Warbird Information Exchange

Did I miss the thread or is everyone sleeping on the job? I heard that "Old Crow" flew yesterday for the first time. Any pics yet?

There are some on the mustangsmustangs forum. Curtiss Fowles gets the credit.

http://www.mustangsmustangs.us/thehanga ... pic=1157.0

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Charles Neely

I was wondering if anybody was going to notice this event over here. Curtiss Fowles has posted some great shots over on Scotty Germain's web site. Go to "message board", then "Aviation Photography", and then "Look what I found". Gorgeous pictures of a breathtaking aircraft...

Dan Martin did the first flight, and the airplane is apparently now in Hollister.

http://www.warbirdaeropress.com/

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Neal Nurmi

---Wingman Photo---

HA! I was just on Scotty's board and missed it completely. That looks like Dan's style, low and loud. Very cool airplane for sure!

That looks fantastic!

To bad you can't see it until to register and then only after I'm approved

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Don't touch my junk!!

Jack, click on the Mustangsmustangs link.

Please excuse me, for I am not a Mustang nut. I have a question about the cockpit arrangment on that Mustang. I didn't know they had a big bubble canopy like that on the razor back models. Is this an after market modification? Or was it a field mod from back in WWII? Or maybe the transitional model from barred canopy to bubble (D model?)?

Please, someone out there, teach me something.

Cheers,

David

It was a field mod developed by the Brits (who were the first combat users of the -51) to deal with the significant visibility problems (especially to the rear) of the Mustang I. It apparently made a huge difference and was appropriated for many U. S. "razorback" (I know, I know) P-51s. It has til now not turned up in the warbird world because it is quite a complex fabrication and fitting job.

Nice to see one (not that I will actually in person see one soon, as the Rousch airplane will be going to all the wrong places, from a Westerner's point of view)...

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Neal Nurmi

---Wingman Photo---

Thanks Neal.

I agree with your Westerner's point of view as well.

Cheers,

David

There is no little controversy about who developed the hood for the Mustang III/P-51B/C. Most histories say it was a "British developement", but a number on individuals have offered documentation that the hood may actually have been an NAA developement and given to Malcolm Ltd. to manufacture (malcolm went on to develope similar hoods for T-bolt[the real "razorback"] and the Hellcat). To be sure, the first such hood was seen fitted to a British Allison Mustang. It would also be a prettygood bet that the Spit's hood influenced the Mustang's. By VE Day P-51B's and C's still in service seem to have had the Malcolm hood fitted more often than not.

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Charles Neely

Does the Malcolm hood permit the pilot to sit slightly higher in the cockpit?

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3382&highlight=dean+gilmore
In all the celebrating let's not forget the man who died in this a/c and his family

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Don't touch my junk!!

The airplane is based in Salinas (KSNS). It just made a visit to Hollister (KCVH). That's about a 10min flight.

Does the Malcolm Hood allow the pilot top sit higher? AFAIK- its no and yes.

I don't believe the seat goes any higher than itsw original adjustment allowed. However , the headroom was greater and allowed the pilot to turn his head and scan regions to the rear and below.

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Charles Neely