Cactus Fly-In 2012 - P-51H Mustang

[bilwor]

North American P-51H Mustang NX49WB 44-64415 , NACA 130. Flies as RAF KN987.

[TAdan]

Excellent pictures of a beautiful aircraft.

[steve dickey]

Love the side profile pic Bill! Is this based in Phoenix area now?

[gregv]

Great shots, nice aircraft!

What's the background on the scheme? Was the H model operated by the RAF? The red dash cover and canopy frame surround us reminiscent of the Whittington Bros. restorations, did this aircraft go through their hands at some point?

Love the H model!

Greg v

[Mike]

The red dash cover and canopy frame surround us reminiscent of the Whittington Bros. restorations, did this aircraft go through their hands at some point?

I think the registration NX49WB is a bit of a clue!

The original KN987 was the sole P-51H which went to the RAF, for evaluation at Boscombe Down.

[Speedy]

The Whittington brothers still own this plane. Bill Whittington lives in New Mexico and helps run a resort/spa owned by his daughters there...so my guess is that is where the plane is based...and good to see Bill is still wearing the same crash helmet after all these years!

There was a fantastic article about this aiprlane in a 1978 issue of Sport Aviation. While a lot of people associate the red leather interiors with the brothers, it was atually a Darrell Skurich trademark, I believe....and since Darrell restored most of the Whittington's airplanes, it makes sense. Another trademark is the one-piece molded windscreen...which came about after the brothers got the original "Precious Metal" racer from Gary Levitz. That had a one-piece blown windshield too, and they kind of liked it...it showed up on one of Darrell's TF-51 restorations, as well as the D-model "Kangaroo/Jeannie Too".

[gregv]

I was thinking about the one piece windscreen but forgot to look, but there it is! Thanks for all the background info, beautiful aircraft. IMHO the nicest looking of the P-51 line.

Greg v.

[steve dickey]

There was a fantastic article about this aiprlane in a 1978 issue of Sport Aviation. While a lot of people associate the red leather interiors with the brothers, it was atually a Darrell Skurich trademark, I believe....and since Darrell restored most of the Whittington's airplanes, it makes sense. Another trademark is the one-piece molded windscreen...which came about after the brothers got the original "Precious Metal" racer from Gary Levitz. That had a one-piece blown windshield too, and they kind of liked it...it showed up on one of Darrell's TF-51 restorations, as well as the D-model "Kangaroo/Jeannie Too".

Thanks speedy, The TF you are referring to is this one:

http://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/p51survivors/pages/44-73458.shtml

I believe its based in Santa Fe but I could be corrected. Good friend of mine worked (annualed) on it couple years ago and took some interior shots.