P-51D 44-63864 " Twilight Tear " - FAA Decision

Flat 12x2 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 21, 2009 5:18 am

Just been posted on Flypast forum that a decision has been made by the FAA as to which is the real 44-63864 'Twilight Tear'
But the poster isn't saying which one !
I've looked on the FAA website but cant find any info.
Anybody know that will say ?

Robbo · **Posted:** Mon Dec 21, 2009 5:32 pm

Nearly 500 views and no response?

Someone must know.

John Kerr · **Posted:** Mon Dec 21, 2009 5:33 pm

Waiting on Dick Phillips to comment.

Django · **Posted:** Mon Dec 21, 2009 5:54 pm

*moves closer to edge of seat*

Interesting!

John Kerr · **Posted:** Mon Dec 21, 2009 5:56 pm

Dick Phillips asked me to post this for him:

As far as the real Twilight Tear, 44-63864 is concerned, I am 100% convinced that the real one is in North Dakota with Tri-State Aviation and the one that was presented at Duxford as Twilight Tear, and was thought by many, many folks to be the real one, was a different IDF mustang, using the tail and maybe some other parts from 44-63864, that were discarded for better parts, when Bill Lear had the Israeli Aircraft Industries, build him a good mustang from IDF stocks. That Lear airplane became N251L, and operated out of Geneva, Switzerland before crashing in Iceland on a ferry flight to California.

I have lots of paperwork on the entire history of 864, as does the present owner of the project.

Dick Phillips

T J Johansen · **Posted:** Tue Dec 22, 2009 4:34 am

Robbo wrote:

Nearly 500 views and no response?

Someone must know.

Someone surely does, but I think he's outta town for the moment...

T J

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11319

Can someone refresh my memory regarding what this is all about? Is this a question of who owns the FAA registration number for a particular pile of parts or an Anorak opinion of which aiplane has the greater mass of parts original to a specific wartime aircraft?

Why does any of this this matter?

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 23, 2009 12:46 am

bdk wrote:

Can someone refresh my memory regarding what this is all about? Is this a question of who owns the FAA registration number for a particular pile of parts or an Anorak opinion of which aiplane has the greater mass of parts original to a specific wartime aircraft?

Why does any of this this matter?

I'm pretty sure one party has accused others of theft - ie. someone had the wreckage. parts. etc... of a certain aircraft, that should include a dataplate that "belonged" to that airframe - but said dataplate was allegedly removed and missing and turned up with another airframe. Pretty significant theft if you want to rebuild the original airframe and re-register it as the same aircraft.

Ryan

hang the expense · **Posted:** Wed Dec 23, 2009 3:01 am

A friend of mine bought all the remains from the crashsite in Iceland back in the early 90s.It was busted pretty good but a builder.I think it has moved on and to where i dont know.

JDK · **Posted:** Wed Dec 23, 2009 4:22 am

bdk wrote:

Why does any of this this matter?

Money and status, bdk, money and status.

Randy Haskin · **Posted:** Wed Dec 23, 2009 6:49 am

bdk wrote:

Can someone refresh my memory regarding what this is all about? Is this a question of who owns the FAA registration number for a particular pile of parts or an Anorak opinion of which aiplane has the greater mass of parts original to a specific wartime aircraft?

Why does any of this this matter?

It matters because the owners of the airplanes involved have made quite a big deal about that particular airframe's combat history.

Rob.Brindley · **Joined:** Wed Dec 23, 2009 7:55 am **Posts:** 38

Hey guys, I'm new here. I've been viewing the boards for a while but was never able to register but i decided to rettry today and it worked

Was just wondering if anybody new If or When our Twilight Tear will be back in the UK? She's a gorgeous Mustang and i would like to see her again.

Iclo · **Posted:** Wed Dec 23, 2009 8:13 am

Rob.Brindley: It could be wrong, but I remember reading that " Twilight Tear " of The Fighter Collection was sold just before its restoration in Chino.
Anyboby can confirm this information ?

Rob.Brindley · **Joined:** Wed Dec 23, 2009 7:55 am **Posts:** 38

Thanks mate, Will be a shame if she has been sold.. But, There are other mustangs.

Warbirdnerd · **Joined:** Fri Apr 30, 2004 7:34 pm **Posts:** 2923

Randy Haskin wrote:

bdk wrote:

Can someone refresh my memory regarding what this is all about? Is this a question of who owns the FAA registration number for a particular pile of parts or an Anorak opinion of which aiplane has the greater mass of parts original to a specific wartime aircraft?

Why does any of this this matter?

It matters because the owners of the airplanes involved have made quite a big deal about that particular airframe's combat history.

Will the FAA let two planes of the same type be registered using the same serial number?

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P-51D 44-63864 " Twilight Tear " - FAA Decision

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