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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:80390 USN
    Construction Number:C-132
    Last Civil Registration:N700F
    Latest Owner or Location:Spitfire Ventures Llc, San Antonio, TX

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    Dates

    Event

    Constructed as a F7F-3.

    1945

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Navy with BuNo 80390.

    Converted to a F7F-3P.

    From April 1949 to By 9 April 1958

    Assigned to NAS Litchfield Park, AZ for storage.

    From 1958 to By 1959

    To Kreitzberg Aviation, Salem, OR with new c/r N6129C.

    From 25 May 1959 to By 1960

    To Wayne B. Fowler, Shaw Island, WA keeping c/r N6129C.

    From 1960 to By 1961

    To Aero Enterprises, Elkhart, IN keeping c/r N6129C.

    From 1961 to By 1963

    To Johnson Flying Service, Missoula, MT keeping c/r N6129C.

    1961

    Converted to a fire tanker at Salem, OR.

    From 1963 to By 1966

    To Butler FARM Air Service/Calvin J. Butler, Redmond, OR keeping c/r N6129C.

    Operated as fire service #F16.

    Operated as fire service #16.

    From May 1966 to By 1978

    To TBM Inc, Tulare, CA keeping c/r N6129C.

    Operated as fire service #E62.

    From 7 September 1976 to 12 September 1976

    Raced as #62.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Robert Forbes from Porterville, CA. Qualified in 15th place with an average speed of 308.39 mph.

    Circa 7 September 1976


    Photographer: Tim OBrien

    Circa 7 September 1976


    Photographer: Al Chute

    September 1977


    Photographer: Geoff Goodall
    Notes: at Fresno in September 1977 was TBM Incs Grumman F7F Tigercat N6129C tanker #E62. It was up for sale and its belly retardant tank and plumbing had been removed, hoping for a sale on the warbird market

    October 1977


    Photographer: Geoff Goodall
    Notes: Here is the same Tigercat at the Confederate Air Force airshow at Harlingen Texas the following month. It attracted a lot of attention with a recent repaint and impressive flying displays, but a quick sale did not eventuate

    Circa 1977


    Photographer: Bradley Haskin

    From November 1978 to By 1981

    To On Mark Aviation/Harold Beal, Knoxville, TN keeping c/r N6129C.

    From By 1978 to By 1984

    Stored at Knoxville, TN.

    March 1980

    To Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum/Preston Parish, Kalamazoo, MI with new c/r N700F.
    Not immediately moved from Knoxville.

    January 1981

    Civil registration N700FM reserved but not taken up.
    Originally reserved by Air Training Inc. of Knoxville, TN.

    1981

    To Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum/Preston Parish, Kalamazoo, MI with new c/r N700F.
    Still not immediately removed from Knoxville.

    From By 1984 to By 1985

    Restored.
    Markings Applied: D3, 80390
    Your Assistance is Needed: Possibly restored in Knoxville. Can you confirm? If so please share your information with Aerial Visuals.
    Share Your Information with Everyone by Editting the Documented History

    22 July 1987


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
    Notes: At the Kalamazoo Museum

    1 August 1987


    Photographer: Mike Fuller
    Notes: Oshkosh 1987

    14 June 1988

    Certificate of airworthiness for N700F (F7F-3, 80390) issued.

    2 August 1988


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
    Notes: At Oshkosh, WI

    In the inventory of Air Zoo, Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport, Kalamazoo, MI.
    View the Location Dossier

    Circa 1994


    Photographer: Earl A Holmquist
    Notes: Photographed at Batavia, NY.

    24 September 2007


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
    Notes: At the Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum

    24 October 2008

    To Lewis Aeronautical Llc, San Antonio, TX keeping c/r N700F.

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

    By March 2009

    Placed on display with Planes of Fame Air Museum, Chino Airport, Chino, CA.
    View the Location Dossier

    Markings Applied: HERE KITTY KITTY, MARINES, D3

    15 May 2009


    Photographer: Mike Henniger
    Notes: Photographed at the Chino Air Show.

    15 May 2009


    Photographer: Mike Henniger

    From 13 September 2010 to 19 September 2010

    Raced as #55, named HERE KITTY,KITTY!.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Stewart Dawson from Celina, TX. Qualified in 21st place with an average speed of 309.533 mph. Raced in Heat 1B. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 366.353 mph. Raced in Heat 2C. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 371.116 mph. Raced in Heat 3C. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 354.521 mph. Raced in the Championship race. The race was canceled and 5th place was assigned based on previous heat results.

    16 September 2010


    Photographer: Mike Henniger

    16 September 2010


    Photographer: Mike Henniger

    17 September 2010


    Photographer: Mike Henniger

    29 September 2010

    Certificate of airworthiness for NX700F (F7F-3, 80390) issued.

    8 November 2010

    To Lewis Racing Llc, San Antonio, TX keeping c/r N700F.

    10 September 2012


    Photographer: Mike Henniger

    From 10 September 2012 to 16 September 2012

    Raced as #55, named HERE KITTY,KITTY!.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Rod Lewis from San Antonio, TX. Qualified in 17th place with an average speed of 317.090 mph. Raced in Heat 1D. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 354.6 mph. Raced in Heat 2D. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 342.868 mph. Raced in Heat 3. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 343.193 mph. Raced in the Consolation race. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 359.200 mph.

    1 January 2014

    Certificate of airworthiness for NX700F (F7F-3, 80390) issued.

    Circa 3 May 2018


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

    14 May 2019


    Photographer: Michael Huggins
    Notes: F7F-3P BuNo 80390 N700F, Here Kitty Kitty! at the Planes of Fame Air Museum, Chino CA.

    9 December 2023

    To Spitfire Ventures Llc, San Antonio, TX keeping c/r N700F.


    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
    Warbirds Directory, 5th Edition by Geoff Goodall
    Warbirds International

    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
    Glenn Chatfield

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