Cavalier Mustang Construction Numbers

[mrhenniger]

Thanks Randy,

I think it would be an accurate statement to say... "It is possible that someone in the past has found evidence to connect 44-74827 to 72-1541 but unlikely." I think we are on the same page. Do you agree?

Regards,

Mike

Gentlemen,

Back in April 1969, while stationed at McDill AFB, I visited the Cavalier hangar at Sarasota to request permission to take photos of the production line and assorted aircraft there. They had three Vicker Viscount aircraft parked outside in Capital Airlines? markings, along wtih two Mustangs.

The Pinkerton guard at the gate would not allow me access to the business office and threatened to arrest me if caught taking telephoto pictures of the Viscounts and Mustangs. This slob was a miserable bastard.

So I went next door to the Cavalier plant, open to the public and took slides of a yellow North American A-36 in immaculate condition parked next to a P-51 Mustang that recently belly-landed at the airport. The story I was told is the pilot took off without checking his oil, and the engine seized during the the climb. He circled back and with no power, was unable to lower the landing gear and belly landed.

The Mustang sat on its landing gear with the curled prop nearby while the under surface of the aircraft at the radiator cooler was completey ripped apart.

Norman Malayney

[T J Johansen]

Hi Norman,

Was the 51 that bellied in a civilian bird, or one of re-manufactured P-51s? Can you supply me with a mail address I can contact you off board with?

T J Johansen

[mrhenniger]

Can you supply me with a mail address I can contact you off board with?

Hi Norman,

Could you contact me as well.

Regards,

Mike
mrhenniger@hotmail.com

[Swiss Mustangs]

Hello Norman

I would be very interested in those photographs and kindly ask you to contact me by e-mail.
Thank you.
Regards from Zurich/Switzerland

Martin / Swiss Mustangs
martin@swissmustangs.ch

http://www.swissmustangs.ch

[Randy Haskin]

Based on what I've heard this aircraft was not a Cavalier Mustang, but a privately owned civilian bird that Cavalier had performed some maintenance on. The story corresponds with one I heard a Cavalier employee tell.