Two P-51Ds for sale

[Jim MacDonald]

Anyone know any info on which two planes these are? Advertised at Barnstormers:

2 (EA) NORTH AMERICAN P-51DS • $4,300,000 • RARE AIRCRAFT FOR SALE • Two Mustangs very nice airplanes. Being sold for an estate. Principals only. Aircraft in the US. • Contact Fred L. Austin located Sparks, NV USA • Telephone: 360-477-3100 . • Posted May 14, 2016 • Show all Ads posted by this Advertiser • Recommend This Ad to a Friend • Email Advertiser • Save to Watchlist • Report This Ad

Mac

[JimH]

Ted Contri

[Lynn Allen]

I have been wondering when they would go to market. RIP Ted...

[Lon Moer]

RIP Ted Contri.

[Lon Moer]

Hmmmm..same dealer

LARGE LOT OF WARBIRD PARTS • MAKE OFFER • P-40, P-38, P-51, AT-6, Allison, Curtiss Wright, P&W. Over 300 WW-2 parts. No List just photos! • Contact Fred L. Austin located Sparks, NV USA • Telephone: 360-477-3100 . • Posted May 15, 2016

[Jim MacDonald]

Sorry to say that I don't think that I've ever heard of him before. Judging by his obit, he sounded like a real gentleman.

Mac

[wendovertom]

Have these Mustangs been flying recently? At 4.3M is that for both planes or 4.3 per plane? Seems a little high per plane but then if they have good provenance . . . .

Tom P.

[Neal Nurmi]

They are excellent airplanes -- really beautifully restored. Ted was a real friend of aviation, and a truly wonderful man. This winter I ran into a former employee of his who now works for the National Parks (Ted had a sizeable heavy construction and contracting business) who absolutely loved working for Ted. Frank said that Ted had an open offer to all his employees to pay for flight lessons if they were interested. He also for a while kept a Cessna at the airport with credit card for qualified employees to borrow to build hours. He was a huge supporter of Air Racing -- his company's name was always on a couple of Racers at Reno as a sponsor.

Ted was very special -- he will be missed by all who ever crossed paths with him.

When I get a chance I'll dig up some photos of him and his Mustangs and post them here.

[JohnTerrell]

Both very beautiful aircraft, and obviously very well kept over the years.

"Sizzlin' Liz": http://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/su ... l/44-63542

"Rosalie": http://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/su ... l/44-75009

[Neal Nurmi]

I believe that one or both of these were the airplanes that were for many years owned by a character in the Gold Country in California. As I recall they just sat out in the open rotting for many years with the owner refusing all offers to rescue them. Somehow Ted finally got the owner to sell and this was the result.

[Speedy]

I believe that one or both of these were the airplanes that were for many years owned by a character in the Gold Country in California. As I recall they just sat out in the open rotting for many years with the owner refusing all offers to rescue them. Somehow Ted finally got the owner to sell and this was the result.

Who is this "Neal Nurmi" posting on this site? The name sounds familiar. Used to be a photographer of some sort, I think. Then he disappeared onto Death Valley and became the stuff of legends.

[Mark Allen M]

They are excellent airplanes -- really beautifully restored. Ted was a real friend of aviation, and a truly wonderful man. This winter I ran into a former employee of his who now works for the National Parks (Ted had a sizeable heavy construction and contracting business).

Yes he was a good guy indeed. I've done business with his folks in the past. Never disappointed.

[Neal Nurmi]

[/quote]Who is this "Neal Nurmi" posting on this site? The name sounds familiar. Used to be a photographer of some sort, I think. Then he disappeared onto Death Valley and became the stuff of legends.[/quote]

Hello Brad! "Legends"? Yes, I'm afraid that desert flowers, flash floods and old mining cabins have mostly taken the place of Warbirds in our lives (Birgitta is not unhappy about that). Now that I'm back in the world with internet for a while, I'm scanning and digitizing more old aviation stuff, so maybe you'll see a few Wingman pictures again.

Losing two valued aviation friends this winter (I'm thinking of Ted and of Jim Good up in Wyoming) has gotten me thinking about airplanes and pilots again...

[BigGrey]

Ted flew both planes around the area quite often. I last saw him flying "Liz" at the Carson City Airport open house with "Rosalie" on display several months before his passing. On Memorial Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day he would be doing fly-bys for parades and services all over the area.

[Speedy]

Who is this "Neal Nurmi" posting on this site? The name sounds familiar. Used to be a photographer of some sort, I think. Then he disappeared onto Death Valley and became the stuff of legends.[/quote]

Hello Brad! "Legends"? Yes, I'm afraid that desert flowers, flash floods and old mining cabins have mostly taken the place of Warbirds in our lives (Birgitta is not unhappy about that). Now that I'm back in the world with internet for a while, I'm scanning and digitizing more old aviation stuff, so maybe you'll see a few Wingman pictures again.

Losing two valued aviation friends this winter (I'm thinking of Ted and of Jim Good up in Wyoming) has gotten me thinking about airplanes and pilots again...[/quote]



Just missing you, buddy. Both Randy and DJ ask about you. Say hi to Birgitta.