Warbird Information Exchange

Hi All,

I have been wondering about something. I know that when Uncle Dean's Mustang is finished being rebuilt she will be one of a very few flying P-51 B's. Does anyone know how many "B's" are airworthy, and how many are restored, but not airworthy

Also, does anyone know how many of the restored Warbirds have a "Pilot killed in the plane" history, like my Uncle Dean's circumstances? I mean the actual serial number the pilot was flying, not just a reproduction painted to like an Ace's plane.

I don't recall hearing of many, if any at all. I look forward to learning more about other brave and dedicated pilots. Thanks so much.

Karen

Hi Karen (and welcome back)!

Interesting question about restorations of warbirds involved in fatalities during military service. I don't know about "flyers", but there are certainly museum/static aircraft whose history involves tragedy: off the top of my head I can think of three, the Trenton Halifax, the Clacton P-51 "Little Zippie", and the pylon Harvard at Kingston ON, all of which coincidentally were ditched with loss of aircrew.

B-model P-51s? Actually, I think that except for the ex-Pete Regina B which is based around a B wing and a D centre section (and is, I think actually registered as a C because a C tailcone was involved), there are no actual complete Bs left...so your uncle's old mount could be entirely unique. All the highback Merlin 51s I can think of are Cs except for the Regina rebuild.

Cheers

Steve T

In fact, the tail cone comes from 43-6351, a P-51B-5NA. I ask on of the TFC crew about the S/N used, thinking that it might come from the wings, but he said he S/N was probably chosen randomly.

Maybe someone has more info on that subject?

And welcome back Karen.

Laurent

Hello Karen,

The mustang mustang site is a great reference for survivors.

From there you can search more on each individual AC

http://www.mustangsmustangs.net/p-51/survivors/p51listB.shtml

Dear Karen

Dean's aircraft is a very unique one !

Good to see you here.
Photo will be in the mail to your dad next week. Promised !

Martin

It's probably registered as a "C" model because a type certificate for a "B" model doesn't exist. There is a Type Certificate for P-51C's, D's, and K's, which allow for registration in the "Limited" Airworthiness Category. For it to be registered as a "B" Model it would have to be registered in the Experimental Exibition Category. With that registration comes possible operating limitations and higher insurance premiums (ouch!).



Karen,

Last I heard, 43-12252 should take to the skies once again this summer. (that info is about 6 mos old...haven't asked lately)

Thanks for the info. I suppose there's a similar T.C. for the A model, as a couple are airworthy, (and even an A-36), but why a T.C. doesn't exist for the B model? Is it because none has been flying for a long time, or something of that kind?

Laurent

A-36A can go Limited, but P-51A must go Experimental Exhibition.

The reason is that nobody bothered back in the day. Must not have been any available that anyone wanted to fly.

Here are a few more that can go Limited:

Vought Kingfisher
O-47
SBD

And on March 5, 1957- Charles P. Doyle obtained Restricted certification for a Seversky P-35. I wonder what happened to that?

I'm sorry, nobody bothers to keep me informed about such things so I have no Idea what is going on here. Who is your uncle and what mustang are you talking about? There is a B mustang at Pacific Fighters. It is 43-12112 but I don't know if it is under restoration or in storage. I've heard it is relatively intact, but don't know much more.

I have two questions to I'd like to add to this thread.
1) Are there any Mustangs that will be restored with Malcolm canopies?

There was a thread on this a while back.

2) What are the serials of Colling's A-36 and John Paul's P-51C? From what I understand Mr. Paul took many parts from the A-36 and used it for his P-51C. He sold what was left of the A-36 to Collings. Sources list Mr. Paul's Mustang as either "an A-36 under restoration as an P-51B" (Baugher) or they attribute the serial number 42-83738 to one or the other of these TWO planes.

Thanks...
Wolverine

Sorry, just went back and read previous post. However it doesn't answer question 2.

Jerry Gabe's P-51A in Hollister, Ca was recovered from near Ladd Field Alaska. The pilot was killed in it during cold weather testing in WW2 when it got caught in high winds and crashed.

It was recovered in the mid-eighties, I believe. It is now flying, and utilizes some P-51D components.

Chris

Chuck Doyle's certificate must have been for the P-35 that went to the USAFM. Ironically, it was intended to be flown to the museum when its restoration was finished, so it was being restored to flyable condition until they changed their minds and had it shipped in. Did Mr. Doyle ever obtain an N number for this plane?

_________________

All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)