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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 F6F Hellcat
    Latest Model:F6F-5 Hellcat
    Last Military Serial:79683 USN
    Construction Number:A-10828
    Last Civil Registration:N4PP
    Compressed ID:Grumman F6F-5 sn 79683 USN cn A-108...
    Latest Owner or Location:Air Zoo Aerospace and Science Experience, Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport, Kalamazoo, Michigan

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    Dates

    Event

    1945

    Constructed as a F6F-5.

    1945

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Navy with BuNo 79683.

    By 1952

    Transferred to Advanced Training Unit 102 (ATU-102), NAAS Kingsville, TX.

    30 September 1952

    Damaged.
    Class 5 damage in off-field landing.

    1963

    To John A. Ortseifen, Fort Lauderdale, FL with new c/r N7896C.

    1966

    Last flight before leaving derelict.

    From 1966 to Circa March 1979

    Aircraft sat derelict at Chicagoland Airport, Lake County, IL.

    From 1979 to 1981

    To Preston Parish, Kalamazoo, MI.

    Circa March 1979

    Transported by ground.
    From Chicagoland airport to Kalamazoo airport disassembled.

    From Circa April 1980 to 21 June 1981

    Restored.
    Markings Applied: 4, 79683
    The work was carried out at Kalamazoo. Marked as aircraft operating off of USS Shangri-la in 1945.

    23 June 1981

    To Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum, Portage, MI with new c/r N4PP.

    23 June 1981

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

    9 July 1981

    Certificate of airworthiness for NX4PP (F6F-5, 79683) issued.

    22 July 1987


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

    6 June 1993


    Photographer: Mike Henniger
    Notes: Photographed at the Hamilton International Airshow.

    Circa 18 August 1994


    Photographer: Earl A. Holmquist
    Notes: Photographed at the Wings of Eagles Airshow in Batavia, NY.

    1994


    Photographer: Earl A Holmquist
    Notes: Photographed at the Wings of Eagles Air Show at Batavia, NY.

    5 June 1995


    Photographer: Mike Henniger
    Notes: Photographed at the London International Air Show at London, Ontario.

    24 September 2007


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

    1 January 2009

    Certificate of airworthiness for NX4PP (F6F-5, 79683) issued.

    31 December 2011

    Withdrawn from use.
    Retired for museum display.

    22 May 2017

    Civil registration, N4PP, cancelled.

    To Air Zoo Aerospace and Science Experience, Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport, Kalamazoo, MI.
    View the Location Dossier
    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
     Air Zoo
    Aviation Archaeology
    Federal Aviation Administration in the United States of America
    Warbird Information Exchange by Scott Rose
    Warbirds Directory, 6th Edition (2013) by Geoff Goodall
    Individual Contributors
     Glenn Chatfield
    Mike Henniger
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    Direct Link: https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=39630
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