P.

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Navy with BuNo 80503.

    From By 1960 to By 1980

    To TBM Inc, Sequoia, CA.

    October 1973

    Spotted unconverted and dismantled in a hut at Sequoia, CA.

    From By 1982 to By 1983

    To Mike Bogue, Oakland, CA.
    Stored dismantled in Oakland.

    December 1988

    To Robert L. Waltrip, Houston, TX with new c/r N800RW.

    From Unknown to By 2002

    To Lone Star Flight Museum/Robert L. Waltrip, Galveston, TX keeping c/r N800RW.

    Based at Lone Star Flight Museum, Scholes Field, Galveston, TX.
    View the Location Dossier

    Contracted to Durrell Skurich, Fort Collins, CO for work on the airframe.

    From 1988 to By 1989

    Restored.
    Markings Applied: Big Bossman, 80503, RW
    The work was carried out at Fort Collins, CO.

    Circa 1993


    Photographer: Ken Videan
    Notes: At EAA Oshkosh.

    Circa 1993


    Photographer: Ken Videan
    Notes: At EAA Oshkosh.

    1996

    Withdrawn from use at Galveston for museum display.

    From 2002 to By 2003

    To Fury Ltd/Michael Brown, Carson City, NV keeping c/r N800RW.

    Ferry flight.
    Moved from Glaveston, TX, to Ione, CA.

    Contracted to Sanders Aviation, Eagles Nest Airport, Ione, CA for work on the airframe.
    Prepared for racing.
    View the Location Dossier
    Your Assistance is Needed: Did Sanders carry out the work of preparing this airframe for racing? Please share any information you may have with Aerial Visuals.
    Share Your Information with Everyone by Editting the Documented History

    Circa 2003


    Photographer: Ken Videan
    Notes: At Reno.

    2 April 2003

    To Monique Ltd/Michael Brown, Carson City, NV keeping c/r N800RW.

    2 April 2003

    To Monique Ltd, Carson City, NV with new c/r N805MB.

    25 June 2003

    Assigned civil registration: N805MB (TIGERCAT F7F-3, 80503)

    Markings Applied: Big Bossman, MB

    From 8 September 2003 to 14 September 2003

    Raced as #1, named BIG BOSSMAN.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Michael Brown from Carson City, CA. Qualified in 19th place with an average speed of 365.705 mph.

    8 September 2003


    Photographer: David Leininger
    Notes: Photographed at the National Championship Air Races held at Stead Field near Reno, NV.

    From 15 September 2004 to 19 September 2004

    Raced as #1, named BIG BOSSMAN.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Mike Brown from Carson City, NV. Qualified in 22nd place with an average speed of 363.875 mph. Raced in Heat 1C. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 354.555 mph. Raced in Heat 2D. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 359.361 mph. Raced in Heat 3. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 366.102 mph. Raced in the Medallion 2 race. Finished in 6th place with an average speed of 368.092 mph.

    From 12 September 2005 to 18 September 2005

    Raced as #1, named BIG BOSSMAN.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Michael Brown from Carson City, NV. Qualified in 20th place with an average speed of 354.577 mph. Raced in Heat 1B. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 361.074 mph. Started Heat 2D, but did not finish. Raced in Heat 3. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 369.895 mph. Raced in the Consolation race. Finished in 6th place with an average speed of 371.736 mph.

    From 11 September 2006 to 17 September 2006

    Raced as #1, named BIG BOSSMAN.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Mike Brown from Carson City, NV. Qualified in 17th place with an average speed of 369.601 mph. Raced in Heat 1B. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 362.736 mph. Raced in Heat 2D. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 374.985 mph. Raced in Heat 3D. Finished in 7th place with an average speed of 366.472 mph. Raced in the Consolation race. Finished in 6th place with an average speed of 362.388 mph.

    11 September 2006


    Photographer: David Lednicer
    Notes: The Unlimited Class racer Big Bossman being towed out for a practice session at the Reno Air Races.

