GOODYEAR F2G Corsair

[MorrisAero]

Great shots guys...love those Corsairs!
Got to meet Bob Odegaard at CG breakfast fly-in on Jan.28th and found out that Racer 74 was up at Falcon CAF on display.

Went to Falcon on Monday to shoot Racer 74 but was tucked back into the corner and hard to shoot.
Met Bob O. again, had a nice talk (still didn't realize they had done the Dec. photo shoot from Coolidge and later discovered Bob had brought Racer 74 back to Coolidge on Jan 7th for their breakfast fly-in).  Guess ignorance can be bliss, had I known what all had transpired in recent weeks probably would not have asked him if he was planning on coming to Cactus the 1st W/E in March.

He wasn't sure just yet...I suggested that Cactus Fly-in would make a nice reunion place for Racer 57 and 74! He didn't commit of course but I think he is considering it.  Glad to hear that Ron Platt's pilot said that Cactus was on the plans for Racer 57.  Pratt just had it repainted a short time back.

Here's hoping for a reunion of Racer 57 & 74 at Cactus!

[MorrisAero]

Last 2 Super Corsairs still flying.

Well, it happened BOTH Super Corsairs made to Cactus Fly-in yesterday!
They finally got the main runway finished and re-opened Sat. morning at Falcon & Bob O. was able to get Racer 74 down to Cactus.
Odegaard brought his Stang P-51 Friday due to runway construction at Falcon and really lousy crosswinds at CG.
Only dual fly-by was a tad high up...not good pics. Here's a ground shot of both...not the best but it was HISTORIC!
Only 10 made, only 3 survive, only these 2 are still flying!

P.S. Posted a couple more shots.

[MorrisAero]

Bill...FYI,

Good pics...Tom Ungurean is the owner, but the pilot was most likely Bob Odegaard.
After Coolidge he flew over to Cactus Fly-in at CG.
Beautiful plane...he met up with Racer #57 piloted by Larry Perkins at Cactus.
Only the 2nd time these two planes had been together since 1949 and the first time for
a major public function.

[FelipeG]

Rudy, the lettering under the canopy had a different name, Dick something, IIRC.

[Jay Beckman]

I think the name on the canopy rail is the gentleman who raced her back in the day...

[Bill]

Rudy - I can't tell you who the pilot was but the name patch on his flight suit said Tom Ungurean, hence my assumption.

[Bill]

Felipe and Jay - This aircraft is one of four sold by the Navy to Cook Clelend in 1946. Cook Clelend piloted Race 74 to first place in the 1947 Thompson Trophy race with his teammate, Dick Becker, finishing second in another F2G. Dick Becker later flew Race 74 and it has been restored to the exact state it was in when Dick Becker raced it. It is Dick Becker's name under the canopy. It even says "Owned by: Cook Clelend Aviation Services, Inc." on the top of the right wing.

[Brian Lockett]

F2Gs Race 57 and Race 74 at the Cactus Fly-in on March 3:












 This one required a lot of patience.

[Lynn Evans]

Welcome!
Nice photos Bill, I like the #2 photo of the set.

[bilwor]

Goodyear F2G Corsair N5577N Race 74 Cactus Fly-In 03/03/12

[bilwor]

Goodyear F2G Corsair N5588N Race 57 Cactus Fly-In 03/03/12

[Bill]

Low pass...

[Bill]

Fueling at Coolidge

[Scott Youmans]

Goodyear F2G Corsair

[mrblujet]

I am sorry to report that Bob and his F2G were lost yesterday during an airshow up in North Dakota.

http://www.newsdakota.com/2012/09/07/breaking-pilot-dies-in-airplane-crash-at-barnes-county-airport/

My condolences to Bob's family for their loss.