Ex-Jim Shuttleworth TF-51 'Scat VII'

[Mike]

Does anyone know the status of the former Jim Shuttleworth TF-51 'Scat VII'? I see that it is listed as an expected participant at the GML in September.

http://www.gml2007.com/p51-attending/Scat-VII.asp

I understood that it was effectively destroyed in Shuttleworth's fatal accident in 2003. Has it now been resurrected? It's now registered to 'Flight Management LLC' of Seattle (since 2005).

[Randy Haskin]

There was a photo in a recent Warbird Digest of the rebuilt aircraft rolling out of the Airpower Unlimited hangar.

[Firebird]

Edited:-

For being a numpty and being able to write before reading.........

[6trn4brn]

Hey Mike...I wondered the same thing in the thread here about WWII combat veteran aircraft. Randy do you know if that was SCAT VII rebuilt or is it another ID plate only? From what I saw of the wreckage of Mr Shuttleworth's accident, it would be pretty hard to believe that someone would spend the money to rebuild that as opposed to just buying one that was already built. She was tore up pretty bad

[RMAllnutt]

Hey Mike...I wondered the same thing in the thread here about WWII combat veteran aircraft. Randy do you know if that was SCAT VII rebuilt or is it another ID plate only? From what I saw of the wreckage of Mr Shuttleworth's accident, it would be pretty hard to believe that someone would spend the money to rebuild that as opposed to just buying one that was already built. She was tore up pretty bad

The photographs I saw of Shuttleworth's crash showed little recognizeable from the aircraft except for the empennage. My guess is that it's another case of hoisting up the data plate, and rolling in a more or less brand new airplane underneath. I believe that there was some doubt about the provenance of Shuttleworth's Scat VII back when it was first unveiled a 15 years or so ago anyway. It will be a P-51 when it flies (which is great), but a totally different aircraft.

Cheers,
Richard

[Randy Haskin]

I believe that there was some doubt about the provenance of Shuttleworth's Scat VII back when it was first unveiled a 15 years or so ago anyway. It will be a P-51 when it flies (which is great), but a totally different aircraft.

It had all ready gone through numerous sheet-metal and structural modifications when it was built up as the Learjet-winged "Vendetta" racer. When Shuttleworth had it, it probably shared little outside the longerons with Robin Olds' combat aircraft.

I've always heard that there was debate as to whether or not she was the real "Scat" before the transformation to "Vendetta" even began. You would like to believe that John Dilley wouldn't cut up a known wartime airframe, but stranger things have happened.

[Jack Cook]

I read numerous times that it is was of those magically poof ID plate hence forth great aces a/c

[hang the expense]

Awwww come on guys, nobody in this business would do that would they.Why, we are as pure as the driven snow.

[Chicoartist]

Kinda like ol' George Washington's famous cherry tree hatchet at the Smithsonian ... the handle has been replaced twice, and the head three times, but it's the same hatchet!

It's a joke in the museum biz when it comes to something being an "original article", but in some cases it's true!

Wade

[6trn4brn]

Dang fellas...thanx for all of the info...I guess. A couple of other warbird nerds that I work with had thought for the longest time that Mr Shuttleworth had the real deal with SCAT. When I dated his neice, she put me in touch with Gen Olds. I never thought to ask him about his old mount. Now it is too late

Stuff like this is the reason that I do like coming in here to WIX so much...ya'll are so much smarter about these kind of things than I

[Mike]

Hmmmm.

According to an article in the latest 'Warbirds International' about Aero Trader, they have the wreck of the Shuttleworth TF-51 for rebuild to fly.

So was the nice shiny TF-51 in the same colour scheme that was recently rolled out from Airpower Unlimited purely a paperwork transfer onto an existing project, and, if so, does anyone know the origin of that particular airframe?

I caught that too Mike. Thought it was fairly interesting and definately not something I have an answer for. The mystery of this airplane gets a little bit deeper...

[marine air]

I was at Chino about 8 years ago and at Square One they had a new build TF-51 fuselgae started that they would finish for you for a cool $2 mill. IT was completely new and did not have adata plate. I wonder where this project went as it didn't have any of the many small items needed to make it a flyer. Would work with a TF wreck.

[Ken]

Just finished the Olds' biography ... what is the status of the former Shuttleworth airplane?