Ferocious Felines Airborne: AirVenture 2022 to Feature Flight of the Cats

Four of the most iconic military aircraft built by Grumman will make a rare reunion appearance during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2022, as the “Flight of the Cats” will be part of the afternoon air shows on July 27 and 29.

The four Grumman airplanes — the F4F Wildcat, F6F Hellcat, F8F Bearcat, and F7F Tigercat — were developed within an eight-year period in the late 1930s and 1940s. They were best known for their roles within the U.S. Navy and Marines, although the Bearcat was used by air forces around the world as late as the early 1960s.

The reunion was made possible with the involvement of Rod Lewis and the Lewis Air Legends collection, one of the world’s most impressive private assemblages of warbird aircraft.

During the afternoon air shows on July 27 and 29, the individual aircraft involved are scheduled to include the Wildcat, Bearcat, and Tigercat from Rod Lewis’ collection, with Evan Fagen at the controls of the Hellcat that is based at the Fagen Fighters WWII Museum in Granite Falls, Minnesota.

AThe Flight of the Cats will make AirVenture 2022 a spectacular warbird event, adding to such highlights as Jerry Yagen’s Military Aviation Museum aircraft and others previously announced.