Grumman Wildcat - Part 1 - Kermie Cam
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- Опубліковано 2 жов 2024
- You Are There! Come fly the Grumman Wildcat with me. Parts one and two are preflight, and part three we will take flight. It will be fun. - Kermit Weeks (20121120)
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Wishing I could show my dad these videos. He was a mechanic on these in 1942. He would be over 100 years old by now!
My grandfather was an engineer on the wildcat design. Thank you for keeping one flying.
My Grumman is a 17 foot canoe.
You are a lucky man getting to fly so many of the hot rods of the sky from WW2.
Fitzy Holden p
Dude has $$$$$
It’s called being born wralthy
I just recently found this channel my youtube recommendations are on fire.
To be certified in such a variety of aircraft is unreal. You are a pilots pilot. Much respect for you.
Thank You, Kermit...Aviation's version of "Jay Leno's Garage"...
Yes. Exactly that ..
But better!
yeall arnt disrespecting jay...right?
@@cinderellassober8265 ..Not at all!..What Jay is doing is Great!..same with Kermit!.. :)
Thanks for posting this. My Dad served as a Chief Ordnanceman's Mate on the USS Hornet CV-8 from a few months before the attack on Pearl, through the Doolittle Raid mission, to the day it was sunk in the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands in October '42. One story he told was that as they were steaming toward Japan to launch that raid, sometimes they would find that the wire ropes securing the aircraft to the flight deck would be RED HOT. They eventually worked out that they were absorbing energy from the New RADAR system that had been installed before they sailed! Years later I got a few chances as a kid to see the interior of the Forrestal and the Intrepid, visiting the ships as a dependent when my Dad was crew on those ships.
Thanks for sharing. And thanks to your Dad for his service.
Sir, your videos are like lessons, I love it. I'm not a pilot, tried to learn to fly helicopters, but it's too expensive in here Brazil, so i quit... But I like to see your videos and I love this old planes.
He is living the life everyone dreams of.
I've read about Japanese pilots pumping 500 rounds into one of these and even seeing bits and pieces fly off-and to their amazement it would keep flying. The Wildcat had a rather dubious debut in WW2 as it went through an expensive development program and it's underwhelming performance against A6M5's caused some controversy as the Navy was stuck with it. Luckily in the hands of good pilots it's firepower and ruggedness evened out the odds along with the ingenious 'Thatch Weave' tactic where two Wildcats flew in a team-with the first one being the 'bait' and the second one following behind and both of them doing a back and forth 'weaving' pattern. When a bogey locked onto the first one, the second one would wait until he had a clear zone of fire. It worked brilliantly until the more capable Corsairs and Hellcats arrived that could take on the 'Zero' by themselves.
my favorite thing about THIS plane is that it's paint is in "war time" condition....not all shiny like the other restored aircraft that end up looking more like "sexy sports cars" than FIGHTING war birds
TRULY!
(-8D
J.C.
What a neat old plane, the old wildcat got us through the opening years of ww two
Bsides the airplane being absolutely magnificent, the wild cat emblem gave me a good laugh :-)
This is a great video , brings back a lot of memories . Both my parents worked for Grumman Farmingdale during WWII . In fact that's how they met . I still have the letter from Leroy Grumman recommending my Father for the Navy . I have his machinists Tool Box that he painted Midnight Blue . Thanks for keeping the memories alive .
One of the most underrated aircraft of WWII.
Beautiful restoration. Love the Atlantic camo.
Love all your video. The Wildcat was no match for the Japanese Zero. The Wildcat taught the US how ill prepared we were to fight the Japanese Zero. Many of our guys lost their lives in these planes. Because of American ingenuity we developed tactics (Thatch Weave ) to deal with the planes inadequacies compared to Zero. The Hellcat and the the excellent excellent Bearcat were much better aircraft. Still how fun to fly this 1200 hp hot rod.
Fairly certain I want to be you when I grow up! Love the warbirds!
Don't forget to tighten up those hose clamps holding the prop blades to the hub!
