We pay a visit to the Air Zoo's Restoration Center to check out the progress on the FM-2 Wildcat project. | Air Zoo

For nearly half a century, Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat BuNo 12260 rested on the bottom of Lake Michigan, a relic of World War II Navy aircraft carrier training. More than 30 years after it emerged from the chilly waters of the lake and 28 years after the restoration, the aircraft is still airworthy, and is the only known flying F4F in the world. #WarbirdWednesday | EAA - The Spirit of Aviation

Our Grumman Wildcat is painted with original 1943 markings. George Hahn flew this Wildcat from the training carrier Sable, during carrier training on Lake Michigan. The aircraft experienced mechanical difficulties forcing Hahn to ditch in the lake. The Wildcat remained under 220 feet of water until 1991 when it was recovered. The tanks still contained gas and oil, one tire was still inflated, and the pilot’s oxygen bottle measured 1800 pounds of pressure. After four years of restoration, our Wil