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Dates |
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Event |
1947 |
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Constructed as a F8F-2. |
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Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Navy with BuNo 121776. |
Circa 1959 |
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To Kaman Aircraft Corp, Bloomfield, CT with new c/r N1030B.
Used unconverted as a wind machine. |
17 May 1965 |
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Civil registration, N1030B, cancelled. |
18 May 1965 |
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Civil registration, N1030B, cancelled. |
From 1970 to By 1996 |
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On behalf of the owner stored with/at National Museum of the Marine Corps, Quantico, Triangle, VA.
 View the Location Dossier |
From 1996 to By 1998 |
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Repair started.
The work was carried out at Galveston, TX. |
30 April 1996 |
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To H. Wells. |
4 June 1996 |
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To Air SRV Inc/Lone Star Flight Museum, Galveston, TX with new c/r N68RW. |
September 1998 |
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Transported by ground.
Moved from Galveston, TX, to Milton, FL. |
5 November 1999 |
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To Air SRV Inc, Houston, TX keeping c/r N68RW. |
14 January 2003 |
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Certificate of airworthiness for NX68RW (F8F-2, 1217761) issued. |
April 2003 |
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First flight.
First post-restoration flight. |
30 April 2003 |
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Ferry flight.
Moved from Milton, FL, to Galveston, TX. |
By 2005 |
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Repainted in USN Blue Angels markings- carries false Navy serial 94996. |
1 December 2010 |
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To unknown owner with c/r N68RW.
Registration pending to a new owner in Wilmington, DE. |
23 May 2011 |
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To Ba1945 Llc, Wilmington, DE keeping c/r N68RW. |
20 July 2011 |
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Certificate of airworthiness for NX68RW (F8F-2, 1217761) issued. |
By 25 July 2011 |
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Markings Applied: Blue Angels, Bella, 52, U.S. NAVY, 1 |
25 July 2011 |
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Photographer: Terry Fletcher
Notes: At 2011 Oshkosh - Up for Sale |
By 12 September 2011 |
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To unknown owner with c/r N68RW. |
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Restoration completed.
The work was carred out at Milton, FL. |
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Restored.
Markings Applied: Blue Angels, 52, U.S.NAVY, 1 |
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Based at Lone Star Flight Museum, Scholes Field, Galveston, TX.
View the Location Dossier |
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Photographer: unknown |
From 12 September 2011 to 16 September 2011 |
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Raced as #52, named Bella.
Appeared at the National Championship Air Races to compete in the Unlimited class, but did not qualify. The primary pilot was Nelson Ezell from Breckenridge, TX. |
13 September 2011 |
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Photographer: Mike Henniger
Notes: Photographed at the Reno Air Races. |
13 September 2011 |
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Photographer: Mike Henniger |
15 September 2011 |
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Photographer: Mike Henniger |
27 July 2012 |
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Photographer: Mike Fuller
Notes: @ Oshkosh 2012 |
25 July 2013 |
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Photographer: unknown
Notes: Oshkosh - Wittman Regional (OSH / KOSH) |
1 March 2014 |
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Certificate of airworthiness for NX68RW (F8F-2, 1217761) issued. |
Circa 1 March 2014 |
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To Air SRV Inc, Houston, TX keeping c/r N68RW. |
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To Greater Rockford Airport (RFD), Rockford, IL.
View the Location Dossier |
25 July 2022 |
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Photographer: Robin MORET
Notes: Oshkosh Airventure 2022 |
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 | | 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. |