LTR - yeah, i saw that too. Looked like that top one was kinda loose😉
I wonder if this is the same Wildcat I saw parked on the Flightline at MCAS El Toro in the summer of 1986. I was told at the time that one belonged to a retired USMC Brigadier General. Pretty nifty toy to have.
It's amazing that one little pin holds the wing in place ha....
I was thinking exactly the same!
Its call the jesus christ pin because if it breaks...JFC !!
@@chopperking007 some old helicopters have a pin at the top that does the same thing and has the same name.
Respect Flying these old planes is work.
Absolutely fabulous videos.
Thank you so much Kermit for your time and trouble.
Love Your videos. "Wildcat" nose art is awesome! :-) I always wanted to find this kind of videos, where someone explains everything and shows it in the same time. Just awesome. :-)
Kermit, awesome video. My late Great Uncle flew with the the 118th TRS in China and was one of the first guys to complete their combat misions to come home in late 1944. Although he flew P39's stateside intially and then P40's and P51's B and C in combat. I'd love to send you his short memoir from his 118th TRS CBI days. You'd appreciate it as much as I do your vids.
There were 3 shades of blue, that were accepted for use the the Pacific Theater of War. The exact names escape me, but they were essentially, Royal Blue/ Navy Blue and Blue Gunemetal or a mixture of all 3. The European ATO colors differed, depending on your location. Africa Campaign- Olive Drab, Tan, Dark Brown or OEM paint. Italy campaign- Mostly OEM Silver, Blue or Olive Drab. Northern European campaign- You name it, they used it!
I can't believe that's all that's holding that wing out.. considering the forces it would see
You're living every american man's dream, Kermie. Thanks for sharing with these videos!
Sir, I have to know: How on God's green Earth did you find a Wildcat?!
The Wildcat often is considered inferior to the Zero. However, in post-war analysis of American and Japanese loss records, during the pivotal year of 1942 the F4F had a small advantage over the Zero in kill ratios, at 1.32 to 1.
I don't really know the specific squadrons either, just that the Gray and White scheme is specific to the Atlantic.
Cool video. Love it make more.
OMG, those handles for the lock pin in the wing!! Awesome engineering!! Not a sensor or a servo in sight.. LOVE IT!!
American engineers are trying out do each other and design things more complicated and nothing works right. Simple is better.
devastated. Would think if you were fighting a zero you'd want to keep the speed high as the zero didn't have hydraulically boosted controls so the zero pilot would have to work harder to maneuver. In Korea American pilots learned to keep their speed high transgenic as the mig 15 was almost impossible to maneuver at those speeds due to no hydraulic boost and the air liads being so high.
How many young men went through this exact process on their last day on Earth? Poor old Wildcats. The Zeroes ate them alive. But they were just BARELY enough to stem the tide.
Not really true. Sure, initially the experienced Japanese pilots had a field day against US pilots who tried to dofight with them. Once the US pilots changed tactics, the tide turned pretty quickly.
Per (www.chuckhawks.com/1v1_zero_wildcat.htm)
"Although the Zero had important performance advantages over the Wildcat, the A6M2 was never able to dominate the F4F-3, as it did other period Allied fighters (Hurricane, Buffalo, P-36, P-40, etc.). Ultimately, Wildcat pilots prevailed against Zero pilots by means of better tactics and, later in the war, better training. Operating in four ship flights and two ship elements, instead of the three plane Vics used by the Japanese, gave Allied pilots more flexibility in air to air combat. Teamwork, such as the famous Thatch weave, was an effective antidote to the Zero's superior performance. By the end of the war, the various Wildcat models had proven very effective in air to air combat and recorded slightly in excess of a 6 to 1 kill ratio."
I had no idea that flying was so complicated. When I was a child, my dream was to be a fighter pilot, but I had no idea how much you have to remember. You should take a bow for being able to fly so many types. By any chance are you a test pilot?
As an aside, I always thought that the Wildcat was perhaps the ugliest of the WWII fighters. What is your opinion?
