Collings Foundation TF-51 Toulouse Nuts has flown

[Snake45]

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

But that "cartoon" canopy--if it's the one I'm thinking of--is actually authentic to the Temco-converted TFs.

[levier]

Hi Snake,

I think if you look a little closer at some of the more recent conversions, the aft canopy is much taller. (Velma, Mad Max) Just a personal observation, and I do respect the owner's decisions to do what they want. I agree that the Temco canopy is somewhere in the middle. I flew Crazy Horse some years back, and always felt Trans Florida had it pretty close to the Temco. I always liked the Temco conversion with the stock fin.

Toulouse has a nice combination of the stock fin and a subtle canopy change, with the bare aluminum, that I think really makes a good looking TF.

[JimH]

The tall canopy is affectionately known as the "T-28" canopy. I personally don't like the bulge. Every TF canopy is different, just like every stock D is different.

Jim

[Lynn Allen]

Jim, congrats, its going to look really nice when you all are done with it...

[JimH]

Thanks Lynn, but all the credit goes directly to Ashley Ezell and his team at American Aero. They have built a beautiful machine. The ANG markings are going on and it will look just like the pictures we posted in the Toulouse art thread a few months ago.

Jim

[DaveM2]

Guys

Quick clarification- as I understand it, this TF-51 is not the original Toulouse Nuts, bit just finished as such - correct?

In that case, what is the original ID of this aircraft?

cheers
Dave

[Randy Haskin]

Guys

Quick clarification- as I understand it, this TF-51 is not the original Toulouse Nuts, bit just finished as such - correct?

In that case, what is the original ID of this aircraft?

cheers
Dave

There isn't -- it is a parts build, made using some parts of the original Tolouse Nuts (at a minimum, the cowling from the original real deal). When you consider some of the "restorations" that are out there flying today, it is as authentic of an original ID as any other.

I actually like the profile of the canopy, but...since Tolouse has the heritage of an authentic TEMCO TF-51, I sort of wish it were finished with the actual TEMCO look.

Hopefully some of the other D-models-turned-TF will use this canopy shape, though.

[DaveM2]

Guys

Quick clarification- as I understand it, this TF-51 is not the original Toulouse Nuts, bit just finished as such - correct?

In that case, what is the original ID of this aircraft?

cheers
Dave

There isn't -- it is a parts build, made using some parts of the original Tolouse Nuts (at a minimum, the cowling from the original real deal). When you consider some of the "restorations" that are out there flying today, it is as authentic of an original ID as any other.

I actually like the profile of the canopy, but...since Tolouse has the heritage of an authentic TEMCO TF-51, I sort of wish it were finished with the actual TEMCO look.

Hopefully some of the other D-models-turned-TF will use this canopy shape, though.

Thanks Randy, good to have the confirmation

cheers