    From 10 September 2007 to 16 September 2007

    Raced as #1, named BIG BOSSMAN.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Mike Brown from Carson City, NV. Qualified in 18th place with an average speed of 371.030 mph. Raced in Heat 1C. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 366.427 mph. Raced in Heat 3. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 373.933 mph. Did not start in the Consolation race.

    From 8 September 2008 to 14 September 2008

    Raced as #1, named BIG BOSSMAN.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Mike Brown from Carson City, NV. Qualified in 14th place with an average speed of 373.591 mph. Raced in Heat 1C. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 377.545 mph. Raced in Heat 2C. Finished in 6th place with an average speed of 334.667 mph. Raced in Heat 3D. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 364.019 mph. Raced in the Consolation race. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 367.327 mph.

    14 September 2008


    Photographer: Kat Fallacy

    3 April 2009

    To Lewis Aeronautical Llc, San Antonio, TX keeping c/r N805MB.

    15 May 2009


    Photographer: Mike Henniger

    15 May 2009


    Photographer: Mike Henniger

    15 May 2009


    Photographer: Mike Henniger

    16 May 2009


    Photographer: Mike Henniger

    17 May 2009


    Photographer: Todd Royer
    Notes: Shot at Chino California

    27 July 2010

    Certificate of airworthiness for NX747MX (TIGERCAT F7F-3, 80503) issued.

    From 13 September 2010 to 19 September 2010

    Raced as #1, named EL JEFE.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Rod Lewis from San Antonio, TX. Qualified in 10th place with an average speed of 364.981 mph. Raced in Heat 1B. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 358.497 mph. Raced in Heat 2C. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 362.252 mph. Raced in Heat 3C. Finished in 7th place with an average speed of 342.085 mph. Raced in the Championship race. The race was canceled and 7th place was assigned based on previous heat results.

    16 September 2010


    Photographer: Mike Henniger

    Circa 16 September 2010


    Photographer: Mark Hrutkay
    Notes: Photographed at the National Championship Air Races at Stead Field near Reno, NV.

    Circa 16 September 2010


    Photographer: Mark Hrutkay
    Notes: Photographed at the National Championship Air Races at Stead Field near Reno, NV.

    Circa 16 September 2010


    Photographer: Mark Hrutkay
    Notes: Photographed at the National Championship Air Races at Stead Field near Reno, NV.

    Circa 16 September 2010


    Photographer: Mark Hrutkay
    Notes: Photographed at the National Championship Air Races at Stead Field near Reno, NV.

    8 November 2010

    To Lewis Racing Llc, San Antonio, TX keeping c/r N805MB.

    8 November 2010

    To Lewis Racing Llc, San Antonio, TX with new c/r N747MX.

    19 November 2010

    To Lewis Racing Llc, San Antonio, TX with new c/r N805MB.

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

    By 12 September 2011

    Markings Applied: LA PATRONA, RL, 1

    12 September 2011


    Photographer: Mike Henniger

    From 12 September 2011 to 16 September 2011

    Raced as #1, named LA PATRONA.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Rod Lewis from San Antonio, TX. Qualified in 15th place with an average speed of 377.639 mph. Raced in Heat 2D. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 369.374 mph.

    13 September 2011


    Photographer: Mike Henniger

    13 September 2011


    Photographer: Mike Henniger

    16 September 2011


    Photographer: Mike Henniger

    From 8 September 2014 to 14 September 2014

    Raced as #1, named LA PATRONA.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Stewart Dawson from Celina, TX. Qualified in 9th place with an average speed of 357.765 mph. Raced in Heat 1B. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 324.429 mph. Did not start in Heat 2C. Raced in Heat 3D. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 328.668 mph. Raced in the Consolation race. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 342.256 mph.

    9 December 2023

    To Spitfire Ventures Llc, San Antonio, TX with new c/r N747MX.


    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
    Warbirds Directory, 5th Edition by Geoff Goodall

    Internet Sources
    Aerial Visuals - The Locator by Mike Henniger, Senior Editor
    Federal Aviation Administration in the United States of America
    Reno Air Racing Association (National Championship Air Races)
    United States Military Services Serial Number Lists by Joe Baugher

    Individual Contributors
    Mike Henniger

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