Fly on flyer! An American treasure my good man. Would love to see a Douglas Devastator.
Reminds me of my good friend Gordon, as his ground man for his early fixed wing hang glider, what a flyer and the amazing times we had! I drove his land cruiser to many a Montana Mountain top and he would fly as Condor for many hours I could make the trek to landing area oft before he landed. He was an Eagle 🦅 in a man’s body. He could flare out and touch down as if he stepped off a two foot ladder.
A college level teacher and a Korean War vet, he knew every plant and tree he flew by. I treasured the Ray Bans, his war glasses, he gave me till they fell apart from use. He also had a Piper
J 3 “Cub”.
He passed away in his eighties and I never once heard him complain of anything.
We always assembled his craft with great care as pre flight, sometimes I would survey the huge cliff with 1000 feet plus precipice and say Gordon where are you going to land?
Oh I saw a meadow about five miles back near the road we came in on. A Bird man talking to land man.
I’d say Gordon I wouldn’t take of there if my life depended on it but he knew what he could do and very rarely had any sort of mishap. Long before
Go pros it would be amazing to see today. Once another flyer chose not to fly and rode back down with me. He commented later he wished he’d have flown!
The Wildcat had small windows in floor.
...strictly speaking...that is a General Motors Wildcat, not Grumman. Not a put-down by any stretch as it was a tad livelier than the Grumman F4Fs. Always liked the tubby ol' things. That narrow track landing gear must have made for many an "interesting" landing!
Those folding wings are an amazing display of incredible engineering! Very cool!
My pop flew a Wildcat off a beat up carrier conversion in WWII. After watching these three videos it's hard to believe he returned in one piece--how the hell did they actually carry out combat action while keeping the thing in the air and running at the same time? Amazing! Heaters--must have been awfully old inside and given the noise communication must have been really difficult. I'm just in awe of it all. Thanks for the videos.
Those of you who are following Kermit's terrific series on the Wildcat may be interested in a book I was recently reading. " The Grumman Story" , by Richard Thruelsen, published by Praeger Publishers in 1976. Everything Grumman, right from the beginning to the F-14 Tomcat as far as 1974. Very cool stuff! Disclaimer: I ain't making a dime off this!
And I will add that back when he was still in the Dallas area I saw him demonstrate a LeRhone or Clerget (I can’t remember) engine from a WW1 Nieuport. He showed the small crowd of 15 or so how the blip interrupter or whatever that is called (regulates how often spark plugs ignite) controls engine RPM. The engine was on a test stand and when he hand cranked the wooden prop and went full throttle it seemed like the cable come-along winches that we’re holding the stand to the tarmac we’re going to pull apart. That 100+ HP engine was loud and amazingly powerful - kind of frightening. He was standing behind the stand in the prop wash (or more like prop blast). Thanks again, Kermit. Cool stuff happens around you, it seems.
You good sir are living my childhood dream, once dreamt of flying aircraft from both wars among the clouds. I'm so jealous of you, please keep uploading your flights, so this sick man can still dream...
Thanks for this series. My Dad's older brother flew the General Motors FM-2 version from the USS Makin Island (CVE-93) in the Pacific in late '44 and all of '45. I have some of his memorabilia and have donated some to the new USS Makin Island (LHD-8) which was commissioned in 2010 out of Coronado. My uncle's flight goggles and Pilot's Manual occupy a special place in my office/man cave. So great that I can see what he actually saw thanks to the Kermie Kam!
I came here for the experience… I ended up getting a type rating on a warbird😏
Such a rugged aircraft no wonder the wildcat could take so much punishment rip Buch O Hare
When i see the irreducible complexity of these machines, i always wonder how long it would take for this plane to evolve from a random explosion?lol.
