Warbird Information Exchange

Plus B-17 rides, and the usual assortment of Planes of Fame and guest warbirds.

Just an FYI for those planning to attend later this month.

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“Religion and Politics are just clever ways to make un-content people content with their un-contentedness”

WARBIRDS:
P-51D Mustang (x6)
P-51A Mustang (x2)
P-51B Mustang
P-40 Warhawk (x3)
B-25 Bomber
SBD Dauntless
Sea Fury
Yak-3U
P-38 Lightning (x2)
TBM Avenger
P-47 Thunderbolt
P-63 Kingcobra
De Havilland Mosquito (x2)

Anyone have an idea what two P-51A’s will be attending? I know of the POF’s P-51A but not sure the other.

Assume it will be the "XP-51" Shanty Irish. That one is looking good these days.

August

Is this the one that was at Oshkosh this year?

M

No Mark. The one at Oshkosh was N51Z.
It was rebuilt by Moon Spillers after he recovered the wreck from Alaska.
The current owner had a lot of work done to it and had it polished into its current scheme.

Yes. And it is the same one DH82EH is talking about, formerly Moon Spillers' Polar Bear.

August

Thanks August.
My bad. I wasn't aware of that nickname being associated with her.
Definitely agree that she's looking good!

This one I guess: https://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/s ... al/43-6006

and http://www.warbirdregistry.org/p51regis ... 36006.html

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Correct. Shanty Irish is n51Z Now owned by Walt Bowe.

double post. sorry. trying to delete...

Yup. 43-6006.
I first saw her in 1986 I think.
Moon Spillers had just completed the rebuild.
He brought it to Geneseo and I loved the olive drab over grey.
I had been following the progress wherever I could.
He was a very interesting man.
She was also the only Allison Mustang at the 2007 gathering of Mustangs and Legends.
That's the last time I saw her.
Didn't much care for the whole Polar Bear livery.
Pretty breathtaking being polished. That's for sure.

I have run into it from time to time over the years. First look was at Oshkosh 1987. It was a bit of a sensation there, even though also a bit of a mutt, probably more P-51D than P-51A, what with the D wing and radiator housing. But it had an Allison and it looked good from the side and such a thing had not appeared at OSH since they retired the XP some years before.

I moved to California and it would pop up at random shows from time to time. Around 2011 they were trying to make it go fast for Reno, and it showed up at the Half Moon Bay Dream Machines event with a 4-paddle-blade prop that looked nasty. By the time of Reno that year, it had the more proper looking 3-blader and looked almost like it did back in 1987.

It was actually Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 that alerted me to its current new look. Microsoft released a P-51A as part of its Reno race package for that sim, modeled after the POF machine, and someone did a nice repaint of it in the new 41-039 colors, as well as EAA's original 41-038. But I did not realize until I saw it at Oshkosh how thoroughly and nicely rebuilt to P-51A configuration it is.

Kind of an object lesson not to disrespect some of the weird, hybrid restorations too much. Whatever Polar Bear's shortcomings, it preserved the airframe so that it could eventually be upgraded to this beauty.

August

When it was called Polar Bear and owned by Moon Spillers that became my first Mustang Ride. Flew with Moon from Versaailles OH which was home base for Moon and Polar Bear to my airport located in Bryan OH. The date was 7-4-87. Made a tremendous impression on me. Moon was a cool guy. I had done a brief article on Moon and Polar Bear for Warbirds Magazine earlier that year.
Anyway we get back to Versailles in the afternoon, and had probably flown around 2 hours. I asked Moon what I owed him. I still remember him saying to me would $125.00 be to much. Well I was more than happy to pay him for such a great flight. I have a DVD of that flight still at home. A real honor to have gotten to fly in it. I wish I could see it in person now. YOu guys are right looks really awesome. Keepem flyin

Would I be right in thinking that the SBD Dauntless on the list will be the Planes of Fame's one? If it is, that will mean three ex-RNZAF aeroplanes together, as it served with No. 25 Squadron RNZAF in WWII, and the two Mossies are both ex-RNZAF too.

Which P-40s will be there? Hoping maybe P-40M NZ3119 as well?

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The Wings Over New Zealand Forum http://rnzaf.proboards.com

The Wings Over New Zealand Show http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZ_Show.html

Wings Over Cambridge http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz

Has Mosquito NZ2308 flown stateside yet? Paperwork weighing it down?