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OT: F2G Super Corsair Race 74 - First Flight!

Bomber_12th

Bomber_12th

SOH-CM-2025
On Monday, July 18, 2011, the historic F2G Super Corsair Race #74, flew for the first time again, since 1949. Restored by Odegaard Aviation/Odegaard Wings, this is only the second F2G Super Corsair flying in the world today - the other of course being the historic Race #57. Odegaard Aviation was also responsible for the restoration of Race #57.

Race #74 will be debuting at Airventure Oshkosh next week!


A photo following its first two very successful flights:

285186_1886431527853_1453367416_31661684_6847908_n.jpg


A photo of the same aircraft, way back in 1947 (note that at the time of this photo, the extended induction trunk on the top of the cowling, had yet to be added):

74ChanceVoughtEHartfordCT10-16-47.jpg


And here is a raw video of its first flight (The video was filmed from the backseat of the P-51D "Cripes A' Mighty". Bob Odegaard was the pilot of the Super Corsair, while his son Casey was piloting the Mustang. Really a great view of the aircraft in-flight, after the 7:35 mark):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hL8Ts8prnaE&feature=player_embedded
 
It is definitely going to be a big part of this years Oshkosh for me - I cannot wait to see it up-close, and hopefully flying during the show! There was a rumor for a few months that it would be at Oshkosh, and then a few weeks back it was finally confirmed, and the aircraft was added to the list of aircraft attractions.

Also, lets hope that this time around, more people will understand that this is an historical aircraft, the way it is depicted. When Race #57 first flew, and began going to air shows, I seem to recall it caused some people to think that someone had taken a perfectly good Corsair, and let their imagination run, where in fact it is an amazing piece of aviation history, restored just as it originally was.
 
<sigh> I wish I could be there!
It's also great to see a father and son teaming up in flying this classic aircraft!

Cheers,
Mark
 
That is one scarey to fly :eek: looking piece of machinery. Just sitting there one just thinks "torque." Superb news on the restoration. Let's hope for a safe outing at the show.
 
:applause::applause::applause::applause:

And thanks for the video, I'm sure I'll be able to watch it once I replace my broken, brand new GTX 560Ti with my old, yet reliable 8800GT.
 
Do you think 57 and 74 are going to fly in formation?

Oh man... just the thought of that. My shutter would wear out. :icon_eek:
 
Kiwikat - that possibility unfortunately became harder, because Race #57 was sold a year or two back, to a very reclusive collector in Arizona. It is still flying, though fairly much only from the aircraft's home airport. It would be a great surpirse to see Race #57 show up at either Oshkosh or Reno this year, as Race #74 will be at both. It would seem more plausible, that both would be at Reno, and if not this year, soon enough.

Mark, both father and son also head up Odegaard Aviation/Odegaard Wings. If I recall correctly, Casey is in his mid-late 20's? From what I remember reading, Casey has also been leading the restoration of an F4U-4 Corsair, that the Odegaard's also own.
 
John,

74 was one of Soplata's 'wonders of the aviaton world' saves if memory serves correctly.. When the airplane was sold by Soplata to the Crawford Museum... Now I thought I read somewhere where part of the deal was that the aircraft be restored but never flown per Soplata's request. Have you heard that? If that is the case, & I am by no means super superstitious, but I think I would have misgivings about flying an aircraft that was sold with the intent of the previous owner to never fly.... I don't know, I might just be weird..... :icon_lol:
 
Witt,

You are exactly right. Walter Soplata had it stored outdoors for years, amongst his large collection of aircraft. From what I have read, he had a very strong belief that in order to preserve the aircraft, they shouldn't be flown, and he wasn't one to welcome strangers coming by, looking to buy something off of him - as a result, many of the aircraft stayed in outdoor storage for years on his property. Race #74 was acquired by the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placeName w:st="on">Crawford</st1:placeName> <st1:placeType w:st="on">Museum</st1:placeType></st1:place>, and with the restoration of Race #57 by Odegaard, it was smartly decided to have Odegaard restore it for the museum, in which it would be on static display, as Walter wanted it to. I don't know how much long afterward, but the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placeName w:st="on">Crawford</st1:placeName> <st1:placeType w:st="on">Museum</st1:placeType></st1:place> found itself in a desperate need for money, and put Race #74, as well as a few other museum aircraft, if I recall correctly, up for sale. This is when Odegaard became the owner, and the restoration proceeded, this time with the full intent of getting it flying.

