RickH wrote:
Yes, at least one of the Aussie nuclear test mustangs still exists as a complete airframe. It was the first of the type in RAAF service actually, A68-1, and was owned and raced by Gary Levitz at one time. I am not sure, but I think it's serial number is 44-15757. It still flies, and is now owned by Wiley Sanders I believe.
A68-1 is indeed the single intact Emu test airframe. The others that went to Cavalier are:
A68-7
A68-30
A68-35
A68-72
A68-87
There are a couple intersting articles written about the tests and the recovery of these airframes. I am away from home, so I don't have them at my fingertips so I can't list the actual references.
The story of what happened to the airplanes after they hit the docks in the US is not completely understood. The most popular story says that the airframes were pre-sold by the importer (Stan Booker) to buyers in the US, but the airframes were held up on the docks in California by Customs.
Somehow the airframes were subsequently sold in a single batch to Cavalier, but I don't know how/why the original sales didn't end up being completed.