A Magnificent P-51 And An Impostor

[black mamba]

First....the impostor. This is a fine aircraft in its own right, but it is not what it appears to be. This is a 3/4 scale P-51 made by the Titan Aircraft Co. It is powered by a Suzuki 2.7 litre V-6 engine of approximately 180 H.P.

http://black-mamba.smugmug.com/photos/520107953_uGszg-XL.jpg

http://black-mamba.smugmug.com/photos/520107909_ZQFBa-XL.jpg

Here is the real thing. This aircraft belongs to my friend, Dave Marco, and is regarded as one of the finest P-51's to be flying. I can tell you that it gererates the most visceral experience I've ever had in an airplane.

http://black-mamba.smugmug.com/photos/520107993_dkBtY-XL.jpg

http://black-mamba.smugmug.com/photos/520107980_6GtTN-XL.jpg

http://black-mamba.smugmug.com/photos/520107898_cCxnA-XL-.jpg

[Azzaro]

The P-51 is my all time favorite plane.....Nice set Tom:thumb azzaro

[PremiumMalt]

How do you see the runway when landing that plane? Seems like you pov is at the sky lol

[black mamba]

Hi Azzaro,

I'm with you....the P-51 is also my favorite. I was just down at the huge Sun" N " Fun fly-in and airshow held in Lakeland, FL. The bad economy is even affecting the airplane crowd. The number of warbirds that showed was way off ....compared to years gone by. There were 3 P-51's, a P-40, 3 F-3 Wildcats ( having one of those show up is unique, having 3 show up is unbelievable ), a P-39 and a freshly restored B-24. There may have been some others that came in on days I wasn't there but, all in all, attendance was way off.

Tom

[black mamba]

Hey PremiumMalt,

These planes, and other "taildragger " types like them, were indeed tricky to taxi on the ground. The pilots had to follow a " weaving " or " S " taxi pattern so they could see ahead as to where they were going.

Tom

[Travism82]

I've been to the Reno Air Races, which are really neat. They actually race around a racetrack. It's quite the site to see six of them taxing from side to side single file!