Warbird Information Exchange

P-51 Folks:

God day!

While looking for some Temco/F-51 Cavaliers found this interesting pic of a classic P-51d c. 1972. Place unk. If anyone has other angles or registration numbers plz post.

If anyone knows about the young lad poss Zane Adams posing in front of it plz pass this photo to him or his family.

Tks.

Think you will find Zane to be a regular on this forum, and the 51 to be 44-73142 N6173C.

T J

_________________
Make my day, punk!

The aircraft belonged to Vern Peterson. He operated it out of Gainesville and Denton, TX. Vern was American Airlines' Chief Pilot at DFW (my dad's boss). I had the great priviledge to get a ride in it with Vern back in '76. Unfortunately, he died in the aircraft in a crash at the Denton airport when the engine failed on takeoff. The -51 was destroyed, though I think some pieces of it have been used to help restore some other airframes.

I've got an old book with a picture of this 'stang in a hangar along with a very similarly painted T-28 Trojan. Both of them are very attractive and appeared to be immaculate.

A little history and more pictures of the P-51

http://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/p51survivors/pages/44-73142.php

Maxum96:

Good day!

Tks for the interesting info data of this fine P-51 now re-built as TF-51 model.

This brings an interenting point to bring out concerning of what really takes to convert a P-51D into a two seater TF-51D. It takes superb craftmanship & knowhow of electrical, hydraulic, structural & flight control systems among others.

This conversion may have been attempted by FAS c.1970s with the rebuilding of a 2 seater FAS TF-51 but I doubt that were any volunteer pilots to test the airworthiness of such a project c.1970s.