Please let me guess what the Hellcat insignia means Mr. Kermie? You got the Cat Scratch Fever?
thanks for the video my friend, unfortunately here in brazil, I will never have a chance to fly one beautifull airplane like yours
Folks may not believe this and I wonder if Kermit remembers, but I sat in that Wildcat. I was among about 100 people at a private party at Kermit’s facility in Florida in 1995. I worked then for a special guest of Kermit’s that did a little concert along with a couple of other bands at the day party outside. He flew a Storch for everyone into a strong headwind and it just hovered up there. A lucky guy from another band got to ride in the back seat. That night at the gathering inside the buildings guests ate and visited and some (including myself) played on an early flight sim with six or eight cockpits linked together for dogfighting. Each had seats, sticks, throttles and pedals. At some point during the party I asked Kermit if I could look more closely at the Wildcat as it was my favorite Navy aircraft and he took me out to the large hangar - no one else was with us- and put me in the seat of the plane in this video. He said you can move the stick and rudder pedals but don’t touch the switches ESPECIALLY THESE (he didn’t shout but he did add emphasis). He said those will start the engine!! Then, amazingly, he walked back into the reception room adjacent to the hangar and left me there alone sitting in the cockpit. I was just tripping. The cockpit is much larger than I expected. That was a fun day and night. Thank you, Kermit Weeks!! I treasure that memory.
I believe ya bud
that is always soo cool on the mechanism that allows these carrier planes wings to fold. the wildcat and hellcat look like they have the more complex way of folding a wing. is there a plane more complex then the wildcat with folding wings?
Hi from indonesia.
i liked your channel sir, keep going it.
Regarding wing folding: I found a video on wing folding on a WW2 carrier. ua-cam.com/video/bfkwjU8k6W4/v-deo.html
Thanks for sharing these incredible fly-a-longs with us! Nothing better than getting to hang out with someone who is so passionate about their hobby.
That undercarriage reminds me of the wheels on my billy cart in grade one. That can't be serious. It looks like it is made of match sticks.
The way those wings fold, I can almost fit the whole plane in my pocket, take it home with me.
Question: How much does having foldable wings compomise their structual integrity? In a dogfight, would you be limited to a certain amount of g's/speed? I love your videos by the way!
The Wildcat has no limits. The wings are stronger because of the extra stuff in there, but it makes them heavier also.
There were a few aircraft g limited by the folding mechanism in the wing, such as many bearcats, but the wildcat and hellcat had different mechanisms and weren't g-limited by the wings.
i'm a rc planes fan and own a B-17 and looking to buy the wildcat..it so great to see the real one in action
thanks for the pov kermie cam, great experience! So different but in ways so similar to learning to preflight a cessna!
I want your life, I would kill to ride in any ww2 aircraft.
Or just to see one
A lot of museums have em, if you can make the buck, go visit one ^_^
Cade Donegan go to an airshow, they have a lot of em on display.
The excitement is mostly in your mind. Take a ride in a T-6 Texan at an airshow. Be sure to carry a couple of air sickness bags if you want to pull Gs and do some aerobatics.
Well, no, its not, what a ridiculous attitude.
Maybe for you its a let down???? Ive taken several rides in Pitts Specials and Tiger Moths, loved it, the excitement was doubled. Pulled up to 5 G, not a single bag needed, not everyone is like you.
Feel sorry for you buddy, what a dead view of a very exciting thing. Maybe see a doctor, figure out why you feel that way.
This looks like a very late model FM-2 version for escort carrier duty. I can't wait see him spin the hand crank 30 odd times to manually raise the wheels. This plane looks post war that might have been brought back from export.
How can you tell it is not a General Motors Wildcat?
I heard that most 'survivors' nowadays are GM-made planes because they were still in production when Grumman were producing the Hellcat.
The General Motors FM-2 has a taller tail. I think this is an FM-2.
I always learn lots of subtle details through watching these videos. Another great one.
Helloo..mister.. i want fly with you..i like that...
the lucky you are to fly those legendary WWII warbirds. the lucky we are so that we can follow with you your preflight check up and then the flight itself. thank you sir. what about a flight upon a british hurricane or spit mk II or V ?
