LSFM Gets a TF-51

[Randy Haskin]

Are those listed "North American TP-51D's", dual control, single-seat-canopy aircraft?

Yes.

Unless you know what to look for (or were able to walk up to the airplane and actually look in the cockpit), they appear every bit to be single-holers.

[steve dickey]

Randy, it is uncertain how TF-51 FAS 404 (II) ended its career with the Salvadoran Air Force, but there was an event that could have damaged it beyond repair: In 1971-1972 an A-26B Invader (FAS 602), during engine tests at the ramp at Ilopango airport, accidentally began to taxi (mechanic had not correctly put the wheel chokes...) and collided with the TF-51. Right Invader engine and nose impacted TF-51 propeller and right wing, respectively. Although it is difficult to evaluate damage from the available pictures, it is possible that both aircraft were w/o after this incident.

Marco

My understanding was that it was a more severe accident that finished off FAS 404 #2....but you could be right!

For everyone else: This is the accident we're talking about....

Randy; is there any other known pics of this bird in El Salvador Thanks.

[Randy Haskin]

Randy; is there any other known pics of this bird in El Salvador Thanks.

That's the only one that I am aware of.

[Hunter1]

Doug purchased Crazy Horse which at the time was called Rascal III from Bob Byrne in 1985. He went to the Navy test Pilot School and told them he had a Mustnag, and then went to the bank and told them he had a Navy Contract. He got the Loan ! = My Uncles ( Peter and Richard ) did a significant overhaul on the Mustang in Early 1986.



When I was 8 years old and had just come to live with my Dad/ Lee, he said to me ..... " We can have A Mustang or we can have a house ... but keep in mind one thing.... we can always live in the Mustang but we CANT FLY THE HOUSE ! "

Lee became a partner with Doug in the Spring of 1986

Of course I said Mustang DAD ! We then lived in a Small apt in the hanger .with a Mustang in the "garage" . Which as a kid was MUCH MUCH cooler than a house !

In 1986 Crazy Horse was briefly named "Stallion II" with a horse head on the nose. My Dad/ Lee and my Step Mom came up with the name Crazy Horse based on the Indian Chief. Actually it was because you "must be crazy to get into this business" and because the Mustang is a "Horse"


some other names that were tossed around if I remember correctly were :

Fist Full of Dollars

Nice Twice

However Crazy Horse is what was finally decided on.

24 years later Stallion 51 is what it is today.

Crazy Horse 1 was the last Cavalier TF-51 built. and was built from a couple set of parts that the Lindsey Family had in there stock.


Anyhow these are the cliff notes on how Horse 1 came into my family ! I will post some great old time photos soon !

Brad Lauderback

[Marco Lavagnino]

Steve, the only available pictures so far showing TF-51 FAS 404 (II) both show the same scene, the second having been taken at ground level.

Marco

[Randy Haskin]

Thanks for that 'family history' Brad!

[mlenoch]

Good to hear from you, Brad.
Vlado

[lmritger]

While I appreciate the TF being in a period correct scheme for operational use, I have to admit I'm excited to hear we're going to have another 359th bird out there. "Daddy's Girl" has really grown on me over the years, so any additional "green noses" are welcome news!

Lynn

[Django]

Daddy's Girl is the only one right?

[marine air]

Brad athanks for clarifiying. That jives with what your dad was telling me when I went to see him to do the P-51 type rating a few years ago. I know your uncles going back to GE GE, GE GE II, and the P-40s when they were trucked down from Alaska and they had the shop in Orlando at Herndon Field.
YOur dad said they working on Crazy Horse before the business took off, and my memory was that your dad and Doug were 1/2 partners originally. I probably assumed one bought in with the other.
Doug was an intense and neat guy and your dad has done a superb job of moving the business forward and keeping it going.

[marine air]

Randy, Thanks for that list of the TP's Temco's and Cavaliers. I was hoping one of the surviving Temco's was a Tennessee Guard bird, but fdoubt it. If you will send me your email I will scan the photos of the Temco TF that crashed at BNA and was scrapped. I also know the story behind the training accident.
Thanks

[Bill Greenwood]

Brad, can it really be that long? If so then you must no longer be a kid and that means the rest of us are o.........d, well it's too awful to say it out loud.

I remember when Doug first brought the plane to Oskhosh, I has one of the first rides with him, and all went well, but on the next flight he had an engine problem and had to make an emergency landing right back on.

Mine was more of a ride than a lesson, but he did have me do the taxiing, and as we got out near the runway he told me to unlock tailwheel and hit full left rudder and brake. I had never done a ground loop, but we went all the way round that time.

Flying with Doug and Lee was great, there are a lot of excellent pilots around,but not all the others are good teachers are even want to be.

I sure need another Mustang fix, it has been too long. You know, I can still recall much of my first 51 ride with Dan Martin about 26 years ago, but really have little impression of my one jet ride, except that a Soko is a nice looking little bird.

[Randy Haskin]

have little impression of my one jet ride, except that a Soko is a nice looking little bird.

Hey, my first little jet ride was in a Galeb, too. N109PP up at Boeing Field in Seattle.

[zorro7]

More data on this elusive aircraft:

Pilot Peter Lerts reported back in Oct '78 in Air Classics that this particular aircraft was indeed a Cavalier sample. It was 1 of 5 fuselages brought back disassembled from El Salvador c. Nov-'74. First, according to the article c. 1970s the TF-51 ran-off the rwy on take-off at Ilopango. Then, more damage was done to the fuselage during the recovery operations, later on, it was taxied by a FAS B-26 during a mil operation.

This info matches the description of the photo posted recently by Randy. The 2 wings are metal type not dark green scheme and the left strut appears a bit lighter also. It is very poss that we are looking at the original FAS 400 with components fm FAS 402 or other FAS P-51 aircraft in the area. While the tail section appears to indicate a FAS 404 type number it does not match the original one by Cavalier. Its N Reg # c. 1978 was NX4151D.

Someone in the P-51 restoration circle has some pics of the 5 FAS P-51s that came dissasembled to Calif c. 1974. Maybe that would put this matter to rest. Photo FAS Museum via Randy Haskin.

[steve dickey]

Trying to find out what this mod is/was Randy or Rich; or any Cavalier experts out there. Was wondering what the slot (like a control cable exit) behind the round patch.
Thanks.





Its only on the left.