Anyone have information on TEMCO TF-51D's

[Ed Likes]

I know about Collings fantastic TEMCO TF-51D. But there are suppose to be 2 other airframes in existence. Anyone out there in WIX land have any information of the current status or location of the other 2 airframes? Thanks in advance.

[Clifford Bossie]

War Eagles Air Museum in Santa Teresa NM owns 44-84658 [N51TF]

[RobC]

There is a vicious rumor that the erstwhile Reno Gold contender "Ridge Runner" is to be neutered into a Late Model TEMCO, to be named "Bump Stumbler".

[steve dickey]

Hey Cliff, did they give up on trying to get the Friendly Ghost flying? I think you posted those pics a couple years ago??

[Clifford Bossie]

Hey Cliff, did they give up on trying to get the Friendly Ghost flying? I think you posted those pics a couple years ago??

Steve - The Friendly Ghost has had regular maintenance, but has not flown in years. That is due to a choice by the Board of Directors. The only ones we fly are the BT-13 and AT-6.

[steve dickey]

Thanks Cliff, was this the last time it was run?

[Randy Haskin]

FWIW, in my opinion based on knowing some of the history behind 44-84658 and seeing photos of the fuselage that would eventually be restored into it, "Friendly Ghost" is actually a Cavalier TF-51 and not a TEMCO TF-51.

I published a more detailed writeup on this about 10 years ago in Warbird Digest (an article called "Peace Ponies"), but the crux of it is that Cavalier prepared two TF-51s to export to Indonesia. One was painted SEA-style camouflage, and one was painted white. There is documentation to show that the camouflage-painted one crashed and was destroyed in Indonesian AF service, and there are photos of the white TF-51 fuselage being shipped back to the US with all the others purchased by Steve Johnson.

We know from both firsthand accounts (Bob Lindsay, son of Cavalier owner/founder David Lindsay) and photographs from Cavalier during this time that the one painted camo was N851D, the TEMCO TF-51. The white one was ex-N451D, a single-seat P-51D converted into a Cavalier TF-51.

The source of the mistaken identity is rooted in a letter written by a USAF attache who provided the serial numbers of the Indonesian AF aircraft to Johnson when he bought up all of their Mustangs. That letter lists the TF-51 as 44-84658/ex-N851D, and I believe that's what Mr MacGuire used to determine the ID and register it. I'm certain there was no intent to deceive here -- that's the information they were given by the USAF, and for all practical purposes, that is "truth" data.

There is more detail to the story, but that's the thumbnail sketch.

The Cavalier TF modification was essentially the same as the TEMCO modification, so in some ways it doesn't matter in terms of the metal...but for the historically-minded...

As an aside, I'm always looking for new information, photos, etc, on these former Cavalier airplanes to she new light on their histories. If anyone has anything, please contact me, and I'm always willing to share what I have for anyone that is curious or doing research of their own.

[JohnB]

Nelson Ezell in Breckenridge, TX has a dual control STC.
He might know something about the Temco mods.

[Joe Scheil]

As for the status of the original TEMCO TF-51D's remaining, this is their present locations and status:

The restored 44-84655 N551CF which will be flying nationwide and offering flight instruction in the Mustang with the Collings Foundation Wings of Freedom tour. This makes N551CF very easy to track and watch! This is an Oshkosh Grand Champion as well, and is a super rare opportunity to log time in such a well restored aircraft.

The restored 44-84858 N51TF is on display at the War Eagles Museum in Santa Theresa NM, and a great short visit if you find yourself in El Paso. The aircraft is in good shape, and is representative of a restored Mustang to a 1990 standard of completion.

The only original and unrestored TF-51D is sitting in South Korea on display with another F-51D and is a static display. Having not seen the aircraft, I must admit that poking through her details is a huge hope for me at some point. However for now she is "off limits" and under "guard". You can photograph her, but her canopy and internal details are hidden. It is possible and in fact probable I suppose that she is 44-84669, but that is conjecture. The ROKAF received six of the TF-51D's during 1954.

There have been 14 non-Cavalier "TEMCO" TF-51D conversions since 1978 or so to date, and there are currently 4 more building....

not my photo...but clearly the specific details to a TF-51 are evident.