P-51D N96JM engine run

Fri Sep 25, 2009 7:57 pm

I am somewhat behind posting this (and owe a big appology to Old Chuck!) as this engine run was late last month. The folks at War Eagles Air Museum have been discussing returning their two P-51s to airworthy status. Part of that hinged on running the engine on N96JM for the first time in a couple of years. In addition to quite a few photos I also took some video, but as each clip averages 30 mb I have chosen to post only the following three photos.

Could a warbird ride program be in the works?

Fri Sep 25, 2009 8:04 pm

OOOOH I like the look of the rocket rails!!!! But dam that thing need the diamond tread tires.

Fri Sep 25, 2009 11:21 pm

Do you have a way to put the on DVD disk?? I'll supply one for mine... :wink:

Lynn

Last edited by Lynn Allen on Sat Sep 26, 2009 7:18 am, edited 1 time in total.

Sat Sep 26, 2009 12:15 am

Is that Jack Bell running it?

Sat Sep 26, 2009 8:25 am

Really great news Clifford :!:

. I have not been to the museum in a while and figured this Christmas I shall pay a visit as my folks live not that far away up in N.M. How'd the engine run :?:

Great to see the Mustang that had a lot of exposure in Bert Kinzeys's in detail & scale book hopefully get back in the air. Clifford correct me if wrong but this restoration has never flown :?:

And wasn't this a total in house restoration. Hope to meet up with you in late December :!:

. As a side note I and a friend of mine who knew Skip Trammel(spell?) let us sit in that very cockpit many moons ago when i was a freshman A&P, thanks Skip :!:

Sat Sep 26, 2009 8:30 am

I know it's a long shot, but is there any talk of them flying the TU-2 someday?

Sat Sep 26, 2009 11:29 am

steve dickey wrote:Really great news Clifford . I have not been to the museum in a while and figured this Christmas I shall pay a visit as my folks live not that far away up in N.M. How'd the engine run Great to see the Mustang that had a lot of exposure in Bert Kinzeys's in detail & scale book hopefully get back in the air. Clifford correct me if wrong but this restoration has never flown And wasn't this a total in house restoration. Hope to meet up with you in late December . As a side note I and a friend of mine who knew Skip Trammel(spell?) let us sit in that very cockpit many moons ago when i was a freshman A&P, thanks Skip

Hey Steve, the engine run up showed some issues: Overheating and less than full power. But that was last month and I am not sure if those issues have been addressed.

I believe you are correct, that this a/c has yet to fly. It came out of Indonesia and was indeed an in house restoration.

The guys at the museum are trying to convince Skip to return the P-40E to airworthiness as there would not be much required to do so. We'll see if that happens.

Contact me before uour visit in Decemeber. Most likely I will be working and just have my regular days off, but who knows...

Sat Sep 26, 2009 11:33 am

retroaviation wrote:I know it's a long shot, but is there any talk of them flying the TU-2 someday?

Not really sure about a Bat being made airworthy anytime soon. There were plans to rebuild the second Tu-2 at the museum to airworthy status, but nobody could make up their mind so it is not even on the back burner. There are several more at the ranch and maybe one of thjose will be traded. On issue that mahes it more difficult is the way the Chinese packed them for shipment, basically they cut all the wiring and all the lines so a great deal of work is needed on that. Plus I am not sure if any of the engines are complete. Maybe Chuck can add some info.

Sat Sep 26, 2009 12:45 pm

Sorry to be such an ignoramus but where exactly is this museum?
A flying TU-2 would be awesome to see.

Sat Sep 26, 2009 2:54 pm

Enemy Ace wrote:Sorry to be such an ignoramus but where exactly is this museum?
A flying TU-2 would be awesome to see.

War Eagles is at the Santa Teresa, New Mexico airport (5T6) about 15 miles west of El Paso, Texas.

http://www.war-eagles-air-museum.com/

A flying Tu-2 would be great, but I am not holding my breath.

Sat Sep 26, 2009 4:39 pm

So, how many hours have this 51 flown? I know that they flew the TF as well as the other two "stockers" (N87JB and N91JB) before they were sold off.

T J

Sat Sep 26, 2009 5:37 pm

Wow! I hadn't realized that any of the more substantial aircraft had flown at all since Mr. MacGuire's passing. I also had no clue that the museum had recently parted with two of its Mustangs. :shock:

While they are knocking the dust off the collection, maybe one day they'll entertain the idea of accepting sponsorships that would allow interested parties to finance the maintenance and flight of some of the other pieces in their collection.

A Lightning / Corsair formation over El Paso sure would make for a phenomenal photo op.

Sat Sep 26, 2009 6:06 pm

T J Johansen wrote:So, how many hours have this 51 flown? I know that they flew the TF as well as the other two "stockers" (N87JB and N91JB) before they were sold off.

T J

"I believe you are correct, that this a/c has yet to fly." From my earlier post :wink:

Sat Sep 26, 2009 6:16 pm

I can remember when John MacGuire bought the P-38 from Gary Levitz. I did alot of hangar flying as kid in that airplane while it was in the shop being repaired from the gear colapse at the air races in Reno. They (Classic's in Aviation) also did an T-33, F-86, and I think a Mig for John as well. Really nice guy when I met him back in the late 80's.

Sun Sep 27, 2009 7:36 am

steve dickey wrote:
T J Johansen wrote:So, how many hours have this 51 flown? I know that they flew the TF as well as the other two "stockers" (N87JB and N91JB) before they were sold off.

T J

"I believe you are correct, that this a/c has yet to fly." From my earlier post

Mixing alcohol and posting on forums is a deadly cocktail. Now look who's got egg on his face... :oops:

T J