It's beatyfull
omg that pin holding that wing is soooo hard for me to trust!🤣
I was on a carrier ! ID HATE to have to undo those small bolts ancabel to get the wing ready to unfold , on a pitching deck in a storem !! those guy were the best!!
I wonder if due to parts being extremely rare in some cases if these planes are "babied" a little to cut down on wear and tear ?
Legend has it that Lee Roy Grumman sketched the design for the folding wing on a napkin at a local luncheonette in Farmingdale LI.
I was told this story by a few of the old timers at Von Lessen's Luncheonette on Main Street in Farmingdale NY back in the late 1980s. Apparently Lee Roy Grumman and some of his associates were regulars there.
Very nice
Thank you so much for plane tour really I'm feeling like I'm beside you watching everything as you do
Awesome 😎
Good instructions
Love your vids Kermit. Sadly this time, I couldn't see anything on the portside console. Starboard side either. I think that they were in deep shade due to the aircrafts orientation to the sun. Love the Grumman Ironworks cats. Wildcats, Hellcats and Bearcats!!!
Oh My!!!!!!!
I learned more in my 50 yrs of ABSOLUTELY LOVING the f4f and f6f in this video than all the books and manuals I've read which is ALOT..Thank you..BEAUTIFUL AIRCRAFT Sir..God bless you and be safe
How a video is done! To the point, all the walk through,all the natural sound of tin n hinges etc, and seeing how she spreads her wings! Great stuff!
Thanks for doing your videos it’s very interesting for us. I flew with my dad in his plane when I was young. I’m in a radio control flying club and fly the F4F and it is a very sweet plane to fly.😊
Man when is Kermit going to get his own show. I love watching these videos. Like dyer2cycle said it’s like Leno’s garage with warbirds instead of cars. And man I love these old planes. Thanks yet again Kermit and team.
I'm still amazed at folding-wing aircraft, how they get sufficient strength without the spar making its way through most of the wing.
I'd like to buy a plane like you.
Can you?
Thank so very much for showing us those Beautiful Planes from the past
FANTASTIC video. Thanks.
Kermit,
You MADE MY DAY!
So much fun to watch!
Great video! I really enjoyed how you realized the sun was straight on and would impact the video, so you turned the a/c 180 and had the sun at your back.
Is there nothing this man can’t fly?
I had a model of this plane when I was a kid lol.
8:05 kitty is "visually communicating"
Regarding the cable that keeps the wings retracted, why is there a quick release locking pin on the forward part and a bolt and nut on the rear part? Why not have two quick release pins?
F4Fカッコいい！！
零戦と違って翼をたためる機構は素晴らしい！
Question (maybe stupid) - Is it safe, to put the radio cable under parachute belts? I mean, if there would be a need to bail out, isnt there a risk of stucking in the cockpit just because of that cable put under the belts? Sorry for clumsy english. :-)
i love POV Plane Videos!!
Thanks for sharing!!!
I can't imagine a better job than you have, Kermit. What fun, what fun!
Only draining the fuel sump for about one second is not sufficient to assure no water exists in the fuel! Yes, I'm correcting the great Kermit Weeks! A proper fuel sample should ALWAYS be made within a cup or tube to assure no water exists in the fuel. As a CFII/A&P I am not surprised by the actions of this old, bold pilot of so many giant, powerful, expensive WWII birds. You think something so "minor" as a proper fuel sample could endanger a flight? I have been a victim of improper fuel/water sampling many years ago. I had a partial engine failure due to water in the fuel. Guess what?! I had drained the fuel sump onto the tarmac for a second or two just like Weeks did in this video! ALWAYS gather your fuel sample in a cup and continue draining until no visible water exists in the fuel!
Amazing machine.
It was absolutely perfect!
very nice video!
Is it just me, or does this thing look really small.
Looks like a half scale to me.
great Video i love the usa
I like planes Thats Cool
How difficult and expensive is it getting to find av gas to run that engine on? I've been told that it's being phased out which has led to most of the remaining DC-3's being taken out of service in favor of turbo-prop aircraft.
Thank you so Much. Sir