Collings Foundation TF-51 Toulouse Nuts has flown

[florida.warbirds]

https://floridawarbirds.wordpress.com/2 ... has-flown/

Videos at the linked page

[DH82EH]

Congrats to the team

She sounds amazing.

Andy

[Lynn Allen]

Who did the honors??

[JohnB]

Great looking ship.
I like the NMF, more authentic than silver paint (especially those with metal flake finishes, come on, we're talking about an aircraft, not a car) and more authentic than the mirror-like finishes some have.

I'm not criticizing, but a bit confused...the a.c. has its WWII name, a post 1947 insignia, and 0-xxxx tail number, IIRC, the "0" for more than 10 years old or obsolete prefix didn't come into use until the early 60s.
Is this just a temporary scheme until it's debugged?

[JimH]

Elliot Cross did the test flight. The scheme is accurate for the WVA ANG...quite a few photos document 655. Although it is not quite finished yet.

Jim

[JohnTerrell]

I sure to love the way she looks. Congratulations to both the American Aero and the Collings guys!

The practice of adding the "0-" at the start of the serial got started in the mid 50's, to separate those that had serial numbers from say '44 and '45 from those that now had serial numbers from '54 and '55, etc. (since of course only the last digit of the year was included at the start of the serial number as applied on the aircraft.) - effectively meaning that the serial number was now 10+ years old. The buzz code and WVA ANG text has yet to be added to the fuselage. One of the neat external details is that it has the original military VHF antenna mounted under the left wing, as per original.

[Zac Yates]

Fine work and a very nice-looking finish. Congrats to all involved!

[Ed Likes]

I have been waiting for this aircraft to fly for some time now. Isn't this one of just 3 true Dual Contorl D Model Mustangs to be currently flying? Im looking forward to getting up close and personal with this airplane when hopefully it enters the midwest this year.

[JimH]

There are several TF's flying...with atleast 4 more currently being built.
Jim

Crazy Horse 1
Crazy Horse 2
Little Witch
Lady Jo
Bum Stier
Miss Velma
E Pluribus Unum
Scat IV
Tempus Fugit
Diamond Back
Friendly Ghost
Little Ite
TF-871
Toulouse Nuts
Betty Jane

[T J Johansen]

I think what Ed is suggesting is that there are only three TF's flying which were not originally built post- 1990.

T J

[levier]

Now that is one tastefully executed TF! Not the typical "cartoon" canopy you see on the others. Bravo!

[JohnB]

I understand Ezell aviation has a dual control STC for the Mustang.
I'd suggest that the confusion here stems from calling any dual-control airplane a"TP or TF" as opposed to one of the ones converted in period by Temco or someone.

[p51]

I like the idea of 50s National Guard markings. There's way too many 8th AF marked ones with invasion stripes on the airshow circuit as it is.

[dc8jet]

I would love to see it. Hope they bring it to Oshkosh.

[K5DH]

I like the idea of 50s National Guard markings. There's way too many 8th AF marked ones with invasion stripes on the airshow circuit as it is.

I'm with you on this. Mustangs performed a lot of very important duties after WW2 was over, and it doesn't seem to me like the post-WW2 period is very well represented. Bravo to the Collings Foundation for the choice of livery (especially since it's accurate for this particular airframe!).