Questions on P-51H Aircraft

[Ed Likes]

I know there are 2 flying P-51H Models flying Steve Coutches and the Whittington Brothers. Does anyone know about when the last time the Whittington Brothers last flew?

1. The only project P-51H that I know of is Pat Harker's Im not sure, but didn't that project come from Courtesy Aircraft?

2. Are there any other P-51H Model projects being worked on, and if so how far along any of them might be? Thanks in advance for any and all imput that all of you are willing to share.

[JohnTerrell]

With regard to the Whittington P-51H, the last public appearance I believe it made was back in 2012, and as of the last year the aircraft's registration has been left to expire and be canceled/deregistered.

In addition to the P-51H 44-64314 that the Coutches family already operates, they also have the fully complete P-51H 44-64203. The last I heard was that the work required to complete the project (which was already well advanced when was made public in 2015) was to have commenced in early 2016, and that the aircraft will be polished bare metal when complete (with original USAF markings). Hopefully that's still going forward.

[mike furline]

, they also have the fully complete P-51H 44-64203. The last I heard was that the work required to complete the project (which was already well advanced when was made public in 2015) was to have commenced in early 2016, and that the aircraft will be polished bare metal when complete (with original USAF markings). Hopefully that's still going forward.

[marine air]

Okay, going back a few years, there were three projects. One in Red Oak, Texas which was a crash recovery. The Coutches had a second, mostly complete P-51H project and there was a third project in Washington state that had a lot of work done on it.
Now, I think one has moved on to Pat Harker In Minnesota, another project went to New Zealand, and I assume the Coutche family still has their projectH.
Wonder if there are any H wrecks in Alaska.

[JohnTerrell]

The one that Pat Harker owns, 44-64375, which he acquired in 2011, had last been a project that was located in central Oregon. It is based on a wrecked P-51H recovered in Alaska. All I've seen of the project was a collection of parts, including an H-model canopy frame, though the MustangsMustangs site has some old photos of a substantial fuselage rebuild having been underway when the previous owner, James Parks, owned it.

The Red Oak, TX P-51H project, that was owned by Ken Williams and Robert Chambers, was made up of the wreck of 44-64697 as well as parts and paperwork from 44-64268. They acquired the airframe and parts in 2011, but then it was put up for sale through Courtesy in 2012, and sold in 2014 (I don't recall ever hearing/seeing anything as to who the project was sold to).

It's been at least a few years since I last heard anything on the Coutches P-51H project, 44-64203, and I'm not sure if anything is being done with it right now. The way it was sounding then was that it wasn't going to be very long before it was flying (since all the parts were there and nothing had to be made for it).

[marine air]

Thanks JT for the updates and clarification. I also always lump the XP-51G in with the H survivors.

[Lynn Allen]

Thank you John.

[Zac Yates]

Now, I think one has moved on to Pat Harker In Minnesota, another project went to New Zealand, and I assume the Coutche family still has their projectH.

You have my curiosity AND my attention. As far as I know the last P-51 import to New Zealand was the already airworthy D 44-13016 around 2004/5. We've yet to have any other variant reside here.

[Zac Yates]

Bump in the hope of any updates on the above-listed projects, particularly talk of the New Zealand project about which I've heard nothing.

[mike furline]

Some photos here, https://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/survivors/P-51H

[JimH]

I've got photos in my FB albums of the 2 H projects that were in TX and subsequently sold to Harker. They are pretty shattered and incomplete, but at least 1 fuselage was mostly there in shape, intact would be a stretch. Last time I was in Livermore in 2017 the Coutche's H was still in storage, along with a P-51D and the Bearcat, which was recently sold to Walt Bowe. I hope it's being worked on, but it wasn't a priority when I last saw it. I don't know of any others that are candidates for a flying restoration.

Jim

[Lynn Allen]

I've got photos in my FB albums of the 2 H projects that were in TX and subsequently sold to Harker. They are pretty shattered and incomplete, but at least 1 fuselage was mostly there in shape, intact would be a stretch. Last time I was in Livermore in 2017 the Coutche's H was still in storage, along with a P-51D and the Bearcat, which was recently sold to Walt Bowe. I hope it's being worked on, but it wasn't a priority when I last saw it. I don't know of any others that are candidates for a flying restoration.

Jim

Jim any ideal why the Bearcat is still listed for sale after so many years?

Lynn

[JimH]

I've got photos in my FB albums of the 2 H projects that were in TX and subsequently sold to Harker. They are pretty shattered and incomplete, but at least 1 fuselage was mostly there in shape, intact would be a stretch. Last time I was in Livermore in 2017 the Coutche's H was still in storage, along with a P-51D and the Bearcat, which was recently sold to Walt Bowe. I hope it's being worked on, but it wasn't a priority when I last saw it. I don't know of any others that are candidates for a flying restoration.

Jim

Jim any ideal why the Bearcat is still listed for sale after so many years?

Lynn

Hey Lynn,
As far as I know it's Walt's. Bernie, or somebody that works out there posted photos late last year of it being pretty far apart in Walt's hangar. I'm honestly not in that loop, beyond what I see on social I don't have an accurate answer, just a guess.

Jim

[Warbirdnerd]

Walt was asked about the Bearcat at First Ditch last year. It's a year or so away from flying again and will be returning to it's yellow and black scheme.

[Blackbirdfan]

Since it was mentioned, here are pics of Walt's Bearcat from last fall.







As for the Couches other H model, the guy who was looking forward to putting it back together had a falling out with the family and as far as I know, nothing has progressed since then.