Ft. Rucker Mustang

[Ken]

When the US Army Aviation Museum was located in some old buildings (80's) I remember seeing a tall tail F-51 on display - it had been used as a chase plane for helicopter test projects. We have been back to the museum ('05) since they've moved into a new, modern facility, but no Mustang.

Any idea where this airframe is and its status/plans?

Ken

[Obergrafeter]

Do they have any Army T-28s?

[T J Johansen]

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/p51regis ... 15796.html

T J

[Jerry O'Neill]

Is that an authentic paint scheme on the mustang?
If it isn't, it stillamazes me that in this day and age a beautiful aircraft like this recieves a final coat of "crap" and is then deemed fit for display.
Jerry

[Swiss Mustangs]

The one at Fort Rucker is 44-72990 - Army Chase plane for the AH-56 Cheyenne project - never had a tall tail; it's still there, but tucked away in another hangar (don't know whether accessible to the public or not)

The one in T J's link is a Cavalier F-51 68-15796 - also used as chase plane; the way it is displayed today simply is a disgrace in my books - a botched attempt to make it look like a stock P-51D for whatever reasons - the paint scheme is nowhere near authentic.

Martin

[maxum96]

The one in T J's link is a Cavalier F-51 68-15796 - also used as chase plane; the way it is displayed today simply is a disgrace in my books - a botched attempt to make it look like a stock P-51D for whatever reasons - the paint scheme is nowhere near authentic.

Martin

I'm just thankful that it's indoors. And it can be repainted.

[Jack Cook]

Martin the registry says this a/c is 44-13571.
How can that be since #571 was in the 355th Fg and lost.
44-13571 P-51D 354th FS WR-U Kucheman Maj. Henry J "Hank" Miss Behave / Li'l Lo
44-13571 P-51D 354th FS WR-X Mendenhall Lt. Lee G Texas Terror IV
44-13571 P-51D 354th FS WR-X Stalcup Lt. Oran H Jolly Roger Lost in this a/c 10 Feb 45 - Ditched in Channel KIA

[Ken]

Because I last saw it in the late 80's, I can't say what the serial was, but when I clicked on the registry, it sure looked like the tall-tail, tip-tank bird pictured. Could the tail have been short? Maybe. It had the same Army paint scheme though. As for the bird pictured at Eglin, I agree. What a complete disgrace. The AF has a number of instances where static displays are painted terribly wrong. The buzz is all about "heritage" but I wish there were a greater ephasis on getting it right rather than just a bunch of feel-good hype.