New Swiss Markings for P-51D D-FPSI

[JohnTerrell]

Probably not enough to warrant a thread for the subject, but I thought this was pretty cool. Up until recently this aircraft had been painted in 364th FG markings as "Lucky Lady VII". It looks pretty sweet in this Swiss AF scheme - as in especially setting itself apart from all other Mustangs flying today. The aircraft is owned by Christoph Nöthinger, who lives in Switzerland (the aircraft has been the subject of some stunning air-to-air photos over the Swiss countryside over the past few years in its previous scheme). This aircraft also used to be one of the subjects, quite a bit, of the MeierMotors threads.

This photo was taken yesterday at the Payerne air show, and originates here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/31078316@ ... 5nL-oGPMZc

[Jesse C.]

That is a good looking scheme! No invasion stripes, shark teeth or silly nose art! NICE!

[mlenoch]

Any idea what color the gear doors?

[Jerry O'Neill]

Stop cracking me up!!!!

[TAdan]

Wow, very nice!

[C VEICH]

Gorgeous!

[BenG]

The swiss colors are temporary.

[JohnTerrell]

I know that the scheme was applied especially for the show at Payerne, given the significance of that location and Swiss AF Mustangs, and the 100-year anniversary of the Swiss AF - but if indeed only temporary, they certainly went to great lengths on it, with the old markings completely removed by the looks of it. It would be neat to see that scheme stick around for a while longer.

Edit: Upon closer inspection, I can now tell that the "Lucky Lady" markings are just covered over, quite cleverly.

Last edited by JohnTerrell on Mon Sep 01, 2014 4:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Lynn Allen]

Any idea what color the gear doors?

They are wired shut...

[Steve T]

That's beautiful...and just a tiny bit sad, considering what the Swiss did with their large fleet of superbly-maintained Mustangs...kept exactly one for a museum and scrapped the rest or used them as literal cannon fodder...testing new Hispano guns on the retired airframes. Seems they learned a lesson there though, as witness all those famous auctions of Vampires, Venoms, Hunters, P2s, Schlepps et al onto the civilian market in the 80s. Just a real shame such a chance was missed for more Mustangs to have survived. At any rate, I agree, I hope this livery sticks around.

S.

[Snake45]

That's a sharp-looking Mustang!