P-51 Questions

[PinecastleAAF]

In 2001 I had a couple of conversations with a warbird magazine editor
who indicated some early model P-51 wrecks where about to be recoverd
from China. Anything ever come of that?

Second question which P-51's have been rebuilt from wreckage less complete than the P-40 package on ebay now?

Are there any Mustangs that have been basically completely scratch built?

Did the Beck Mustang have entirely newly made parts? I know the fuse was new but was the wing also?

Muchos Gracias.

[51fixer]

In 2001 I had a couple of conversations with a warbird magazine editor
who indicated some early model P-51 wrecks where about to be recoverd
from China. Anything ever come of that?

Second question which P-51's have been rebuilt from wreckage less complete than the P-40 package on ebay now?

Are there any Mustangs that have been basically completely scratch built?

Did the Beck Mustang have entirely newly made parts? I know the fuse was new but was the wing also?

Muchos Gracias.

Beck's A was pretty much 98% new or so.
Several Mustangs are scratch built and even more are under way. That is why a destroyed aircraft by hangar fire or ground collision are still being flown.
One is in canadian marking which came from a lake in Dom Republic IIRC. Aircraft crashed into lake on training flight in the 1950s. Pilot killed.
Roushes B which is from wreck into lake in FL.
Anything that has been laying around in the wilds and brought back now will have few good parts even if it was not wrecked to begin with. Corrosion will be a problem.
Rich
Rich

[warbird1]

There have been several such Mustangs restored from not much.

I believe that the old Moon Spillars' A model came from a very poor condition wreck in Alaska, if I remember correctly.

Also, the Collings' foundation C model which they just bought, I believe was a 100% scratch built airplane with virtually no original parts.

There are lots of others, but those two come to mind the quickest.

[Tulio]

One is in canadian marking which came from a lake in Dom Republic IIRC. Aircraft crashed into lake on training flight in the 1950s. Pilot killed.

Rich

This Mustang's remains came from a lake in Uruguay (lake or reservoir, called "Rincon del Bonete"). Remains used by Tri-State in Whapeton, ND to build a Mustang that eventually was painted on RCAF markings.

Saludos,


Tulio

[TonyM]

There was an early model P-51 that crashed at OshKosh recently (killing the pilot/builder). I think that was a scratch built airplane as far as I remember. TonyM.

[MX304]

There was an early model P-51 that crashed at OshKosh recently (killing the pilot/builder). I think that was a scratch built airplane as far as I remember. TonyM.

That was Gerry Beck's A Model and yes it was 99.9% scratch built. I think the only thing he used from an original bird was a few landing gear pieces.