Warbird Information Exchange

How did he make it happen ?

Since last year the TP51C has been available for flight training as part of the Collings Foundation Wings of freedom Tour.

P-51C Flight Training
$2200 for a half hour of flight instruction
$3200 for a full hour of flight instruction
(The P-51 will only be at select stops on The Wings of Freedom Tour. Call for availability in your town)


To Reserve a Flight Experience Slot
Call 1-800-568-8924

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"You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass..."
Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto

That works! "Speed costs money...." All loggable time I would assume? Is there an ultimate package to get rated? Don't misunderstand, I'm only 41 hours in the Citabria headed for 200 before I can get into the PT-26 here at UES.

I think it is really fabulous that the opportunity exists to get that training time. Thanks to those making it happen.

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"There are old pilots and bold pilots but few old, bold pilots."

All time is loggable. All of the Mustang pilots are CFIs.

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"You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass..."
Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto

Wouldn't some turns and banks be more accurate??

now that sounds more accurate

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Don't touch my junk!!

No, Jack. The person in the back can do aerobatics, ( to the best of their ability ), and other manuevers. Will the backseater be ready for a type ride? Certainly not, but they will get most of the stick time on the aircraft. It's their 30 minutes or hour, within reason, the CFI in front lets them spend it they way they want.

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"You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass..."
Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto

But that isn't flight training
I've got "stick" time in loads of different a/c. But, it's just for fun and the thrill of it all!
Maybe I should have gotten that P-3 time signed off by the PPC

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Don't touch my junk!!

Jack, your license is and should always be a ticket to learn....

Lynn

in my case maybe a license to kill

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Don't touch my junk!!

That's after your first solo....

I will never get a type rating in the '51, of course. But this "flight experience" let me, despite my inexperience, even fly aerobatic maneuvers and a lot of other things that I thought I would never get to do in a '51 in my lifetime. You are given the opportunity to try things that are within your ability. I don't think it gets much better than this .

wow...really Jack? CFI...Certified Flight Instructor...you buy the time, you log the time. If you have "x" amount of T-6 time there is no reason you can't transition to the front seat. Money can't buy skill but it can buy time to earn it. That even goes for the "Bombers". There are so many opportunities in Warbirds these days I am done with the negativity.

Jim Harley

No one seems to be questioning or criticizing what Stallion 51 has done for years... no one who comes out of the P-51 is going to get signed off for a solo by anyone based on that hour in the logbook, but the person has bragging rights and it on paper... and if that comes via the cash spent, then let them do it.

As far as I am concerned, I am glad that CF still has the business and the operations savvy to keep things running and circulating around the US. And I am proud to have been part of that machine for nearly six years myself... despite what anyone might say here or behind my back.

Ryan

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Ryan Keough
Stow, MA

Great post Jim! The path to flying a heavy iron warbird fighter via CAF or Collings still costs lotsa money but are the most accessible paths getting in the pilot seat outside owning one. Our WI Wing CAF PT-26 requires 200 hours total flight time, a tailwheel endorsement, $1500 one-time sponsorship fee, annual renter's insurance (about $400), then $100/hour. It ain't a Mustang but it's a first step and about the cheapest way access some nostalgic warbird flying and I can't wait to check out in it soon. A buddy of mine is flying one of CAF's T-6s every chance he gets and within the next few years after he has the CAF minimum T-6 hours, he'll likely be flying one of their fighters.

You did something that no one can ever take away from you. Very few poeple have sat in a Mustang, let along fly one. Plus the money you spent helps maintain that Mustang in airworthy condition so that even the people that can't afford to fly in it, can still hear it, see it, and smell it. Without people like you willing to do what you did, the plane might not be touring the U.S. honoring WWII vets at every stop. It is a great thing that you did, and something that you can learn from. I've flown in a Mustang and flew a B-17 from the right seat(when that was still done), and I can tell you that you can read all the books you want, but spend 5 minutes in the thing, and you get a whole new education.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Spot on man, and thanks for that DVD. It is awesome!!!

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager