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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 F4F/FM Wildcat
    Latest Model:FM-2 Wildcat
    Last Military Serial:86581 USN
    Construction Number:5635
    Last Civil Registration:NL1PP
    Compressed ID:General Motors Eastern Aircraft Div...
    Latest Owner or Location:Air Zoo Aerospace and Science Experience, Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport, Kalamazoo, Michigan

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    Dates

    Event

    Constructed as a FM-2 by General Motors Eastern Aircraft Division at Baltimore, MD, USA.

    1945

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Navy with BuNo 86581.

    From 25 March 1946 to 1968

    To New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas, NM.
    Used as instructional airframe.

    1968

    Abandoned.
    Stripped at Las Vegas, NM.

    1968

    To Robert L. Younkin, Fayetteville, AR.

    1969

    Transported by ground.
    Trucked to Fayetteville, AR for restoration.

    1969

    Restoration completed.

    1969

    To Gunther W. Balz, Kalamazoo, MI with new c/r N86581.

    Markings Applied: 1
    Marked as aircraft of Navy Composite Squadron 90 (VC-90) operating off USS Steamer Bay in 1945.

    8 July 1970

    Certificate of airworthiness for N86581 (FM-2, 86581) issued.

    December 1971

    To Preston Parish, Kalamazoo, MI keeping c/r N86581.

    1974

    To Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum, Kalamazoo, MI with new c/r N1PP.

    Circa September 1975


    Photographer: Larry Johnson
    Notes: In Galesburg, IL.

    Circa September 1975


    Photographer: Larry Johnson
    Notes: In Galesburg, IL.

    30 May 1976


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
    Notes: At Rickenbacker AFB, OH

    1978


    Photographer: Unknown
    Notes: Photographed at Oshkosh.

    18 January 1978

    To Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum, Portage, MI with new c/r NL1PP.

    July 1979


    Photographer: Unknown
    Notes: Photographed at Oshkosh.

    31 July 1979


    Photographer: Paul Thallon
    Notes: 1979 photo at Oshkosh WI - of a Grumman FM-2 Wildcat

    Based at Air Zoo, Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport, Kalamazoo, MI.
    View the Location Dossier

    Markings Applied: 1

    22 July 1987


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

    19 July 1995


    Photographer: Mike Henniger
    Notes: Photographed at the Kalamazoo Air Zoo in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

    24 September 2007


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

    1 January 2008

    Certificate of airworthiness for NL1PP (FM-2, 86581) issued.

    28 August 2014

    Civil registration, N1PP, cancelled.
    Aircraft placed on static display at Kalamazoo.

    To Air Zoo Aerospace and Science Experience, Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport, Kalamazoo, MI.
    View the Location Dossier
    This dossier is waiting for review by an editor.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.
    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 History Site by Geoff Goodall
    Federal Aviation Administration in the United States of America
    United States Military Services Serial Number Lists by Joe Baugher
    Individual Contributors
     Glenn Chatfield
    Mike Henniger
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