NMUSAF Piper PA-48E Enforcer for sale

4RG.I.'S · **Posted:** Fri Aug 28, 2020 11:13 am

Just saw this,WOW!...

https://www.trade-a-plane.com/search?s- ... 8OQrlUMk8w

wendovertom · **Posted:** Fri Aug 28, 2020 11:37 am

Wow - it could not be that hard to get a hold of a lycoming engine and an INSANE version of a Mustang to enjoy! Hopfully the purchaser does not have to de-mil it. although since the USAF never "bought" it I cannot image you would have to.

Tom P.

quemerford · **Joined:** Tue Jun 17, 2014 4:19 pm **Posts:** 1574

Shame: couldn't they have donated it to a deserving museum?

sandiego89 · **Joined:** Mon May 21, 2012 12:28 pm **Posts:** 1195

I'm ok with an attempt to sell it, it is a type that never went into USAF service, and any money generated could always go towards some deserving projects at the USAF museum. If no decent offer then go the trade or donate route.

Agree Tom it would be quite a hot rod.

Of the 4 that were built, 2 were originally Mustangs, and two (including this one) were new built. So guess there will be little chance a new owner would want to de-Enforcer it, paint invasion stripes on it an call it a Mustang.

quemerford · **Joined:** Tue Jun 17, 2014 4:19 pm **Posts:** 1574

sandiego89 wrote:

So guess there will be little chance a new owner would want to de-Enforcer it, paint invasion stripes on it an call it a Mustang.

Never say "never" - money doesn't buy taste.

p51 · **Posted:** Fri Aug 28, 2020 3:20 pm

I find it odd that the museum could just sell a plane in their collection to anyone with the money.
Sure, I know that museums do "under the table" deals all the time (a well-known military museum once wanted something in my collection, and invited me to come stroll through their collection shelves to 'shop' for what I'd take in trade, I told them to [bleep] off), but it just seems odd.
All that said, the flip side of this is that maybe this thing will fly someday, and that would be very interesting to see as I missed seeing one fly in the original tests by an hour once.

quemerford wrote:

Never say "never" - money doesn't buy taste.

-Quoted for truth

Dan Jones · **Posted:** Fri Aug 28, 2020 3:30 pm

How come they never went the simple route and just put a Allison on a Skyraider?

k5083 · **Posted:** Fri Aug 28, 2020 3:47 pm

They did, and called it the A2D Skyshark, and it didn't turn out to be so simple!

August

mike furline · **Joined:** Wed May 05, 2004 3:45 pm **Posts:** 2628

sandiego89 wrote:

Of the 4 that were built, 2 were originally Mustangs, and two (including this one) were new built. So guess there will be little chance a new owner would want to de-Enforcer it, paint invasion stripes on it an call it a Mustang.

Were any or many original P-51 parts used in the new builds? The cockpit left side console looks familiar.

DoraNineFan · **Joined:** Fri Aug 12, 2005 3:37 pm **Posts:** 671

mike furline wrote:

sandiego89 wrote:

Of the 4 that were built, 2 were originally Mustangs, and two (including this one) were new built. So guess there will be little chance a new owner would want to de-Enforcer it, paint invasion stripes on it an call it a Mustang.

Were any or many original P-51 parts used in the new builds? The cockpit left side console looks familiar.

I believe that three original P-51Ds were used as donor airframes for the Enforcer prototypes. I see no reason for a buyer to return it back to stock P-51D condition and it would be a unique aircraft to own.

JohnB · **Posted:** Fri Aug 28, 2020 7:36 pm

And since it was presumably exhaustively evaluated by Piper, the Air Force ...and who knows who else...a potential owner would have a lot of documentation on the form of test notes and perhaps a POH.I

Is the engine well supported?

Tulio · **Joined:** Mon May 03, 2004 1:05 am **Posts:** 3236

Is the Enforcer "for sale" or for "exchange"?

https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Colle ... e-Program/

Saludos,

Tulio

Jim MacDonald · **Posted:** Fri Aug 28, 2020 11:52 pm

Good catch, Tulio. It looks like it was put on Trade-a-Plane to drum up business for this plane in their Exchange Program. Wonder what happens if they don't find an exchange partner? Sell? Keep it in storage? Scrapped?

Does anyone know what happened to the other three Enforcers?

Mac

Mike · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 8:54 am **Posts:** 3328

One is in the Test Pilots museum at Edwards AFB

Jim MacDonald · **Posted:** Sat Aug 29, 2020 4:28 am

Thanks, Mike. I'm pretty sure I saw one when I was based at Edwards 90-93, but can't remember where I saw it. Not in the museum though. Don't think they had one back then, but I do remember some planes being set aside in a fenced in enclosure for the museum(?).

Mac

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