Lou IV restoration

[florida.warbirds]

Terry Dieno posted this picture of the restoration work being done on "LouIV" http://www.mustangsmustangs.net/p-51/su ... l/44-63350

[yhm424sq]

I was just searching the web the other day for more information about this airframe. I was hoping it would be close to flying. Do you or anyone else have any further info as to its current status?

Could you tell me where this photo was posted?

[airnutz]

I was just searching the web the other day for more information about this airframe. I was hoping it would be close to flying. Do you or anyone else have any further info as to its current status?

Could you tell me where this photo was posted?

Yhm, if you go up to the Retroaviation Maintenance Hangar there is a thread on this Lou IV with their facebook link and a bit of info. There is a www link but it has never worked for me. Good luck!

[yhm424sq]

Thanks

[Lon Moer]

I remember back in 1978 when John Dilley had entered Lou IV in the Reno Air Races and Paul Poberezny ended up racing it during one of the heat races. He had such great time he went back to Oshkosh and had the 'Grey Fox' Cavalier, http://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/survivors/serial/44-75007, painted up to match Lou IV with the blue camo and named it after himself - Paul I

[k5083]

I didn't know that story about the origin of the Paul I paint scheme. At that time, EAA was painting quite a few of its planes in its house colors of blue, white, black and gold (even their DC-3), so the misbegotten 361st FG paint scheme was a good fit for the organization.

August

[Saville]

Boy you read the history on MustangsMustangs and that poor plane sure has had a tough life.

[JohnTerrell]

Here is another photo I recently saw posted on Facebook of this aircraft, taken back on August 16th, showing the aircraft all buttoned-up (during the Vimy Flight tour stop/visit to the airport).
https://scontent-ort2-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/ ... e=5A54E2B2

The final to-do list must be getting quite small by now - gear retract tests and engine runs have already been accomplished/underway. Terry's group also has two more P-51D's underway, both having started as new-build/parts projects (those being 44-73973 and 44-12870).

[T J Johansen]

44-73973 is definitely a new- built airframe. The real 973 flies as "Cottonmouth" in the US, and has done so since the late 70s. I'd like to know where the paperwork has been hiding for all this time though...

T J

[JohnTerrell]

For those reading this that are not in-tune with these particular Mustangs, "Cotton Mouth" has been registered under the identity of 44-10755 since 1975, when it was imported back into the US from El Salvador, but evidence indicates that this airframe was originally 44-73973, which is the same serial number that one of the new-build projects currently underway is registered as. The serial number that "Cotton Mouth" adopted in 1975 is actually that of a P-51C, as is also the serial number that the Biltema Cavalier Mustang adopted around the same time (also a former El Salvador Mustang).