P-51B Berlin Express

[Ed Likes]

Jim Hurley made mention of the P-51B known as Berlin Express as close to being restored. Could you Jim or someone else fill us in as to what it looks like now, and how close it is to being ready to fly? Im a huge fan of the Razorback Mustangs. I was able to get a little bit of stick time in Betty Jane back in August 2010 what an honor and privilege that was. That in turn enabled me to join the Collings Foundation as a Plane Sponsor. Anyway any feedback on the P-51B Berlin Express would be most welcome.

[Chappie]

Awesome. I can't get enough of B/C model Mustangs........with full invasion stripes!


Chappie

[Flat 12x2]

Awesome. I can't get enough of B/C model Mustangs........with full invasion stripes!


Chappie

Me to, I love the HIGHBACK Mustangs........ razors is for P-47's

[RMAllnutt]

A little bit of googling suggests the aircraft is being restored by John Muszala's "Pacific Fighters" shop in Idaho. No idea about its current status though.

Cheers,
Richard

[Chappie]

Awesome. I can't get enough of B/C model Mustangs........with full invasion stripes!


Chappie

Me to, I love the HIGHBACK Mustangs........ razors is for P-47's

I"m trying to untrain myself from calling P-47B/C and P-51B/C after I talked to Joe Joiner (4th FG) for a magazine. I asked if the term Razorback was used during the war, he said he'd never heard the term. When the P-51D came along they just started calling the P-51B/Cs B-models.

I wonder when and where the term Razorback started?


Chappie

[hstandard4]

This is true

Someone decided that if the Jug was called a razorback in the non bubble canopy configuration, then the 51 B/C should be also.

BUT, I have NEVER heard of any wartime or USAAF fighter pilot that referred to a Mustang with the B/C config., or Malcolm hood as a razorback.

AND if you look at a non bubble canopied Jug, it IS a resemblance to a razorback, due to the sharper ridge line that goes from the canopy to the rudder fin.

The Mustang, does not.

Its rounded.

It just even sounds plain wrong when you hear someone say that a Mustang is a razorback.


Kind of like hearing people call a PILOT, a driver!

I used to notice watching older pilots "shriek" when they'd hear those types of references.


And yes, I know this might just cause a flame war.
But I support the other references above about this.


My 2 cents

[JohnTerrell]

I'm really looking forward to seeing some recent photos of this aircraft. The airframe is based on P-51C 42-103100 (registered N426QA), and the completed fuselage and wings were mated this past summer - so as Jim mentioned, I'm sure it is very close to flying. In addition to "Impatient Virgin", also restored by Pacific Fighters, this one too has an authentic Malcolm hood installation (with the original type tracks, crank, canopy form, frames, sprockets & chains, etc.).

On the Pacific Fighters web site, there are a few dated images from much earlier on in the project (and a nice profile of Berlin Express in the header): http://www.pacificfighters.net/HomeArt10AA.html A neat thing about this aircraft, is that in addition to the name on the port-side of the nose, it had some rather large artwork on the starboard-side: http://www.pacificfighters.net/History.html

Following "Berlin Express", we might be seeing Brent Hisey's P-51C restoration taking flight in the not too distant future as well.

[BenG]

From John Muzsala Facebook page - fuselage and wings have been matted last August.
Hopefully, she'll fly for OSH 2013!

Ben.

[maxum96]

I've always been a huge P-51D fan. But over the last few years I've really fallen in love with the B/C models. Princess Elizabeth is probably the P-51 most responsible for me falling in love with B/C models. Probably doesn't hurt either that my grandfather was support staff in the 352nd FG.

[airnutz]

I wonder when and where the term Razorback started?


Chappie

I may be remembering wrong, but I believe Air Classics' Michael O'Leary has been attributed to describing them that way in articles back in the 60's or 70's.

[MKD1966]

On John Muszala II's facebook page this morning - they did engine runs and taxi test... She's looking beautiful...

[C VEICH]

Fantastic!

[JohnTerrell]

These photos were shared by John Jr. on the P-51 Group FB page (not sure about re-posting them here or not, as long as everyone can see them at the links):

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater

Here's to hoping they plan on bringing it to Oshkosh this summer! Would be a treat to see it, Aircorp's "Sierra Sue II", and Midwest Aero's latest, "Frances Dell", all at the show this year.

[DH82EH]

Thanks for the update John.

Exciting time for Mustang fans!

Andy

[Ken]

Prop blades looking good ...