Warbird Information Exchange

Found these over on ARC and didn't see them here. I'm not an expert on Cavalier Mustangs (or anything really) but these are the best pics I've seen to date. How well did it perform? The longer I stare at it the more it grows on me.

http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=202871







Chase-stangs






Shay
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Semper Fortis

Isn't this the Piper Enforcer? Oooops, did some digging and it is the Dart conversion done by Cavalier that eventually became the prototype for the Enforcer.

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Cheers!

Lance Jones

No the Enforcer was complete new build (maybe some original parts used ) initiative for this COIN roll.



Shay
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Semper Fortis

I love the look and color scheme of the chase Mustangs! The Mustang looks sharp with tip tanks.

I don't care for the extra-long snoot on the Cavalier turbine ship.

The Enforcer was a great looking ship, except for that huge turbine exhaust port (not much one can do about that, I suppose).

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Dean Hemphill, K5DH
Port Charlotte, Florida

Of note, the USAF tested (or was supporting the Army testing it) that very aircraft at Eglin in the late 70's. I remember it being parked behind my dad's hanger at TAWC (Tactical Air Warfare Center). All the old WW II P-51 drivers were always around that airplane droooooooooling and trying to get to fly it. I got to do a walk around with my dad finally putting me in the cockpit. I was a Junior or Senior in High School at the time. What a thrill.

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Cheers!

Lance Jones

Lookswise, that turbo engine one is strange. They took the best part of a P-51, which is the Merlin engine, and deleted that. The turbo may be higher performance and reliability, but is sure doesn't look as sweet, and can't sound like a Mustang either.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

What kind of roll restrictions did the Mustangs have with the tip tanks?

One of those chase birds is in the Minnesota ANG Museum.

Really nice pics! However, WHY does the Turbo III (not the Enforcer) not have its exhaust ????? Or is it so well camo'd I just don't see it?

It has the RR Dart engine....

Lynn

Baby Bro Hacker has some difinitive information on the Cavalier Mustangs...including all the ones in the photos. I happen to know he's out on the town in Oklahoma City tonight, but maybe tomorrow he'll chime in with the info here.

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Offer me solutions, offer me alternatives, and I decline......

The 3rd photo is reversed. Note the location of the firebottle in the two shots.

Here's the Turbo Mustang III before it was camouflaged and showing the right side exhaust.

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You're both right.

There were four different Enforcers built; two in 1971 (that were Mustang conversions, and one of which was a further modification of the Turbo Mustang III), and two more in 1983 (the Piper PA-48s, which were new-build airframes).

Here's the PE-1, the 1971 Enforcer which was built from the Turbo Mustang airframe:


Here's the PE-2, the 1971 Enforcer that was built from a Mustang airframe and crashed during flight testing:


Here are the PA-48s in formation circa 1983:

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There's another one at the aviation museum at Fort Rucker, AL.

I think the Mustangs were used as chase aircraft during testing for the AH-56 Cheyenne, among other things.

Ah, now it makes sense, too. The prop's backwards on the 'right view' too. I knew it had to be there!

Just a clarification, too. While the Turbo Mustang III was a conversion to the Cavalier Mustang, the new-build PA-48 Enforcer, while it 'looks' like a Mustang, is not a Mustang airframe. I think it has as little in common with a P-51 as does an F-82, maybe only 10% - 15% commonality, if that. The original Piper Enforcer was the Turbo Mustang III with the Lycoming used on the PA-48 in place of the Dart.