P-51 Polar Bear, Looking Good at Pacific Fighters

[Ryan Harris]

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... p?p=430012

Here is a link to an old thread about the airframe, showing a photo of the recovered fuselage and the "new" fuselage. In today's age, this would be a dream find.

Moon also told me that his wings ended up with Collings, although I have no idea how intact they were to begin with.

[JohnH]

Right Chad, I wondered the same thing after I read the Warbirds Intl article back in the day about it.

Ever since seeing the Beck P-51A project, I have been hoping that the tooling and parts would make their way into a Polar Bear re-restoration someday.

Randy took the words right out of my mouth. I have often wondered why Spillers bothered to bring anything down off the mountain other than the data plate. The story I read regarding the restoration said that along with the D fuselage and wing a NOS canopy and cowlings were also utilized in the restoration. So what does that leave of the original wreck that was used? I'm not bad mouthing anybody, just wondering. Although I would love to see it returned to a more stock A model appearance it is, and always has been, a very neat airplane and a testament to the will of Moon Spillers.


PS - I read a short blurb regarding the rework of this airplane somewhere on the net just within the last few weeks. Might have been on Facebook, can't remember. At any rate I was sure that I read a quote by the current ownder stating something to the effect that the airplane would much more resemble a stock A model when Pacific Fighters was done with it. Wishful thinking on my part maybe?

[RacingMustang]

Good to see this.

Those A model Mustangs are some of the best looking, IMO. Second only to the D.

[Speedy]

PS - I read a short blurb regarding the rework of this airplane somewhere on the net just within the last few weeks. Might have been on Facebook, can't remember. At any rate I was sure that I read a quote by the current ownder stating something to the effect that the airplane would much more resemble a stock A model when Pacific Fighters was done with it. Wishful thinking on my part maybe?

I think that was on AAFO. Dusty Dowd was talking about his experiences racing his Yak-11 at Reno last year and was talking about wanting to bring Polar Bear to Reno when it's done.