BuNo #124692 This is the aircraft that:
- Ditched in ocean off New Smyrna Beach, FL, Apr. 4, 1997.
- Sank in 50 feet of water, salvaged Apr. 14, 1997.
- Restoration at New Smyrna Beach, FL, 1998-2002.
- THEN.....On September 25th, 2003, on its second test flight out of New Smyrna Beach, FL, the Corsair was unable to extend the right main landing gear due to hydraulic system problems. To minimize damage, the left gear was retracted and the decision was made to carefully belly-land the aircraft on the runway. Pilot Dale “Snort” Snodgrass did an excellent job and damage was limited to the propeller, flaps, and light scraping of the landing gear doors. Only a month and a half later, on November 14th, the repaired aircraft took to the skies again without a trace of the incident of September 25th thanks to the hard work of the crew at American Aero Services in New Smyrna Beach, FL.