Warbird Information Exchange

My apologies if you read this same post at mustangsmustangs.net...I'm not trying to spam, just get my request out to the likely audience!

As some of you know, I am in the process of writing a book covering the Cavalier Mustangs and the Piper Enforcers. The aim of this book is threefold: to tell the story of how the aircraft came to be, to provide photos and technical descriptions of the aircraft, and feature an accurate reference database on the Mustang airframes that were built or modified.

I have been working on this project for several years, and am now nearing the end of my research and getting serious about organizing and writing what will be the actual text of the book.

My question to you all -- warbird enthusiasts -- is, 'what would you like to see covered in my book?'

Call this market research, if you will.

I know what questions *I* personally set out to answer when I began the project, what what do *you* want to know? What would you want to see or read about if you picked up the book? What are the burning questions about Cavaliers and Enforcers that you don't think have been adequately covered by currently-available magazine articles or books?

What would make it interesting to you? What would make it *boring* to you?

Posts here are welcome, as are PMs or emails to "haskin" at "bellsouth" dot "net" (my lame attempt at defeating spammers...).

Thank you!

Hi Randy:

If you could make this book sort of like those detailed high res. color "walkaround" books, which give zoomed in details of various panel lines, patches, and differences in the various models. I think R/C modelers, pilots, and enthusiasts would like to see it!

Thanks,

Chris

I'd like the real story on how the Enforcers were made. I've read
sources that say (3) "real" Mustangs "died" during the build-up of
the Enforcers, and other stories saying they were mostly new-build
parts.

Having the whole story tied in from "womb-to-tomb" wound be
neat too.

As far as the Cavaliers go, it would be neat to at least try to put a
directory of sorts in the book that shows all the Cavaliers extent
(history of each one built/sold, including ones that crashed, etc.).
I know (think?) that may be a daunting task, as they didn't exactly
worry themselves over keeping the same major components from
all the Mustang airframes that went through their facilities together
by the time they rolled out the door!

Bela P. Havasreti

This is a good question, and here's the short answer (of course, covered in the book too):

There were 4 Enforcers built: The PE-1 and PE-2 in 1971, and the 2 PA-48s in 1983. The PE-1 and PE-2 were each built up from Mustangs -- more appropriately from Mustang *parts* because they came from ex-Cavalier stock and were not complete airframes when the Enforcers were built up. The PA-48s were 90% new builds, with only small parts from actual Mustangs on them (bolt-ons like flaps and rudder, plus the canopy rails and other smallish parts like aileron bellcranks and the like).

The book will cover the cradle-to-grave story, starting in 1957 with the establishment of Trans-Florida Aviation, all the way through the PA-48 test program in 1984, and all the striations in between.

Hi Randy:

I saw one sitting in the storage area at Edwards. I think Piper ought to build a dozen or so, just for collectors.

Randy,

I hope you give some good bio's on the people behind the airplanes. Who were the Lindsey's, Tylers etc? What were they doing before and after Cavalier?

Look forward to seeing the pictures...

_________________
Blue Skies,
Dan
http://www.flytoanothertime.com

The same for me as Dan said. This would make a great book that I would want to read and use, so count me in for a copy.

Cheers,

Lynn

A very good idea. Some details in regard to the people involved would be great. Also any good pilot histories, anecdotes, etc. would make it more "alive" if you get my drift.

Good luck with it though!

T J

You must read a Flying Magazine pilot report on the Cavalier Mustangs from Feb. 1969. The piece was written by Stephen Wilkinson, who's now a big-time free lance writer and book author.
It talks about a Cavalier owner, avionics designer Rufus Applegarth and does a fine job describing what it's like to fly a Mustang.
They were still avalable from Cavalier in 1969...the price?
$76,000....about the price of a new Cessna 310 back then. By comparison, a new Lear 25 had a base price of $890,000.

_________________
Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.

Any chance you could scan that article? I'm sure a lot of people would love to see it! I have a xeroxed copy of an Air Progress article on Cavalier by Don Downie but it would be nice to see this one as well!

T J Johansen

I have a couple of photos of some of the ex RCAF aircraft that were being ferried down to Trans-Florida before they were converted. They have temporary N-numbers on them. Let me know if you need these for book

Suggestions for book;
1) Show pictures of the "manufacturing" process and the personalities involved with this business concept.
2) List the variants built , options, and the missions. What was their marketing concept? I remember part of it was the speed compared to the King Air 90 and piston types, another big deal was that unlike the radial types, "you could wear a business suit " and not get dirty. And of course, sex appeal, that still applies of course.
3) Would like to see a chapter dedicated to concepts and what if's. What if it had been designed with a nose gear, or T-tail, or with landing gear from a T-28 or T-2 Buckeye. What if they had a nosegear training version with a tailhook for carrier qualifications? Some artists illustrations would be really fun.
4) A lot of books end with photos of the survivors sitting on the ramp somewhere looking old and tired. How about some thoughts on putting the Mustang/Enforcer back into production in the 21st Century?!! Imagine if Pilatus or whoever bought the rights from Piper and made a nose gear adapted turbine engined Mustang/Enforcer in the standard category? A lot of flight testing has already been accomplished in the 1970's and 80's. Insurance would be reasonable if you eliminated the accidents brought on by either the tailwheel or the 60 year old piston engine powerplant.
Imagine an aircraft you could fly as much as wanted with out fear of expensive maintenance requirements. Pilatus claims their PC-12 has operating costs below $350 an hour. One tenth of todays Mustangs!

All -

Thanks for the continued input...all of it is great! Keep in coming.

I have a big list of articles that I've obtained and scanned, along with some that have been sent to me by associates (like Martin) from right here on the WIX. I have scans of all of them, although they're in gargantuan Adobe PDF files. If anyone wants something in particular, I'd be happy to supply it.

I plan on publishing a "reading list" in the book, too, so people can go read the magazine articles I used as part of my research.

Randy:

Additionally, you might take advantage of your USAF background, and write books on the F-15, and T-38..

You mean like this one?

http://www.cameronaircraft.com/P51/P51_proto.htm

Fully agree with SNJ-5's remarks.

Just eagerly waiting for publishing date