Four legendary fighter aircraft built by Grumman will be featured prominently among the warbirds gathering and aerial displays during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025, taking place July 21–27 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The 72nd edition of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s annual fly-in convention will welcome the Air Legends Foundation’s impressive quartet of aircraft—an F4F-3 Wildcat, F6F Hellcat, F7F Tigercat, and F8F Bearcat.
Known collectively as the “Flight of the Cats,” these aircraft will be on display at various locations throughout the week, including Boeing Plaza and the EAA Warbirds of America area. They will also participate in the daily afternoon air shows, offering spectators a rare opportunity to see these iconic warbirds fly together. Specific times and dates for these appearances will be announced as they are finalized.
“This unmatched collection from the Air Legends Foundation matches perfectly with AirVenture’s emphasis on aviation technology during the period extending from World War II to the Korean Conflict,” said Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member programs, who oversees AirVenture features and attractions. “To have all of them at Oshkosh and in the air at the same time will undoubtedly be one of those ‘Only at Oshkosh’ moments for which AirVenture is famous.”
Each aircraft in the collection holds a unique place in American military aviation history. The F4F-3 Wildcat, which entered service in 1940 and was also known as the Martlet in British service, was known for its rugged durability, maneuverability, and long range. Its successor, the F6F Hellcat, was specifically designed to counter the Japanese Zero and became the U.S. Navy’s dominant carrier-based fighter during the latter half of World War II. The F7F Tigercat marked a milestone as the first twin-engine fighter deployed by the U.S. Navy, serving from the end of World War II through 1954. Finally, the F8F Bearcat, Grumman’s last piston-engine fighter, was introduced just as World War II ended and went on to serve both the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps well into the mid-20th century. The “Flight of the Cats” will be a major highlight of AirVenture’s extensive warbird programming, which brings together the world’s largest annual gathering of vintage military aircraft for a week of history, heritage, and high-flying excitement.