There are a few more of Walt's aircraft which will be and are now flying. For instance, the airworthy B-25 "Wild Cargo" (for which you are quite familiar with!), was stored at Walter's place for a while. Both of the airworthy P-82 restorations taking place are airframes that were once Walter's, as well as a few WWII trainers that are under restoration to fly.

After Soplata's death, I believe it was Tom Reilly that was assigned the task of controlling the rest of Walter's collection, and how it is taken care off/sold-off, though I haven't heard anything in regard to this for quite some time.

Here are a couple images of the aircraft, taken from WIX:

A view of the aircraft in the late 40's, after the lengthened induction trunk was added.

F2G-274Autograph.jpg


A photo showing Walter Soplata's collection from the air, sometime in the 90's I believe. Race #74 can be seen in the upper left section of the photo, still in its original, but by that point faded, paint.

11A_00085.jpg


And one of the last restoration photos posted by Odegaard Aviation, before the aircraft was completed, showing the massive 'corn cob' engine contained.

DSCN0400.jpg
 
Bomber_12th said:
There are a few more of Walt's aircraft which will be and are now flying. For instance, the airworthy B-25 "Wild Cargo" (for which you are quite familiar with!),
Click to expand...



Oh yeah.....Ooops..... I guess I might have already 'tempted fate' on that account!

BTW, I saw that they are going to debut that particular episode of "Restorers" this year at Oshkosh. I asked on their FB page if/when we can purchase the DVD of their little documentary and they said this Fall.... and there will be a Blu-Ray option as well!



Bomber_12th said:
After Soplata's death, I believe it was Tom Reilly that was assigned the task of controlling the rest of Walter's collection, and how it is taken care off/sold-off, though I haven't heard anything in regard to this for quite some time.
Click to expand...

Insert big eye roll & slight sigh..........



[/QUOTE]
 
I cannot wait for that series to air! They have been doing a lot of filming at the Minnesota Wing CAF base over the last 2-3 years, which is located about 3-4 miles from where I am. It was only just a couple of months ago, that they had some visiting Mustangs from the midwest, join with the B-25 "Miss Mitchell" and the redtail P-51C, for some formation flying footage to be shot for the show. It was quite the sound to hear all four overhead!

HPIM0031.jpg


NewImage.jpg


The historic MN Wing hangar got a bit cramped - this wasn't all of the aircraft that ended up being packed-in for the night!

ATH2.jpg
 
Bomber_12th said:
[...]
Mark, both father and son also head up Odegaard Aviation/Odegaard Wings. If I recall correctly, Casey is in his mid-late 20's? From what I remember reading, Casey has also been leading the restoration of an F4U-4 Corsair, that the Odegaard's also own.
Click to expand...

Great! That reminds me of a similar father / son team here in Germany - Walter Eichhorn and his son Toni. I've been lucky to meet both of them and flew with Toni for an hour in his T-6. Walter is probably the top Me-109 pilot worldwide and also operates a L-29 in the airshow circuit.
Very nice and professional people.

View attachment 44198


Cheers,
Mark
 
I will be at Oshkosh this year, too. My first trip. Looking forward to seeing all these beautiful aircraft, as well as the CAF's B-29 "Fifi" which took to the air again just a few weeks ago after recieving a full set of new "hybrid" engines and a wing rebuild.
 
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